How to Make a Hytale Server: Step-by-Step Setup Guide (Java 25, UDP 5520)

To make a Hytale server, install Java 25 on an x64 or arm64 computer with at least 4GB of memory, install the server files, authenticate the server through your Hytale account, and expose its QUIC/UDP port (5520 by default). A dedicated server is the right choice for a persistent world or more than a few friends; a friend-hosted world is faster for a one-off session, while rented hosting removes most router and maintenance work.

This guide covers the complete dedicated-server setup, friend-world alternative, port forwarding, authentication, configuration, backups, updates, and the fixes for the connection failures owners encounter most often.

What do I need before making a Hytale server?

The official baseline is modest but should not be mistaken for a guaranteed player capacity. Hypixel Studios states that a Hytale server can run with at least 4GB of memory and Java 25 on either x64 or arm64 hardware. CPU demand rises with players and entities; memory demand is driven mainly by the amount of world area loaded, especially your view-distance setting.

Requirement	Official detail	What it means in practice
Java	Java 25; Adoptium/Temurin is recommended	Older Java releases will not satisfy the documented requirement.
Memory	At least 4GB	This is a starting minimum, not a promise of a particular player count.
CPU	No single model specified	Plan for more CPU time as player activity, entities, and simulation work increase.
Architecture	x64 or arm64	Both conventional desktop/server systems and compatible ARM machines are supported.
Network	QUIC over UDP; port 5520 by default	Forward and allow UDP, not TCP.
Account	A Hytale game license is required for authenticated servers	One license is limited to 500 servers under the documented service rules.

Use wired Ethernet when the host is in your home and stability matters; Wi-Fi can work, but it adds another source of packet loss and latency. A rented host avoids the home-network requirement entirely.

Which Hytale hosting method should I choose?

Choose a friend world for a short, small session, self-host a dedicated server when you want control and already have a suitable machine, or rent a dedicated instance when you want a persistent world without maintaining your own network.

Option	Persistent uptime	Setup effort	Router exposure	Files and mods	Performance isolation	Who handles updates and backups?	Recurring cost
Friend-world hosting	Only while the host keeps the world online	Lowest; enable Online Play in the game	Uses the host’s connection and share-code networking	Limited to the hosted world and installed client content	Shares resources with the host’s game client	You; there is no separate server maintenance cycle	No separate server fee
Self-hosted dedicated server	As long as your machine and network run	Moderate; Java, files, authentication, firewall, and forwarding	You must expose one UDP service and secure the host	Full access to worlds, configuration, and compatible mods	Server resources can be separated from a player’s client	You	Hardware and electricity costs; no universal monthly amount
Rented dedicated hosting	Designed for 24/7 operation	Usually lowest after purchase; panels commonly offer one-click installation	Provider manages the public network endpoint	Depends on the provider’s file and mod controls	Depends on the plan’s allocated hardware	Provider commonly handles maintenance and automatic updates; verify the exact plan	Recurring fee; region, slots, backups, and mod support vary

Hypixel Studios’ Joining Friends documentation identifies Nitrado, Apex Hosting, GPORTAL, Shockbyte, and Dathost as “Launch Verified” providers. That designation does not establish a universal price or performance level: check the current region, player limit, backup policy, mod support, cancellation terms, and any affiliate relationship before ordering.

How do I prepare a computer for a dedicated Hytale server?

1. Choose a machine. Use a system with at least 4GB of RAM and x64 or arm64 architecture. Leave memory for the operating system and other services; the 4GB figure is the server baseline, not the amount you should necessarily assign to a busy installation.
2. Install Java 25. Hypixel Studios recommends an Adoptium/Temurin build. Install the x64 or arm64 package matching the operating system.
3. Verify the runtime. Open PowerShell, Command Prompt, or a terminal and run java --version. The output must identify Java 25 before you continue.
4. Create a dedicated directory. Give the server its own folder rather than mixing files with a game installation or unrelated services. This makes backups, updates, and permission checks easier.
5. Reserve a local address. Configure a DHCP reservation on the router, or assign a stable local address on the machine. Port forwarding breaks when the router continues sending traffic to an old address.

Do not promise a fixed number of players from the memory figure alone. Player behavior, entity counts, loaded terrain, mods, and view distance can change the workload substantially.

How do I obtain the Hytale server files?

There are three documented ways to get the server payload. Pick the one that matches whether you are testing or maintaining a long-lived installation.

Copy the launcher installation

For a quick test, copy the Server directory and Assets.zip from the Hytale launcher installation into your dedicated server directory. This is convenient, but you must repeat the copy process when you want to keep the installation current.

Use the Hytale Downloader CLI

The Hytale Downloader command-line tool is intended for production-style installs and easier update workflows. Follow its current package instructions, place the downloaded payload in the dedicated directory, and keep the downloader available for later updates.

Bootstrap from HytaleServer.jar

In an empty directory, place HytaleServer.jar and run:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --bootstrap

Complete the authentication prompts. Then run /update setup (or /update download) from the server console. A successful bootstrap creates Assets.zip, start.sh, start.bat, and a Server/ directory containing HytaleServer.jar, credentials, and config.json.

Keep the launcher, downloader, and server versions aligned. A client on a different release, or a mod built for another release, can prevent a connection even when the network is configured correctly.

How do I start and authenticate the dedicated server?

A direct launch command documented by Hypixel Studios is:

java -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

1. Run the command from the directory that contains HytaleServer.jar and Assets.zip.
2. Wait for the server console to finish starting.
3. At the console, enter /auth login device.
4. Open https://accounts.hytale.com/device on a device where you can sign in to your Hytale account.
5. Enter the one-time code displayed by the server console.
6. Wait for the console message Authentication successful! Mode: OAUTH_DEVICE.

The server must be authenticated before it can accept player connections. Authentication enables service APIs and abuse-prevention controls; it is not an optional cosmetic sign-in. The documented license limit is 500 servers per Hytale game license.

Can startup use tokens instead of an interactive device login?

Provider automation documentation also describes --session-token and --identity-token startup arguments. In that workflow, a game session expires after one hour, with refresh attempted five minutes before expiry. A refresh token remains usable for 30 days while the server is offline; after that period, plan to authenticate again rather than assuming an unattended restart will succeed.

How do I make the server reachable over the internet?

Hytale uses QUIC over UDP, not TCP. The default bind is 0.0.0.0:5520; to use another port, add a bind argument such as --bind 0.0.0.0:3500 to the launch command and forward that selected UDP port instead.

Router forwarding

1. Give the server computer a stable local IP address.
2. Open the router’s port-forwarding page.
3. Create a rule for the selected UDP port (5520 by default).
4. Set the destination to the server computer’s current local IP.
5. Save the rule and restart the server if your router requires it.

Do not create only a TCP rule. A TCP-only forward does not carry Hytale’s QUIC traffic.

Host firewall rules

Allow inbound UDP on the same port at the operating-system firewall. The manual gives these examples:

Windows PowerShell

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Hytale Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 5520 -Action Allow

Linux iptables

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 5520 -j ACCEPT

Linux UFW

sudo ufw allow 5520/udp

Restrict the rule to the selected port and keep the rest of the firewall policy intact. If you changed the bind port, substitute that number in both the router and firewall rules.

What if port forwarding works locally but not for outside players?

That pattern usually points to the network edge rather than Hytale. In a double-NAT setup, forwarding on only one router is insufficient; configure the upstream router as well, place one device in bridge mode where appropriate, or move the server behind a single public-facing router. Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) prevents ordinary inbound forwarding because the home router does not have a directly reachable public address. Ask the internet provider for a public address or use a different host when CGNAT cannot be removed.

Hypixel’s friend-joining guidance also documents UPnP, bridge mode, Tailscale, and trying another host as alternatives. Understand the security and trust implications before enabling automatic port mapping or introducing a third-party overlay network.

Which files and settings should I configure?

Stop the server before editing configuration or replacing mods. The important locations are:

• universe/ — worlds and player saves.
• logs/ — startup, connection, and error records.
• mods/ — compatible .zip or .jar mods.
• config.json — server configuration.
• permissions.json — permission assignments.
• bans.json — banned players.
• whitelist.json — players allowed by the whitelist.

How should I set view distance?

View distance is the main driver of RAM usage. Hypixel Studios recommends a maximum of 12 chunks, equivalent to 384 blocks. Start at that ceiling, watch memory use and garbage-collection CPU time with your expected player count, and reduce the setting if the machine begins swapping, pauses frequently, or approaches its memory limit.

There is no reliable universal “GB per player” formula. Two groups with the same player count can produce different loads because exploration, entities, and the amount of active terrain differ.

How do I add mods safely?

Place only Hytale-compatible .zip or .jar files in mods/. Keep a copy of the previous mod set, verify that every connecting client has the required matching version, and add changes one at a time so a startup failure has an identifiable cause.

How do I back up and update a Hytale server?

Make an independent backup of the entire universe/ directory and the configuration files before an update, mod change, or major configuration edit. At minimum, preserve config.json, permissions.json, bans.json, and whitelist.json alongside the world data.

Use the built-in updater

The updater checks every 3,600 seconds by default. Its configuration can notify players, perform a full backup before applying an update, and include the four configuration files listed above. Review those options rather than assuming a backup happened.

The included wrapper scripts stage updated files and restart the server when the process exits with update code 8. Test that restart path during a maintenance window, and keep an independent copy outside the live server directory so a damaged update cannot destroy the only backup.

How do friends join a dedicated server?

Give players the public address and UDP port you selected, or the address supplied by your hosting provider. Players must use the same Hytale version and any required mod set. If a connection fails, test from a network outside the host’s home LAN; connecting from inside can succeed even when the public forward is wrong.

Do not publish your public address unnecessarily. Limit administrative access, use the whitelist when appropriate, and monitor logs/ for repeated failed connections or unexpected behavior.

How do I host a friend world without a dedicated server?

For a short session with a few people, a friend world avoids Java installation, server files, and manual port-forwarding.

1. Load the desired singleplayer world.
2. Press ESC and choose Online Play.
3. Turn on Allow Other Players to Join.
4. Set a password if you want an additional access check, then save.
5. Have friends open Servers and choose Join via Code.

Share codes contain your IP address. Send them only in private messages to people you trust; never post one publicly, paste it into a public chat, or display it on a stream. Regenerate the code if it has been exposed. A friend world closes when the host leaves, so it is not a substitute for a persistent server.

What should I check when the server does not work?

The server will not start

• Run java --version and confirm Java 25.
• Check that the command is being run in the directory containing both HytaleServer.jar and Assets.zip.
• Remove or roll back the most recently added mod, then inspect logs/.
• Confirm that the machine has free memory beyond the server’s baseline requirement.

The server starts but rejects every player

• Complete /auth login device and verify the OAUTH_DEVICE success message.
• Check that the client and server are on the same version.
• Confirm required mods and their versions match.
• Review whitelist.json, bans, and permissions if only particular accounts are affected.

Players on the internet cannot connect

• Confirm the router forwards the selected port as UDP to the server’s current local IP.
• Confirm the host firewall allows the same UDP port; a TCP exception is not enough.
• Check for double NAT and CGNAT when local players can connect but outside players cannot.
• Verify that the server is bound to the address and port you actually forwarded.

The server becomes slow or runs out of memory

• Reduce maximum view distance from the 12-chunk ceiling.
• Watch memory and garbage-collection CPU spikes while reproducing the issue with the expected player count.
• Temporarily remove mods and compare behavior with a clean server.
• Move the workload to a machine with more memory or CPU if the measured load remains above the host’s capacity.

A friend-world code no longer works

Generate a new code, keep it private, and run the game’s Online Play network report. A code can become invalid when the host changes the session or network state; a new code is safer than repeatedly distributing one that may already be exposed.

Is renting a Hytale server easier than self-hosting?

For a world that should remain online while the owner is away, renting is usually easier because the provider supplies the public endpoint, hardware, maintenance, and commonly one-click installation and automatic updates. Self-hosting gives you direct control of every file, configuration, backup, and mod, but you are responsible for uptime, security, router changes, and recovery.

Use a rented server when 24/7 availability and minimal network administration matter more than owning the machine. Use self-hosting when you need unrestricted file access, already have reliable hardware and a public address, or want to control the update and backup schedule yourself. A friend world remains the simplest answer for an occasional session with only a few players.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my Hytale world to another computer or host?

Yes. Stop the server cleanly, copy the complete universe/ directory, and copy the relevant configuration files before starting the destination instance. Keep the destination on a compatible server version and retain a separate original copy until the transferred world has been verified.

Does every player need Java 25 installed?

No. Java 25 is the dedicated server runtime requirement. Players need a compatible Hytale client; they do not install the server’s Java runtime merely to connect.

What happens if my server is offline for more than 30 days?

The documented refresh token remains usable for 30 days while the server is offline. After that, an unattended restart may require the device authentication flow again, so plan a manual login before reopening the world.

Can I run more than one Hytale server on the same machine?

You can run separate instances if the machine has enough CPU, memory, storage, and network capacity. Give each instance its own directory, world and configuration files, and a different UDP bind port; the documented license limit is 500 servers per game license.

Why can a player on my home network join while an internet friend cannot?

A local connection can bypass the public router path. Test the forwarded UDP port from an outside network, then check the host firewall, the router’s destination IP, and whether a second router or CGNAT is blocking inbound traffic.