Introduction: How to Setup a Modded Minecraft Server (1.12.2)
Minecraft is a fun game to play with friends, and modding the game can add many more possibilities. Server hosting websites or Minecraft Realms cost a monthly subscription to use. If you don't have the money to have a separate website host the server for you, setting up your own server for free will be your best option. Here's how to setup a modded Minecraft server in 1.12.2 (works with most past and future updates, you can find the specific .jar file for whatever version you're hosting).
Supplies
What you will need:
- A computer that can run modded Minecraft and a server at the same time (4gb of ram should be minimum)
- A copy of Minecraft
- A secure internet connection
- Access to your router's login information
Step 1: Install Minecraft, Add Forge Mod Loader
In order to play on a Minecraft server, you need... Minecraft! If you've purchased Minecraft, you can download it at https://my.minecraft.net/en-us/store/minecraft/#ow...
It'll download MinecraftInstaller.msi, launch it and follow the instructions to install it. Once installed, you will want to launch vanilla 1.12.2 at least once in order to install all the important stuff. Under the Installations tab, click + New, then under Versions, select 1.12.2. Select 1.12.2 from the drop down menu, and press PLAY. Once it fully loads to the menu screen, exit the game.
Next, you'll want to download and install Forge, go to this link and click on Windows Installer. https://files.minecraftforge.net/
Launch it, and click OK. Wait for it to install.
Step 2: Install Forge Server, Accept EULA
In order to start hosting a server, you need these files. Reopen the Forge installer and select Install Server, and the location you want it to be installed.
Now that its been installed, double click on forge-1.12.2-14.23.5.2838-universal.jar to launch it. once you do that, the folders logs, mods, and eula.txt will appear in the folder.
Double click on the eula.txt to open it, and change the false to true. ctrl+s or click File then Save, then close the txt. Once that's done, relaunch the .jar. You'll see a bunch more files appear in the Server folder, and a window open up titled Minecraft server. Congrats! You now have a local modded Minecraft server! But we're not here for that, we're trying to create a server that anyone can connect to. Close the Minecraft server window.
Step 3: Gather Your Mods
You can't have a modded Minecraft server without mods! You'll be able to find almost every mod ever made at this link https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods?filte...
Once you download the mods' .jar file, make a copy of it. Open your server's mods folder and paste the mods there. Then you'll want to move the original mods you copied to your .minecraft folder. to find it, press the windows key and type %appdata% into the search box. Once there, click on .minecraft. In there should be a folder labeled mods. If there isn't, make one. Put all of the same mod files into the mods folder.
Step 4: Reduce Lag
Before you even launch the server again, there is a way to majorly reduce the lag on the server and your computer. Right click in the Server folder and create a new text document. Title it Server Launcher. Open it, and copy and paste the following text:
java -Xmx2048M -Xms2048M -jar forge-1.12.2-14.23.5.2838-universal.jar -o true nogui
The number 2048 actually says how much ram the server will be using, 2048 being 2gb, or 4096 being 4gb. replace the number to suit how much ram you want to use.
Once the text has been pasted into the text file, select File, then Save As. Change the Save as Type to All Files, and rename the file from Server Launcher.txt to Server Launcher.bat. Now double click on the .bat file every time you want to start the server. Launch the server, let it fully load, then close it.
Step 5: Port Forward the Server
(Since this section deals with IP addresses, there will be no pictures for privacy stuff, cause IDK how IPs can be used to harm)
The server now works locally! Anyone on the same IP as yours can now join the server. In order to allow people not on the same IP to connect,you'll need to port forward your server. To do this, google Whats my IP? on Google. Take the number it gives you, copy it, and paste it into the address bar. This will most likely take you to your router's website where you can manage your router's settings. Enter the password to your router to continue. My router is a Linksys, you'll want to google around to find the steps with your specific router. You'll want to find the Port Range Forwarding section of your router, and enter in the following information.
Application Name: Minecraft server
Start ~ End Port: 25565 - 25565
Protocol: TCP
Device IP: ENTER COMPUTER'S IP HERE
Enabled: True
In order to get your computer's IP, hold down the windows key and press R. In the box that pops up, type cmd. When the command prompt opens up, type ipconfig. Look for the line labeled as IPv4 Address, and copy the IP address there. Type that number in for your Device IP above.
Step 6: All Done!
The server should now be up and running! Double click the .bat file to launch the server, start up Minecraft, and enter in your public IP (when you googled "what's my IP") in the multiplayer menu. Connect to the server, and enjoy your new world!

Participated in the
Games Contest
2 People Made This Project!
- avishairoyal made it!
- williamrisseeuw1 made it!
108 Comments
Question 1 year ago on Step 4
every time i try to launch from the .bat file i see the command prompt window flash and then nothing happens
Answer 5 months ago
the problem is that you are using a newer java then what it needs. to fix this you will need to replace the java in the .bat file with "(java path here)".
Reply 4 months ago
i tried but there was no apparent change.
Reply 4 months ago
i had to replace forge-1.12.2-14.23.5.2859.jar with minecraft_server.1.12.2.jar
Answer 10 months ago
That happens to me as well, launching .bat file and command prompt flash. You should open the server using .jar file.
Tip 10 months ago on Step 5
On step 5, you can also just put 10.0.0.1 for the IP
Reply 4 months ago
No, that is the default gateway, and the entrance to your router's settings. To connect to local, you must put your local ip, not the default gateway. And it's only 10.X.X.X if it's a type A ip address
Question 4 months ago
after a while, my server stops working
6 months ago on Step 5
in the fifth step, where is the address bar that i need to copy it too
Question 1 year ago on Step 4
I'm having trouble with step 4 & 5, I did accept eula if that matters. Pls help, my friend and I are trying to start a YT series soon :'(
Question 1 year ago
I need help me and my friends are trying to get into a modded muti player server and our game can't connect to it
Question 1 year ago
I put eula true and batch does not open pls help
Question 2 years ago
when i download the cursed forge installer it doesnt give me a universal file and when i try to run the 2 files i did get they do nothing (i tried downloading universal separately it has the same reasult)
Answer 1 year ago
change the universal.jar on the .bat to your current forge jar
Question 2 years ago on Step 2
No mod floder apperas instead a 1.12.2 ,json file apperas
Answer 1 year ago
make one if dont appear
2 years ago
Whenever I open the .bat file a command panel opens for a second, then closes. Is this supposed to happen?
Reply 1 year ago
the replace forge-1.12.2.23.5.2838-universal.jar with your current forge file like *forge-1.12.2-14.23.5.2855.jar* for me
Reply 1 year ago
it happen to me too, you just gotta make sure that the -Xmx????M has a bigger/same value than/like the -Xms????M value
Reply 1 year ago
You need The Same Value Tho