MinecraftUpdated 22 October 20263 min read

Minecraft Java server.properties Guide

What every common setting in a Minecraft Java server's server.properties does, and how to change it on Beacon.

server.properties holds your server's main settings. On Beacon, click it in Files to open the Minecraft Server Properties editor. Restart the server from Console after saving.

Players and joining

Setting	Default	What it does
`max-players`	`20`	The most players online at once
`white-list`	`false`	Only players on the whitelist can join
`enforce-whitelist`	`false`	Kick players who aren't on the whitelist when it's turned on
`online-mode`	`true`	Check players own Minecraft. Keep it `true` unless a proxy (Velocity) handles logins
`motd`	`A Minecraft Server`	The text under your server in the multiplayer list
`player-idle-timeout`	`0`	Minutes before idle players are kicked (`0` = never)

Gameplay

Setting	Default	What it does
`gamemode`	`survival`	Game mode for new players
`force-gamemode`	`false`	Put players back in the default mode each time they join
`difficulty`	`easy`	`peaceful`, `easy`, `normal` or `hard`
`hardcore`	`false`	Players are banned when they die
`pvp`	`true`	Players can hurt each other
`allow-flight`	`false`	Don't kick players for flying
`spawn-monsters`	`true`	Hostile mobs spawn
`enable-command-block`	`false`	Command blocks work
`spawn-protection`	`16`	Blocks around spawn only operators can change

World

Setting	Default	What it does
`level-name`	`world`	The world folder to load
`level-seed`	blank	Seed for a new world
`level-type`	`minecraft:normal`	World type for a new world
`generate-structures`	`true`	Villages, temples and other structures generate
`allow-nether`	`true`	The Nether is enabled
`max-world-size`	`29999984`	How far the world border can go

Performance

Setting	Default	What it does
`view-distance`	`10`	How many chunks players can see
`simulation-distance`	`10`	How many chunks around players are active
`network-compression-threshold`	`256`	Packet size before compression
`entity-broadcast-range-percentage`	`100`	How far away entities are sent to players

Lowering simulation-distance to 6–8 is one of the best ways to reduce lag without making the world look smaller.

Leave these alone

Setting	Why
`server-port`, `server-ip`	Beacon sets your address; changing them stops players connecting
`enable-query`, `query.port`	The panel's Players page uses query to list online players
`enable-rcon`, `rcon.password`	Only turn on if you need RCON; use a strong password