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Key takeaways
6- Paper's docs currently require Java 25 for Paper 26.1 and newer; older builds used Java 21 or 17, so check java -version first.
- The first start creates eula.txt and stops; set eula=true and start again.
- Set -Xms and -Xmx to the same value and leave 1000 to 1500 MB of system memory free.
- On modern Java, try no extra flags before reaching for Aikar's flags.
- Put plugin .jar files directly in the plugins folder, restart, then confirm with /plugins.
- On a panel, Java version and memory are set by the host, so ask if the options are locked.
This guide is for anyone starting a Minecraft server on Paper for the first time, whether on a VPS, a hosting panel or a spare PC. By the end you will have a running server with a sensible server.properties, a memory setting that fits your machine and a first plugin loaded.
Check you have the right Java first
Paper's documentation currently requires Java 25 for Paper 26.1 and newer. Older Paper builds used older Java versions, so check this table from the Paper docs against the version you plan to run before you install anything.
| Paper version | Recommended Java |
|---|---|
| 1.17 to 1.19 | Java 17 |
| 1.20 to 1.21.11 | Java 21 |
| 26.1 and newer | Java 25 |
On a machine you control, run this to see what is installed:
java -versionFor Java 25 the output should start with openjdk 25 and the last line should mention 64-Bit. If you get "command not found", open a new terminal session and try again. The Paper docs walk through installing Amazon Corretto on Debian, Ubuntu and RPM based Linux, Windows and macOS (Homebrew). They also say to avoid "headless" Java builds, because Paper needs the parts those leave out.
Download the Paper jar
Get the jar from the official Paper downloads page at papermc.io. When we checked on 3 October 2026 it offered Paper 26.2 build 129, with a toggle for experimental builds of 26.3. Pick the Minecraft version your players use, and do not use an experimental build for a live server.
Put the jar in an empty folder of its own. Rename it to paper.jar so the start command stays short.
- Create a folder, for example
mkdir ~/paper && cd ~/paper. - Upload the jar with SFTP, or download it straight onto the machine from the Paper downloads page.
- Rename it:
mv paper-*.jar paper.jar.
- Open your server, then the Startup tab. Check the Docker image matches the Java version you need, and look at the server jar file name the startup command expects.
- Open the File Manager, delete any default jar if you are replacing it, and upload your Paper jar (or use SFTP).
- Make the uploaded file name match the one in the Startup tab.
- Multicraft lists an FTP server among its features, so if your host has it enabled, upload the Paper jar to your server's folder with an FTP client. Your host may also offer file upload in the panel itself.
- Then make sure the panel is set to run that jar. The exact setting and its name depend on your host, so check the Multicraft documentation or ask your host.
Start the server and accept the EULA
The Paper docs give this as the basic start command:
java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --noguiThe --nogui flag turns off Vanilla's own window, so you do not get two interfaces. Make sure the file name matches your jar and that your terminal is inside the server folder.
The first start creates eula.txt and then stops. Open it and change eula=false to eula=true once you have read and accepted the Minecraft EULA. Without that, the server shuts down straight away.
- Run the start command above. Wait for it to stop on its own.
- Edit the file:
nano eula.txt, seteula=true, save. - For a repeatable start, save the command in a file called
start.sh(Linux) orstart.bat(Windows) and run that. - Start again. When the console shows the server is ready, you can join on
localhostfrom the same machine, or your server IP on port 25565.
- Press Start in the Console. It will stop after creating
eula.txt. - In the File Manager, click
eula.txt, change it toeula=trueand save. - Press Start again and watch the Console until the server finishes loading.
- Start the server from the panel, then open
eula.txt(through your panel's file access or FTP) and seteula=true. - Start it again and watch the console.
To make yourself an operator, type op YourName in the console. The Minecraft wiki warns to be careful with this, because operators can run any command, including ones that wreck a world. To shut down safely, type stop in the console rather than closing the window.
Set the essentials in server.properties
The file is created in the server folder on first start. Type stop before you edit it, then edit the existing lines rather than pasting over the whole file. These are the keys most new owners change, with the defaults the Minecraft wiki lists.
| Key | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
server-port | 25565 | The TCP port players connect to. Leave it unless another server already uses it. |
online-mode | true | Only lets players verified with the Minecraft account database join. Keep it on. |
motd | A Minecraft Server | The text under your server name in the server list. |
max-players | 20 | How many players can be online at once. |
view-distance | 10 | Chunks of world data sent to each player in every direction. |
simulation-distance | 10 | How far from a player living entities are updated. Allowed range is 3 to 32. |
spawn-protection | 16 | Side length of the square protected around spawn. |
enforce-whitelist | false | When true, online players who are not on the whitelist are kicked. |
Setting white-list=true restricts joining to the names in whitelist.json, which suits a private server. Lowering view-distance and simulation-distance is the simplest way to take load off a small machine. Leave enable-rcon off (its default) unless you need remote console access.
Paper keeps its own settings separate, in config/paper-global.yml. Do not worry about it on day one.
Choose your memory flags
Memory is set with -Xms (starting heap) and -Xmx (maximum heap). Paper's docs and its start script generator set both to the same value, for example -Xms4G -Xmx4G for 4 GB. The generator offers 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 GB.
- Leave room for the system. Paper's guidance on Aikar's flags says to set
-Xmx1000 to 1500 MB below your total memory, because Java and the operating system need some too. On an 8 GB machine that means about 6.5 GB for Minecraft. - Start with no extra flags on modern Java. The docs say that on Java 17, 21 or newer you should try the default garbage collector settings first.
- Try Aikar's flags only if you have lag from garbage collection. They are listed in the Paper docs, and they warn that more memory does not always mean better performance.
Edit the memory values in your start.sh or start.bat and restart.
The memory limit comes from the plan your host gave you. Check the Startup tab to see how the startup command uses it. Raising it usually means changing your plan, so ask the host if the field is locked.
On a Multicraft host, memory is normally controlled by the host. If you cannot change it, ask your host.
Where to run it
If you are choosing between your own PC, a VPS and a host with a panel, a panel can handle Java images, restarts and ports for you, while a VPS gives you full shell control. Pterodactyl is an open-source panel widely used by Minecraft hosts.
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Add your first plugins
Paper docs point to Hangar, Modrinth, BukkitDev and GitHub as places to find plugins. The steps are short:
- Download the plugin file. It must end in
.jar. - Put it directly in the
pluginsfolder in your server root. Subfolders are not checked at startup. - Restart the server.
- Run
/plugins. A green name means it loaded, a red one means it failed, so read the console log.
Only install plugins from sources you trust. The Paper docs warn that plugins get full access to your server and to the machine it runs on.
Good first additions are a permissions plugin (see our LuckPerms ranks guide) and region protection for spawn (see WorldGuard safe zones).
What to do next
Once players join, the first problems are usually lag and updates. Pregenerate the world and profile the server with the steps in our Chunky and spark guide. When a new Minecraft version arrives, follow our plan for updating Paper without breaking plugins.
Frequently asked questions
Which Java version does a Paper server need?
Paper's documentation currently requires Java 25 for Paper 26.1 and newer. Its table lists Java 21 for Paper 1.20 to 1.21.11 and Java 17 for 1.17 to 1.19. Run java -version to see what you have.
Why does my Paper server stop right after the first start?
It created eula.txt and shut down, which is normal. Open the file, change eula=false to eula=true after reading the Minecraft EULA, and start the server again.
How much memory should I give a Paper server?
The Paper docs example uses 4G for both -Xms and -Xmx, and its start script generator offers 4 to 20 GB. Keep -Xmx 1000 to 1500 MB below your total memory, so an 8 GB machine gets about 6.5 GB.
Do I need Aikar's flags?
Not at first. Paper's docs say that on Java 17, 21 or newer you should try with no flags first, and use Aikar's flags if you have garbage collection problems.
Where do I put plugins on Paper?
Put the plugin's .jar file directly in the plugins folder in your server root, restart, then run /plugins. Plugins in subfolders are not loaded.
