Running a private Minecraft server is a useful home-lab project because it combines Linux administration, Java runtime management, firewall configuration, systemd service management, and basic client/server troubleshooting. This guide explains how to install the latest Java-based Minecraft server on the latest Linux Mint release, then connect to it from a Windows 11 Minecraft client.
As of May 23, 2026, the latest Linux Mint release listed by the project is Linux Mint 22.3 'Zena,' and the latest Minecraft Java release identified on Minecraft.net is Minecraft Java Edition 26.1.2, published April 9, 2026. Future readers should always confirm the current version on the official Linux Mint and Minecraft download pages before installing.
Java Edition versus Bedrock Edition
This article is about the Minecraft: Java Edition server, distributed as a .jar file. Mojang's server download page states that the Java Edition server setup is compatible with Minecraft: Java Edition, not Bedrock Edition. That distinction matters because a normal Windows Bedrock client will not connect directly to a vanilla Java Edition server.
For this setup, the Windows 11 client must run:
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Minecraft: Java Edition |
not:
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Minecraft for Windows |
The Minecraft Launcher can provide access to both editions, but the edition selected in the launcher must match the server type. The Microsoft Store listing for the launcher identifies it as available for Windows 10 and Windows 11 and notes that it provides access to Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft for Windows.
Install Java 25 on Linux Mint
Recent Minecraft Java versions require a newer Java runtime. The Minecraft Java Edition 26.1 release notes state that the game now requires Java 25 and that the included Java distribution is the Microsoft build of OpenJDK 25.
Linux Mint may not include Java 25 in its default repositories, so a practical approach is to install Eclipse Temurin from Adoptium. Adoptium provides DEB packages for Debian and Ubuntu-style systems, and its documentation specifically notes that Linux Mint users should use UBUNTU_CODENAME instead of VERSION_CODENAME when configuring the repository.
Install Java 25:
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sudo apt update |
Verify the Java version:
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java -version |
You should see output showing Java 25. If multiple Java versions are installed, you can use the full Java path later in the systemd service to avoid accidentally launching Minecraft with the wrong runtime.
Create a Minecraft server user and directory
Do not run the Minecraft server as root. Create a dedicated service account and server directory:
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sudo useradd --system
--home-dir /opt/minecraft --shell /usr/sbin/nologin minecraft |
Switch into the server directory:
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cd /opt/minecraft |
Download the Minecraft server .jar
Download the official Java Edition server .jar from Mojang's Minecraft server download page or from the latest release article. Mojang's server download page states that downloading the software means agreeing to the Minecraft End User License Agreement and Privacy Policy, so this step should be done from the official Minecraft source.
Use a browser to open the official Minecraft server download page, right-click the server .jar link, and copy the link address. Then download it on the Linux Mint server:
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sudo -u minecraft wget -O /opt/minecraft/server.jar '<paste official Minecraft server.jar URL here>' |
For future-proof documentation, I recommend naming the downloaded file server.jar and documenting the actual Minecraft version separately in a text file:
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echo "Minecraft Java
Server installed from official Mojang server.jar link" | sudo tee
/opt/minecraft/README.txt |
First start and EULA acceptance
Start the server once to generate the initial configuration files:
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sudo -u minecraft /usr/lib/jvm/temurin-25-jdk-amd64/bin/java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar /opt/minecraft/server.jar nogui |
The server will stop and create an eula.txt file. Edit it:
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sudo vi /opt/minecraft/eula.txt |
Change:
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eula=false |
to:
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eula=true |
Save the file. Mojang's server download page explains that the server is run from the command line with Java and that the nogui option can be omitted only if the graphical interface is desired. On a Linux server, nogui is normally the right choice.
Start the server again:
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sudo -u minecraft /usr/lib/jvm/temurin-25-jdk-amd64/bin/java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar /opt/minecraft/server.jar nogui |
When the server finishes loading, you should see a message indicating that it is ready. Stop it with:
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Ctrl + C |
Configure basic server settings
The main configuration file is:
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/opt/minecraft/server.properties |
Edit it:
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sudo vi /opt/minecraft/server.properties |
For a simple home server, these are the most important settings to review:
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server-port=25565 |
Leave server-ip= blank unless you have a specific reason to bind the server to only one address. For most home and lab servers, leaving it blank allows Minecraft to listen normally on the system's available interfaces.
Open the firewall
Minecraft Java Edition normally listens on TCP port 25565. If UFW is enabled on Linux Mint, allow that port:
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sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp |
Find the Linux server's IP address:
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ip -o -4 addr show up scope global |
You should see an address such as:
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192.168.1.50/24 |
The Windows client will use that IP address to connect.
Manage the server with systemd
A manual command is useful for testing, but a real server should be managed by systemd. Create a service file:
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sudo vi /etc/systemd/system/minecraft.service |
Add:
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[Unit] |
Reload systemd and start the service:
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sudo systemctl daemon-reload |
Check status:
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systemctl status minecraft |
Watch the live logs:
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journalctl -u minecraft -f |
Useful management commands:
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sudo systemctl start
minecraft |
Troubleshooting Java version errors
If the server fails with an error such as:
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UnsupportedClassVersionError |
the Minecraft server .jar was compiled for a newer Java runtime than the one used to start it. Since Minecraft 26.1 requires Java 25, the fix is to make sure the systemd service uses Java 25 directly:
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/usr/lib/jvm/temurin-25-jdk-amd64/bin/java -version |
If that shows Java 25, use that exact path in the ExecStart= line of the systemd service.
Install the Minecraft client on Windows 11
On the Windows 11 PC, install the Minecraft Launcher from the Microsoft Store or from the official Minecraft download page. Minecraft's download page says the launcher can be installed through the Microsoft Store or from Minecraft.net, and the official Help Center provides instructions for downloading and installing the launcher.
On Windows 11:
1. Open Microsoft Store.
2. Search for Minecraft Launcher.
3. Install Minecraft Launcher.
4. Open the launcher.
5. Sign in with the Microsoft account that owns Minecraft.
6. Select Minecraft: Java Edition.
7. Use Latest Release, or choose the exact version that matches the server.
8. Click Play.
The client and server should run the same Minecraft Java version. Mojang's 26.1.2 release notes instruct players to use the Minecraft Launcher and set it to 'Latest Release' to install the release.
If you need to select a specific version:
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Minecraft Launcher → Minecraft: Java Edition → Installations → New Installation |
Then choose the version that matches the server.
Connect from Windows 11 to the Linux Mint server
Once Minecraft Java Edition is running on Windows 11:
9. Click Multiplayer.
10. Click Add Server or Direct Connection.
11. Enter the Linux Mint server IP address.
12. Click Join Server.
If the server IP is:
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192.168.1.50 |
and the server is using the default port, enter:
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192.168.1.50 |
If you changed the port, enter it like this:
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192.168.1.50:25565 |
If the client cannot connect, test from Windows PowerShell:
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Test-NetConnection 192.168.1.50 -Port 25565 |
A successful result should show:
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TcpTestSucceeded : True |
If that test fails, check these items:
· The Minecraft service is running on Linux.
· The Linux firewall allows TCP 25565.
· The Windows client is on the same network or has a route to the server.
· The client is running Minecraft: Java Edition, not Bedrock Edition.
· The client version matches the server version.
· The server.properties file uses the correct port.
Optional: allow only known players
For a private server, consider enabling the whitelist:
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sudo vi /opt/minecraft/server.properties |
Set:
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white-list=true |
Restart the server:
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sudo systemctl restart minecraft |
Add a player from the Minecraft server console or by using the server command interface:
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whitelist add PlayerName |
You can send commands to the running server through the service logs only if you have set up a console method such as screen, tmux, or a management wrapper. For a basic setup, stopping the service and running the server manually for administration is sometimes simpler.
Final checklist
A working Linux Mint Minecraft Java server should have:
· Linux Mint installed and updated.
· Java 25 installed.
· Official Minecraft Java server.jar downloaded from Mojang.
· Dedicated minecraft service account.
· EULA accepted.
· server.properties reviewed.
· TCP port 25565 allowed through the firewall.
· minecraft.service enabled and running.
· Windows 11 client running Minecraft: Java Edition.
· Client version matching the server version.
This setup gives you a stable vanilla Minecraft Java server that starts automatically, runs as a non-root user, logs through systemd, and is accessible from Windows 11 clients on the network.
References
Adoptium. (n.d.). Linux (RPM/DEB/APK) installer packages. Eclipse Foundation. https://adoptium.net/installation/linux
Linux Mint. (n.d.). Download Linux Mint 22.3. https://linuxmint.com/download.php
Microsoft. (n.d.). Minecraft Launcher. Xbox. https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/minecraft-launcher/9pgw18npbzv5
Mojang. (2026, March 24). Minecraft Java Edition 26.1. Minecraft. https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-java-edition-26-1
Mojang. (2026, April 9). Minecraft Java Edition 26.1.2. Minecraft. https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-java-edition-26-1-2
Mojang. (n.d.-a). Download Minecraft & server software. Minecraft. https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download
Mojang. (n.d.-b). Download the Minecraft: Java Edition server. Minecraft. https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download/server
Mojang. (n.d.-c). How to download and install the Minecraft Launcher. Minecraft Help Center. https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/23907917790093-How-to-Download-and-Install-the-