Minecraft server in Switzerland: set up your own server step by step

Your own Minecraft server means your world, your rules and a server that keeps running when your PC is switched off. This guide takes you from the order to the first evening with friends on our Minecraft server hosting in Lugano: which edition to choose, how to order, connect and invite players, how to add plugins and mods, and how backups keep your world safe. How much memory you need is covered in a separate guide: How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?

Why a Minecraft server in Switzerland?#

Ping depends above all on distance. Our game servers run in our data centre in Lugano, Ticino, in the middle of Europe, so players in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria and France connect with low ping. On top of that you get a Swiss provider with prices in CHF or EUR (ThunderHosting is not subject to VAT, so the price shown is the price you pay) and support from Ticino in English, German, French and Italian.

Compared with a server on your own computer, a hosted server is online without your PC, needs no port forwarding on your home router and does not share your home connection. Every server is protected by network-wide layer 3 DDoS protection and has its own firewall.

Step 1: Java or Bedrock?#

The first decision is the edition your players use. Java Edition runs on PC and Mac and is where plugins and mods live. Bedrock Edition is the version for phones, tablets, consoles and Windows. On our Minecraft page you can choose between these server types:

A mixed group? Choose Paper or Spigot and turn on crossplay in the Plugins tab: the control panel installs Geyser and Floodgate, and Bedrock players join the Java server with the same address and port, using their Microsoft account. Consoles only list featured servers, so friends on Xbox, PlayStation or Switch need one of the workarounds in our guide Minecraft Bedrock and crossplay.

Not sure yet? Start with Paper. You can switch to another server type or game later on the same subscription; just keep in mind that changing the game reinstalls the server and deletes its files and backups, so download your world first.

Step 2: Choose a plan#

Our plans are sized by RAM, CPU and disk, not by player slots. As a rule of thumb, Starter 2 GB (CHF 6 a month) is enough for a few friends on Paper, Vanilla or Fabric and for Bedrock; Forge and NeoForge need at least Standard 4 GB (CHF 11); modpacks start at 6 GB, so Pro 8 GB (CHF 20) or Ultra 16 GB (CHF 36). Our RAM guide explains the numbers and what else uses memory, and the order form never lets you go below the minimum of the server type you pick.

You pay monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, yearly or for two years in advance, in CHF or EUR. Need an unusual mix? With Build your own you set RAM, CPU, disk and backup slots with sliders. If you are unsure, start small: an upgrade takes effect within minutes and your world stays as it is. Details are in Ordering and plans.

Step 3: Order and start the server#

1. Open Minecraft server hosting and click Order, or order a specific server type there. Minecraft is then already selected and you choose the plan.
2. Choose the server type and the Minecraft version your group plays, and accept the Minecraft EULA.
3. Choose the billing period and pay. With prepaid balance the order is paid instantly and the server is created right away.
4. Wait for the first start, which can take a few minutes. When the control panel shows Running, your server is ready.

Want to be an operator in your own world? As on any Minecraft server, use the command op followed by your Minecraft name; on our servers you type it in the web console of the control panel (without a slash).

Step 4: Connect#

Every Minecraft Java server has its own address name. Players need only this address, no port: the control panel creates the DNS records, including the SRV record, for you.

1. In the control panel, open the Overview tab and copy the address from the Connect card.
2. Start Minecraft: Java Edition and choose Multiplayer, then Add Server.
3. Paste the address into Server Address, give the server a name and click Done.
4. Select the server and click Join Server.

Bedrock players tap Play, open the Servers tab, tap Add Server and enter the address and port from the control panel. A brand-new address can take a few minutes to work everywhere; until then, use the IP address and port from the Connect card. Step by step with screenshots: Connect to your Minecraft Java server.

Step 5: Invite your friends#

• Share the address. That is all Java players need.
• Match the version. Each player's Minecraft version must match the server's version, shown on the Game tab. On Paper or Spigot, players with newer versions can also join when the server runs ViaVersion.
• Match the mods. On Forge, NeoForge, Fabric and modpack servers, every player installs the same modpack in the same version in their launcher (CurseForge, Modrinth App or FTB App). Plugins on Paper or Spigot need nothing on the player's side.
• Keep it private. With the whitelist on, only the players you add on the Game settings tab can join.
• Public or hidden. On the Settings tab you choose whether the server appears in the game's public server list. A hidden server can still be joined by everyone who has the address.
• Set the player limit. The number of players is the max-players value in server.properties, which you edit in the config editor.

Step 6: Plugins, mods and your own world#

On Paper and Spigot, the Plugins tab searches Modrinth and Hangar and installs plugins that match your version. On Fabric, Forge and NeoForge, the Mods tab finds mods for your loader and version and offers their required dependencies. Modpacks are installed as a whole, with the right loader and Java version. Installed entries show when an update is available, and one click updates or removes them.

Bringing a world from your PC or another host? Upload it in the Files tab or with any SFTP client, such as FileZilla or WinSCP, then restart the server. See Mods, plugins and SFTP.

Step 7: Backups and schedules#

• Automatic daily backups, kept for 7 days and stored outside the game server host, so they are safe even if a host fails. With the included backup option, our support restores them for you on request. To restore automatic backups yourself, choose a backup option with self-service restore (extra charge) when you order or later on the Plan & resources tab.
• Manual backup slots (2 on Starter up to 7 on Ultra): make one with a clear name before every big change, such as a new plugin or a Minecraft update.
• Lock an important backup so newer ones never replace it.
• Restore a manual backup yourself: the whole server, or open the backup and restore only a world folder or a single config file. With self-service restore, the same works for automatic backups.
• Schedules in your time zone, for example the ready-made daily restart with warnings to players, or backup then restart.

Restoring a backup replaces the current files, so make a fresh manual backup first if you might want today's state back. All options are explained in Backups, schedules and wipes.

When the server lags#

On Paper, Spigot, Forge and NeoForge you measure TPS with one click in the Performance card on the Overview tab, and the control panel tells you whether more CPU, more RAM or a look at your plugins will help. Lowering view-distance and simulation-distance on the Game settings tab (8 and 6 are good values) often helps right away. Crashed servers restart by themselves, and we explain the cause in plain words. More in Lag and TPS.

New to game servers in general? Read What is game server hosting? or see all games on our game hosting page.

Frequently asked questions#

How much does a Minecraft server in Switzerland cost?#

Our Minecraft servers in Lugano start at CHF 6 a month with Starter 2 GB, enough for a few friends on Paper, Vanilla or Fabric. You pay in CHF or EUR, and no VAT is added.

Can Java and Bedrock players play together?#

Yes. On a Paper or Spigot server, turn on crossplay in the Plugins tab. Bedrock players then join with the same address and port, using their Microsoft account.

Does the server keep running when my PC is off?#

Yes. The server runs in our data centre in Lugano, independently of your computer, and players can join whenever it is running.

Can I upload my existing world?#

Yes. Upload it in the Files tab or with any SFTP client, then restart the server.

Can I switch from Paper to a modpack later?#

Yes, on the Game tab with Change game. The server is reinstalled and keeps its address, but its files and backups are deleted, so download your world first. If the modpack needs more resources, the form shows the upgrade it needs.

How many players can join?#

There are no player slots: the limit is the max-players value in server.properties. What your server can handle depends on its resources and on how your players play.