How to make a Paper Minecraft server: Java Edition setup guide

To make a Paper Minecraft server, install the Java version required by your Minecraft release, download Paper from the official site, start it once, accept the EULA, and start it again with an explicit memory limit. Back up the directory before later updates.

This guide covers a self-managed Linux server first, then shows what a managed panel does for you.

1. Create a dedicated server directory

Do not run the server from your home directory or as root. Create a service account and a directory that account owns. The exact user-management commands vary by distribution, but your finished directory should contain only this server's files.

Move into that directory before downloading or starting Paper. Relative paths such as world/, plugins/, and logs/ are created from the working directory.

2. Install the correct Java version

Minecraft releases change their Java requirements. Check the current requirement in Paper's getting-started guide rather than copying a years-old command from a forum post.

Confirm the active runtime:

java -version

If several Java versions are installed, make sure the service uses the same binary you tested in your shell.

3. Download Paper from the official source

Download a stable build from papermc.io/downloads. Keep the version in the filename or rename it consistently, such as paper.jar.

Only download server software and plugins from sources you trust. A server JAR runs with the permissions of the service account and can read or modify everything that account can access.

4. Start once and accept the EULA

Start the JAR with a conservative heap and no desktop GUI:

java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui

The first run stops after generating eula.txt. Read the Minecraft EULA, then change eula=false to eula=true only if you accept it.

Start the server again. A successful startup creates the world, configuration files, logs, and plugin directory. Wait until the console reports that startup is complete, then type stop for a clean shutdown.

5. Configure the server before inviting players

Open server.properties while the server is stopped. Review at least:

• online-mode, which should normally remain enabled.
• motd, difficulty, and gamemode.
• white-list for a private group.
• view-distance and simulation-distance.
• server-port, normally 25565 for Java Edition.

Do not change settings you do not understand merely because an optimization paste says so. Make one group of changes at a time and keep a copy of the prior configuration.

6. Add service management and backups

A production server should run under a service manager such as systemd, not an unattended terminal multiplexer. Configure a graceful stop timeout so Paper can save before the process is killed.

Create the first backup before installing plugins or importing a world. A useful backup includes worlds, plugin data, configuration, allowlists, and operator data. See the complete backup and restore guide.

7. Add plugins carefully

Paper supports Bukkit-style and Paper plugins. Place compatible JARs in plugins/, restart, and verify them with plugins in the console. Never assume a Fabric or Forge mod is a Paper plugin.

Follow the plugin installation and troubleshooting guide for dependencies, duplicate versions, and log errors.

The managed-panel path

On gummies.cloud, gummysnacks creates the Paper server, tracks the process, and exposes its console, files, settings, TPS, backups, and SFTP access from the panel. You still own the important decisions, such as version, memory, plugins, and world configuration, without maintaining the service wrapper yourself.

At launch, Paper is the native one-click server type. Other game types and customer templates are roadmap items and are not implied by this guide.

Sources and review

Reviewed July 15, 2026 against PaperMC's getting-started documentation and Paper's update procedure. Always recheck Paper's Java requirement for the Minecraft version you are installing.