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Edit Minecraft server properties

Settings → Server properties changes whitelist, render distance and other gameplay settings without editing the file by hand.

29 Sept 2026·1 min read·PylonHosting
On this page
1. Open Settings → Server properties2. Lower render and simulation distance if RAM is tight3. Turn on whitelist4. Save, then restart

Use the Server properties page for common gameplay and performance settings. Connection ports, bind addresses and remote administration are intentionally not on this page. Numbered yellow markers show what to change.

1. Open Settings → Server properties

On a Minecraft server, click Settings, then Server properties. You can still open server.properties in Files if you need a key this page does not show.

1 Users, 2 Webhooks, 3 Server properties.
1 Users, 2 Webhooks, 3 Server properties.

2. Lower render and simulation distance if RAM is tight

Render distance (view-distance) is how many chunks each player receives. Higher values use more CPU, memory and bandwidth. 8–12 is a good starting range.

Simulation distance is how far mobs, redstone and crops keep ticking. 6–10 is usually enough for a community server. If the console shows an out-of-memory crash, lower both, remove heavy plugins, or upgrade RAM.

1 Render distance. 2 Simulation distance. 3 Save properties, then restart if needed.
1 Render distance. 2 Simulation distance. 3 Save properties, then restart if needed.

3. Turn on whitelist

Whitelist means only players you add can join. After you enable it, add names from the Overview console with whitelist add PlayerName, or use the Players tab then the console. Enforce whitelist immediately kicks people you remove so they cannot stay connected.

Difficulty, default game mode, PvP, hardcore, allow-flight, spawn protection and the server list message (MOTD) are on the same page.

1 Whitelist. 2 Enforce whitelist immediately. 3 Save properties, then restart if needed.
1 Whitelist. 2 Enforce whitelist immediately. 3 Save properties, then restart if needed.

4. Save, then restart

Press Save properties. Saved Minecraft properties take effect after a server restart. The server port and bind address are set from your assigned allocation on every start, so changing them in the raw file cannot take the server offline.

For keys this page does not show, open Files and edit server.properties, then restart.
For keys this page does not show, open Files and edit server.properties, then restart.
  1. 1
    Open Server properties

    Settings → Server properties.

  2. 2
    Change distance or whitelist

    Lower distance if you run out of RAM. Enable whitelist for a private server.

  3. 3
    Save and restart

    Changes apply after the next restart.

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