Where can you download a Minecraft server jar safely?
Download the server only from the engine's own website: Vanilla from minecraft.net, Paper from papermc.io, Purpur from purpurmc.org, Fabric from fabricmc.net, Forge from files.minecraftforge.net and NeoForge from neoforged.net. These files are free. A site that wants you to sign up, run a "downloader" or install a tool to get a server.jar is not official.
| Engine | Official download | What you get | Add-ons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | minecraft.net → Minecraft Java Edition Server | minecraft_server.<version>.jar |
None |
| Paper | papermc.io/downloads/paper | paper-<version>-<build>.jar |
Plugins |
| Purpur | purpurmc.org/download/purpur | purpur-<version>-<build>.jar |
Plugins |
| Fabric | fabricmc.net/use/server | fabric-server-mc.<version>-loader.<x>-launcher.<y>.jar |
Mods |
| Forge | files.minecraftforge.net | An installer: forge-<version>-installer.jar |
Mods |
| NeoForge | neoforged.net | An installer: neoforge-<version>-installer.jar |
Mods |
Which one should you pick? For a server with friends and no mods, Paper is the usual choice; for mods, Fabric or NeoForge (or Forge for older packs). If you're not sure, read Minecraft server software first. The whole setup – RAM, port forwarding, letting friends join – is in how to make a Minecraft server. This guide is only about getting the right file.
Which Java version does each Minecraft version need?
Minecraft 26.1 and newer need Java 25, 1.20.5 to 1.21.11 need Java 21, 1.18 to 1.20.4 need Java 17, 1.17 needs Java 16, and 1.16.5 and older run on Java 8. The server won't start on a Java that's too old – usually with an UnsupportedClassVersionError in the console.
| Minecraft version | Java the server needs |
|---|---|
| 26.1 – 26.3 (and newer) | Java 25 |
| 1.20.5 – 1.21.11 | Java 21 |
| 1.18 – 1.20.4 | Java 17 |
| 1.17 – 1.17.1 | Java 16 |
| 1.16.5 and older | Java 8 |
These are the versions Mojang lists for each release in its official version data. Plugin and mod engines follow the same rule: Paper's documentation says the current Paper needs at least Java 25, while Paper for 1.20 to 1.21.11 uses Java 21.
Old modded servers are the tricky part. Forge for 1.12.2 or 1.7.10 expects Java 8, and many old mods break on newer Java even if the server starts. To check which Java you have, run java -version in a terminal. If you have several installed, start the server with the full path to the right java executable. More about start errors in Minecraft exit code 1.
How to download the Vanilla Minecraft server
Open the Minecraft Java Edition Server page on minecraft.net and download minecraft_server.<version>.jar – it's always the latest release. At the time of writing that's 26.3; see the latest Minecraft version for what's new.
- Create an empty folder for the server, e.g.
minecraft-server. - Download the jar from minecraft.net into that folder.
- Start it with the command shown on the same page:
java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar minecraft_server.26.3.jar nogui
-Xmx4G and -Xms4G give the server 4 GB of RAM, and nogui turns off the small server window. The first start stops after a few seconds – that's normal, the EULA section below explains why.
Bedrock is a different program. The Bedrock Dedicated Server has its own download page on minecraft.net and comes as a zip for Windows or Ubuntu, not as a jar. Java players can't join it, and Java plugins and mods don't run on it.
How to download an older Minecraft server version
minecraft.net only offers the latest version; for an older one, open that version's page on minecraft.wiki (for example "Java Edition 1.20.1") and use the server download link there – it points to Mojang's own download server, piston-data.mojang.com. Your friends then pick the same version in the Minecraft Launcher under "Installations".
The same links come from Mojang's version list, piston-meta.mojang.com/mc/game/version_manifest_v2.json. It lists every release with a link to its details, and the details contain the server download, its SHA-1 checksum and the Java version it needs. If you got a jar from anywhere else, compare its SHA-1 with the one Mojang publishes:
| System | Command |
|---|---|
| Windows (PowerShell) | Get-FileHash server.jar -Algorithm SHA1 |
| macOS / Linux | shasum -a 1 server.jar or sha1sum server.jar |
For older Paper, Purpur, Fabric, Forge and NeoForge versions you don't need any trick: every official download page has a version list. Pick the Minecraft version first, then the build.
Before you downgrade a world: a world opened on a newer version is not meant to go back to an older one. Make a copy of the world folder first.
How to download Paper and Purpur
On papermc.io/downloads/paper (or purpurmc.org/download/purpur) choose the Minecraft version, download the newest build, and run the jar exactly like the Vanilla one. Paper and Purpur are a single jar each – no installer.
- Builds: each Minecraft version has many builds (for example
paper-26.3-241.jar). Higher number = newer fixes. Take the latest build of your version. - Start command: Paper's docs use
java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui– replacepaper.jarwith your file name. - Purpur is built on Paper and adds extra gameplay options, so everything that works on Paper works on Purpur. More in Purpur Minecraft server.
- Spigot has no direct download: Spigot jars are built yourself with the BuildTools program from SpigotMC. Plugins made for Spigot run on Paper too, which is why most servers simply use Paper.
Plugins go into the plugins folder that Paper creates on the first start – see how to install Minecraft plugins.
How to download a Fabric server
On fabricmc.net/use/server choose the Minecraft version, the loader version and the installer version, then download the server launcher jar and run it with java -jar. You don't need the Vanilla jar: on the first start the launcher downloads the matching Minecraft server files itself.
- Pick the Minecraft version. Leave the loader and installer on the newest versions unless a mod asks for something else.
- Download the jar – its name contains all three versions, e.g.
fabric-server-mc.26.3-loader.0.20.1-launcher.1.1.0.jar. - Put it in an empty folder and start it like any other server jar.
- Put mods into the
modsfolder. Most Fabric mods also need Fabric API in the same folder.
Players need the same mods (and Fabric) in their game. How to install them on the player side is in how to install Minecraft mods.
How to download a Forge or NeoForge server
Forge and NeoForge are installers, not ready servers: download the installer for your Minecraft version, run it with --installServer in an empty folder, then start the server with run.bat (Windows) or run.sh (Linux, macOS).
java -jar neoforge-<version>-installer.jar --installServer
The same flag works for the Forge installer (forge-<version>-installer.jar). You can also double-click the installer and choose "Install server" instead of "Install client".
| After the installer | What it's for |
|---|---|
run.bat / run.sh |
Starts the server |
user_jvm_args.txt |
RAM and other Java options, e.g. -Xmx6G |
libraries/ |
Files the server needs – don't delete them |
mods/ |
Appears after the first start; put mods here |
This is how modern versions work. Old Forge versions (roughly 1.16.5 and earlier) instead create a Forge jar in the folder that you start with java -jar, like Vanilla. NeoForge exists only for Minecraft 1.20.2 and newer – for older modpacks you need Forge. Not sure which loader your pack uses? See Forge vs NeoForge vs Fabric.
Modpacks usually come with their own "server pack" download on CurseForge or Modrinth that already contains the right loader and mods. Use that instead of installing everything by hand – our modded server guide shows how.
What happens on the first start (EULA)?
On the first start the server creates its files, writes eula.txt with eula=false and stops – change it to eula=true and start the server again. By setting it to true you accept the Minecraft End User License Agreement; the server won't run without it.
After the second start the folder looks roughly like this:
| File or folder | What it is |
|---|---|
eula.txt |
Your EULA acceptance |
server.properties |
Main settings: port, game mode, difficulty, view distance – all explained in Minecraft server.properties |
world/ |
The world (Paper also creates world_nether and world_the_end) |
logs/ |
Console logs, latest.log is the current one |
ops.json, whitelist.json, banned-players.json |
Operators, whitelist and bans |
plugins/ or mods/ |
Add-ons (only on Paper/Purpur or Fabric/Forge/NeoForge) |
When the console shows Done, the server is running and you can join it on the same computer with the address localhost. Friends outside your home need port forwarding, explained in Minecraft server port.
Which downloads should you avoid?
Avoid "server.jar" mirrors, repacks and "free server software" bundles from sites that aren't the engine's own. A server jar is a program running on your computer, so a modified one can do anything your user account can.
- No installers for Vanilla, Paper or Purpur. They're plain jar files. An .exe offering to "install Minecraft server" is not from Mojang or PaperMC.
- Check the checksum if you got a Vanilla jar from somewhere else (see the SHA-1 commands above). PaperMC publishes a SHA-256 checksum for every Paper build.
- Old engines are unmaintained. CraftBukkit and very old Spigot builds still circulate on download sites. They no longer get fixes – use Paper for the same version instead.
- Mods and plugins too: download them from Modrinth, CurseForge, Hangar, SpigotMC or the author's GitHub, not from re-upload sites.
Downloading a Minecraft server on Spot.gg
On Spot.gg you don't download a server.jar at all: you choose the engine and the Minecraft version when you activate the server, and the panel installs it with the right Java. Vanilla, Paper, Purpur, Folia, Fabric, Forge and NeoForge are available up to Minecraft 26.3, and many older versions too.
- Click "Activate a free server", choose Minecraft and the "Engine" mode.
- Choose the engine (e.g. Paper) and the Minecraft version.
- Choose the location and the parameters, then activate the server – the panel installs the engine for you.
The first 24 hours are free; after that a server costs from $3.90 per month.
Changing the version later: go to "Information" → "Profile" → "Modify".
| Option | What it does | Your world |
|---|---|---|
| "Update" | Newer or older version of the same engine | Kept |
| "Change engine" | From Vanilla to another engine on the same Minecraft version, e.g. Vanilla → Paper | Kept |
| "Reinstallation" | A clean installation of any game, engine or pack | Deleted |
Going back to an older version can damage the world, so on a paid server make a backup in "Backup" before you do it.
Java: under "Configuration" → "Server" → "JAVA version" the default is Auto, which uses the Java the engine version needs (Java 25 on a 26.x server). You can also choose Java 8 to 25 manually, which is only needed if a specific mod asks for it.
FAQ
Is the Minecraft server download free?
Yes. The official server from Mojang and the Paper, Purpur, Fabric, Forge and NeoForge downloads are all free. You still need a copy of Minecraft Java Edition to play on the server.
Where is the server.jar for an older Minecraft version?
minecraft.net only has the latest version. Each version's page on minecraft.wiki links to the server jar on Mojang's download server, and Mojang's version manifest lists all of them with checksums.
What is the difference between server.jar and minecraft_server.jar?
None – it's the same official Vanilla server. Older guides call it server.jar; minecraft.net now names the file with the version, e.g. minecraft_server.26.3.jar.
Which Java do I need for a Minecraft 26.3 server?
Java 25. Every version from 26.1 needs Java 25; 1.20.5 to 1.21.11 run on Java 21.
Can I use the Java Edition server jar for Bedrock players?
Not on its own. Bedrock uses the separate Bedrock Dedicated Server. To let Bedrock players join a Java server, add Geyser and Floodgate – see how to install Geyser and Floodgate.
Why does my server stop right after the first start?
Because the EULA isn't accepted yet. Open eula.txt, change eula=false to eula=true and start the server again.
Do I need to download anything to run a server on Spot.gg?
No. You pick the engine and version in the panel and the server is installed for you. You only download things on your own computer: the matching Minecraft version and, for a modded server, the same mods.