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# The Best VPS for a Minecraft Server (A 2025 Buyer's Guide)

So, you're ready to create your own private Minecraft world—a place where you make the rules, invite your friends, and build without limits. You've likely looked at Realms or shared hosting, but you want more power, more control, and the ability to run mods and plugins.

You've come to the right place. Using a Windows VPS (Virtual Private Server) is the ultimate way to host a Minecraft server.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We'll cover the most important question—how much RAM you need—and provide a full, step-by-step tutorial on how to set up your very own Java Edition server on a BlastVPS Windows Server.

# Why Use a VPS for Minecraft? The 3 Key Advantages

Before we get into the "how," let's cover the "why." A VPS is superior to other hosting options for three simple reasons:

  1. Full Control & Mod Support: Unlike restrictive services like Realms, a VPS gives you full administrator access. You can install any version of Minecraft, any modpack (like Forge or Fabric), any plugin (with Spigot or Paper), and customize every server property.
  2. Dedicated Performance: The resources you pay for are yours alone. If you get a plan with 4 CPU Cores and 8GB of RAM, that power is dedicated to running your Minecraft world smoothly, without lag from other users.
  3. It's Always Online: A VPS runs 24/7 in a professional data center. You don't need to leave your own computer on for your friends to be able to join your world whenever they want.

# How Much RAM Does a Minecraft Server Need?

This is the most critical question. The answer depends entirely on two things: how many players will be online at once, and how many mods/plugins you plan to use. Mods, especially large ones, can significantly increase RAM usage.

For a standard (vanilla) or lightly modded server, here are our official recommendations:

Player Count Recommended RAM Ideal BlastVPS Plan
1 - 5 Players 2 GB - 4 GB VPS-Basic
5 - 15 Players 4 GB - 6 GB VPS-Standard
15 - 30 Players 6 GB - 8 GB VPS-Pro
30+ Players 8 GB - 12 GB+ VPS-Enterprise

Pro Tip: It's always better to have slightly more RAM than you think you'll need. Lag is the #1 killer of a fun Minecraft experience. Our Windows VPS plans (opens new window) make it easy to start with a smaller plan and instantly upgrade later if your community grows.

# CPU and Storage: The Unsung Heroes of Performance

While RAM is crucial, two other hardware components are vital for a lag-free experience:

  • CPU (Processor): Minecraft server performance, especially for generating new chunks and handling complex redstone or many players, relies heavily on single-core CPU speed. That's why we use high-performance AMD Ryzen™ CPUs, which provide the fast clock speeds needed to prevent server-side lag (TPS drops).
  • Storage: The speed of your server's drive affects how quickly the world loads and saves. We use NVMe SSDs, which are up to 10x faster than traditional SSDs, ensuring lightning-fast chunk loading and saving.

# Step-by-Step: How to Set Up a Minecraft Server on a Windows VPS

Ready to build? Here’s how to get your Java Edition server running in about 15 minutes.

# Step 1: Connect to Your VPS

First, you'll need to connect to your new server. You'll receive an IP Address, Username, and Password from us after your purchase.

  1. Open the "Remote Desktop Connection" app on your Windows PC.
  2. Enter the IP address of your VPS and click "Connect."
  3. Enter "Administrator" as the username and your provided password.

You should now see the Windows Server desktop.

# Step 2: Install Java

Minecraft: Java Edition requires... well, Java! We need to install the Java Development Kit (JDK).

  1. On your VPS desktop, open a web browser (like Microsoft Edge).
  2. Go to the official Java download site. We recommend Adoptium (opens new window) for its clear, simple licensing.
  3. Download the latest LTS (Long-Term Support) version for Windows x64. It will be a .msi installer file.
  4. Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts, accepting the default settings.

# Step 3: Download the Minecraft Server Software

Now, let's get the official server file from Mojang.

  1. Open your browser again and go to the official Minecraft Java Edition Server Download Page (opens new window).
  2. Click the link to download the server.jar file.
  3. Create a new folder on your desktop called "Minecraft Server" and move the downloaded server.jar file into it.

# Step 4: Run the Server for the First Time

This step is to generate the configuration files.

  1. Open the "Minecraft Server" folder.
  2. Double-click the server.jar file. You will see a few new files appear, and then it will seem to close. This is normal.
  3. You will now see a new file called eula.txt. Open it with Notepad.
  4. Change the line eula=false to eula=true and save the file. This signifies you agree to Mojang's End User License Agreement.

# Step 5: Configure and Launch Your Server

We're almost there! We just need to tell the server how much RAM to use.

  1. In your "Minecraft Server" folder, right-click, select "New" -> "Text Document."

  2. Name the new file start.bat. (Make sure you can see file extensions and it's not start.bat.txt).

  3. Right-click start.bat and choose "Edit."

  4. Paste the following code into the file. This example is for a server with 4GB of RAM.

    java -Xms1024M -Xmx4096M -jar server.jar nogui
pause
    • -Xmx4096M sets the maximum RAM to 4096MB (4GB). Adjust this number to match your VPS plan (e.g., 8192M for 8GB).
    • -Xms1024M sets the starting RAM to 1024MB (1GB).

  5. Save and close the file.

  6. Double-click start.bat to launch your server! A command prompt window will open. When it's finished loading, you will see the following output:

    [Server thread/INFO]: Starting minecraft server version X.XX.X
[Server thread/INFO]: Loading properties
[Server thread/INFO]: Default game type: SURVIVAL
[Server thread/INFO]: Generating keypair
[Server thread/INFO]: Starting Minecraft server on *:25565
[Server thread/INFO]: Preparing level "world"
[Server thread/INFO]: Preparing start region for dimension minecraft:overworld
[Server thread/INFO]: Done (XX.XXXs)! For help, type "help"

    The final "Done!" message means your server is officially online.

# Step 6: Allow Minecraft Through the Firewall

The final step is to tell Windows Firewall to allow players to connect.

  1. Open the Windows Start Menu and search for "Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security."
  2. Click on "Inbound Rules" on the left.
  3. Click "New Rule..." on the right.
  4. Select "Port," then click Next.
  5. Select "TCP" and enter 25565 in the "Specific local ports" box. Click Next.
  6. Select "Allow the connection," then click Next.
  7. Leave all boxes checked (Domain, Private, Public) and click Next.
  8. Give it a name like "Minecraft Server TCP" and click Finish.

Repeat the process one more time, but in step 5, select "UDP" instead of "TCP". Name the rule "Minecraft Server UDP".

That's it! Your friends can now connect to your server using your VPS IP address.

# The Best VPS for Your Minecraft Adventure

Setting up a server is incredibly rewarding, and it starts with the right hardware. A powerful CPU and fast NVMe SSD storage are just as important as RAM for a smooth, lag-free experience.

Ready to build your world? Check out our high-performance Windows VPS plans (opens new window) and launch your new Minecraft server today!

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