Guide

Everything about running a server here, in the order you'll need it.

Getting started

On the home page, pick Java or Bedrock.
Type a name. It becomes your address: name.jump.host.
Click Create server. It's online in under a minute.
Make an account with your email so you can get back to the panel later.

That's it. The free plan needs no card. It's smaller than the paid ones, sleeps after 15 minutes with nobody online, and wakes when someone joins (the first join takes about 30 seconds). A free server that isn't started for 90 days is deleted; we email you a warning first.

Joining your server

Edition	Where	What to type
Java	Multiplayer → Add Server	`name.jump.host`
Bedrock (PC, mobile)	Servers → Add Server	`name.jump.host` and the port shown in the panel, e.g. `19132`
Bedrock (console)	Friends tab, or a DNS trick	[CONFIRM: console join method]

Java players never type a port. Bedrock players join the same server through Geyser, with the port in the address, e.g. name.jump.host:19132. If a friend can't connect, check troubleshooting.

Java vs Bedrock

Java is the original PC edition: Windows, macOS, Linux. Mods and most plugins live here. Bedrock is the edition on consoles, phones, tablets and the Windows store. Every server runs Java Edition on Paper, and Bedrock players join it through Geyser, so both can play together. You can change edition later in Settings; we back up first.

The panel, page by page

OverviewStart, stop and restart. Memory, CPU, players and tick rate at a glance. Who's on, last backup.

ConsoleThe live log and a command line. Filter by server, chat or warnings.

FilesEvery file on the server. Edit text files in the browser, upload worlds, get SFTP details.

PlayersWho's online, the whitelist, operators and bans. Kick or ban with one click.

Plugins & modsInstall from the catalog or upload your own. Toggle on and off, restart to apply.

BackupsScheduled and manual snapshots. Restore any of them in about a minute.

SettingsName, MOTD, difficulty, game mode, PvP, whitelist, version, plan, your own domain, and the danger zone.

Console commands

Type these in the Console without a leading slash. In-game, operators use the same commands with a slash.

Command	What it does
`list`	Who's online.
`say hello`	Broadcast a message as [Server].
`whitelist add name`	Let a player in when the whitelist is on. Also `remove`, `on`, `off`, `list`.
`op name` / `deop name`	Give or take operator rights (commands in-game).
`kick name` / `ban name` / `pardon name`	Remove a player, ban them, or lift a ban.
`gamemode creative name`	Change one player's mode: survival, creative, adventure, spectator.
`difficulty hard`	peaceful, easy, normal or hard.
`time set day` / `weather clear`	Fix the time or the weather.
`tp name x y z`	Teleport a player. `tp a b` sends a to b.
`give name diamond 5`	Give items.
`gamerule keepInventory true`	Change a world rule. Also `doDaylightCycle`, `mobGriefing`, `pvp`, and the rest.
`save-all`	Write the world to disk now. The server autosaves every few minutes anyway.
`tps`	Tick rate over 1, 5 and 15 minutes.
`stop`	Save and shut down cleanly. The Stop button does the same.

server.properties

The main config file. Settings covers the common ones; edit the file in Files for the rest. Changes apply after a restart.

Key	Meaning	Default
`motd`	The line shown in the server list.	your server name
`max-players`	How many can be on at once. Capped by your plan.	10
`difficulty`	peaceful, easy, normal, hard.	normal
`gamemode`	Mode new players start in.	survival
`pvp`	Can players hurt each other.	true
`white-list`	Only listed players may join.	false
`online-mode`	Check accounts with the official login. Leave on unless you know why not.	true
`view-distance`	Chunks sent to each player. Higher looks nicer, costs bandwidth.	10
`simulation-distance`	Chunks that actually tick (mobs, crops, redstone).	8
`spawn-protection`	Radius around spawn only ops can build in. 0 turns it off.	16
`level-seed`	Seed for a new world. Only read when the world folder is empty.	random
`enable-command-block`	Let command blocks run.	false

Paper's own options live in bukkit.yml, spigot.yml and config/paper-global.yml. The defaults are right for almost everyone.

Whitelist, ops, bans

Whitelist is the simplest way to keep a server private: turn it on in Settings and only the names you add can join. Add people in Players or with whitelist add. Operators can run commands in-game; give it to people you trust, since an op can also op others. Bans are permanent until you pardon. All three lists are plain JSON files in Files if you want to edit them by hand.

Worlds and uploads

A world is the world folder (plus world_nether and world_the_end on Java). To bring your own: stop the server, delete or rename the existing world folder in Files, upload yours as a .zip with Upload world, and start. Paper reads vanilla saves as they are, so single-player worlds work. Big worlds go faster over SFTP; the details are on the Files page.

To start fresh, use Reset world in Settings. It backs up first.

Backups and restoring

A backup is a compressed copy of the whole server folder. Free servers get one a day and keep the last seven; paid plans back up more often and keep more. Take a manual one before anything risky with Back up now. Restoring stops the server, backs up the current state so you can undo, swaps the folder, and starts again; about a minute. Downloads are plain zips you can open on your own computer.

Versions and switching

Pick any game version in Settings. Going up is safe: worlds upgrade in place. Going down usually isn't: newer blocks won't exist in older versions, so we restore the backup taken before the upgrade instead. latest follows new releases automatically a few days after they ship. Players need a matching client version to join.

Plugins and mods

Plugins run only on the server; players join with a normal client. Servers run Paper and Bukkit/Spigot plugins. Fabric and Forge mods aren't supported yet. The catalog in the panel marks plugins tested on Jump as verified; anything else goes in the plugins folder through Files. Changes apply on restart.

Your own domain

Want play.yourname.com instead of name.jump.host? At your registrar, add a CNAME record for play pointing at name.jump.host. Then in Settings → Address, add the domain. It works within an hour, usually much sooner. Free plan included.

Upgrading

The free plan's limit is players: ten at once. If you hit it, Settings → Plan shows the paid tiers. Upgrading is instant and keeps the world, address, settings and backups; nothing is re-created. Downgrade whenever; the world stays as long as it fits.

Troubleshooting

“Can't connect to server”Is it online in Overview? Is the address spelled right, with no http://? Java players: is your game version the one in Settings? Bedrock: did you include the port? A sleeping free server takes about 30 seconds to start on the first join; try again.

“You are not whitelisted”The whitelist is on. Add the exact in-game name in Players, or turn it off in Settings.

“Server is full”Ten players are on. That's the free limit; see upgrading.

LagCheck tick rate in Overview. 20 TPS and it's your connection or the player's. Below that, look for a plugin or a huge redstone build; try lowering simulation-distance.

Server won't startRead the last lines in Console. A bad plugin or a typo in server.properties is the usual cause. Restore yesterday's backup if in doubt.

Something's wrong on our side?Check status. If it's green and you're still stuck, Discord or email.

Glossary

TPS: · ticks per second. 20 is perfect; the world updates 20 times a second.
Tick time: · how long one tick takes. Under 50 ms keeps 20 TPS.
Chunk: · a 16×16 column of the world. Distances are measured in chunks.
MOTD: · message of the day, the text under your server in the list.
Op: · operator; a player who can run commands.
Seed: · the number a world is generated from. Same seed, same terrain.
SFTP: · secure file transfer; a way to move files with a desktop app.
CNAME: · a DNS record that points one name at another.
Datapack: · vanilla-format content that changes recipes, loot or rules without mods.
Snapshot: · here, a backup. In the game, a pre-release version.