How to use minecraft server jar
Mia Moss
Published Mar 27, 2026

In this tutorial, you will be learning how to use a custom jar on your server. This is a quite simple tutorial as well :)Forge Install:
There are other answers below:
This will show you how to setup a custom jar on your Minecraft server. You will need to use a desktop FTP client such as FileZilla to connect to your servers FTP and upload the files. First, please find the custom jar server file that you would like to use, such as a specific Spigot version and download it to your PC. Rename the .jar file you just downloaded to: custom.jar
Open the Terminal: Applcations > Accessories > Terminal. and then change directories to where the Minecraft server jar is located with the cd command. Then type in java -jar minecraft_server.jar
Double click on the server jar file, to start the server. This will set up your server and you can join it by typing your public IP address or typing localhost. When you are done using your server be sure to type stop in order to stop it.
1. Copy/cut the jar file, but don’t paste it yet 2. Open the versions folder and create a new folder whatever you would like to call it 3. Paste the jar file in the folder you just created 4. Copy the jar file in the folder again and paste it with a different name 5. Open the jar file in notepad, copy all the text and exit the file 6. Delete the copied file 7.
Visit the Minecraft Server website and download the Minecraft server version of the Minecraft Vanilla JAR file to your computer. When you download the Minecraft Server jar, it will be saved by default to your Downloads folder.
đź“» Where to Find Server Jar Files đź“» Here you can find all Vanilla server builds, even snapshots, from the first version to the latest. Just use it to get the server jar file. Here you can find all CraftBukkit server builds, from the first version to the latest. Just use it to get the server jar file. Here you can find all Spigot server builds, from the first version to the latest.
On Linux and macOS this should already be set up but on Windows you might have to tinker with the PATH environment variable. Download minecraft_server.1.18.2.jar and run it with the following command: java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.1.18.2.jar nogui.
Download Git for Windows from here. 2. Download the latest BuildTools.jar from here. 3. Install Git for Windows that you downloaded in step 1. 4. Place BuildTools.jar that you downloaded into any directory that you can remember easily. 5. In that directory, right click an empty space and click Git Bash here.
Related Questions
How to create a JAR file in Minecraft?
Open the versions folder and select a folder you don’t need (if the mod uses 1.7.10, you need to find a folder that runs the 1.7.10 minecraft version 12. Paste the jar file in the folde you selected and rename it exactly as the json file is called
How do I set up a Minecraft server in Java?
You can name it “Minecraft Server”. Drag over or copy and paste the .jar file into the Minecraft Server folder. While you have the file browser open, open command prompt from the start menu. You can check if Java is installed in command prompt by typing without quotes “java -version”.
How to install Minecraft server on Windows 10?
Installation Instructions Step 1: Open Windows 10 and download Java Step 2: Download Minecraft Server Step 3: Open the Downloads folder and move Minecraft Server Step 4: Double click on the Minecraft JAR file Step 5: Agree to the EULA Step 6: Double click on the Minecraft JAR file Step 7: Allow the Minecraft Server in the firewall
What version of Java do I need to run a Minecraft?
We’d always recommend using the latest version of java for the best performance and you should keep java you are running up to date. Visit the Minecraft Server website and download the Minecraft server version of the Minecraft Vanilla JAR file to your computer.