Minecraft server properties enable administrators to tweak different elements of their Minecraft server, such as using popular tools. These adjustments impact gameplay mechanics, including game mode, difficulty, and world generation options. They also regulate server performance by establishing the maximum number of players and managing server view distance. The following guide outlines each setting and what it does.

Note: The settings listed are the default as of Minecraft version 1.21.9.
Learn how to edit Minecraft server settings here.

accepts-transfers=false
Sets whether to accept incoming transfers via a transfer packet.
allow-flight=false
Sets whether flying is allowed or not in Survival mode. Some mods may require this setting to be set to true.
broadcast-console-to-ops=true
Sets whether to send console command outputs to all online operators.
broadcast-rcon-to-ops=true
Sets whether to send rcon console command outputs to all online operators when enable-rcon=true.
bug-report-link=
Sets the URL for the report_bug server link.
difficulty=easy
Sets the difficulty of the game. The values are peaceful, easy, normal, and hard.
enable-code-of-conduct=false
Sets whether the server will look for code of conduct files to display to players based on their language.
enable-jmx-monitoring=false
Sets whether JMX technology (Java Management Extensions) is enabled or not.
enable-query=false
Sets whether the query is enabled. Server lists use it to retrieve information about servers.
enable-rcon=false
Sets whether remote access to the server console is enabled or not. Recommended to leave false on, as RCON does not support encryption.
enable-status=true
Sets the privacy of showing up on the server list. When set to false, the server is hidden but still allows connections.
enforce-secure-profile=true
Sets whether only players with a Mojang-signed public key can join. This is required for the chat reporting system.
enforce-whitelist=false
Sets whether to enforce the whitelist. When set to true, players not on the list get kicked immediately after reloading the whitelist file.
entity-broadcast-range-percentage=100
Sets the minimum distance at which entities must be for players to be visible. A lower value means a shorter distance and is recommended when experiencing significant lag.
force-gamemode=false
Sets whether players are forced to the server's default gamemode on joining, regardless of whether they changed gamemodes when logging out.
function-permission-level=2
Sets the default permission level required to run functions.
gamemode=survival
Sets the gamemode on the server. The values are survival, creative, adventure, and spectator.
generate-structures=true
Sets whether structures such as villages generate in new chunks.
generator-settings={}
Sets world generation customization. Used for presets like minecraft:flat or minecraft:single_biome_surface.
hardcore=false
Sets whether hardcore mode is enabled. When set to true, server difficulty defaults to hard, and players are set to spectator mode after death.
hide-online-players=false
Sets whether sending a player list on status requests is disabled.
initial-disabled-packs=
List of datapacks not to be auto-enabled during world creation. Separate datapacks with a comma.
initial-enabled-packs=vanilla
List of datapacks to be auto-enabled on world creation. Separate datapacks with a comma.
level-name=world
Sets the name of the world and folder save.
level-seed=
Generates a world seed based on the value. Characters and numbers that are both positive and negative can be used. If left blank, it generates a random seed.
Example: level-seed=Steve12345 or level-seed=-98723453134
level-type=minecraft:normal
Sets the generated world preset.
minecraft:normal - Standard world with hills, valleys, water, etc.
minecraft:flat - A flat world with no features.
minecraft:large_biomes - Same as default but all biomes are larger.
minecraft:amplified - Same as default but world-generation height limit is increased.
minecraft:single_biome_surface - A world where the entire overworld consists of one biome.
log-ips=true
Sets whether IP addresses appear in log messages on the server console or the log file.
management-server-enabled=false
Sets whether the Minecraft Server Management Protocol is enabled.
management-server-host=localhost
Sets the host IP that the Minecraft Server Management Protocol starts on.
management-server-port=0
Sets the port on which the Minecraft Server Management Protocol starts.
management-server-secret=
Sets the secret token for the Management Protocol. Automatically generated if left empty.
management-server-tls-enabled=true
Sets whether the Minecraft Server Management Protocol uses TLS encryption.
management-server-tls-keystore=
Sets the path to the keystore file used for Management Protocol TLS.
management-server-tls-keystore-password=
Sets the password to the keystore file used for Management Protocol TLS.
max-chained-neighbor-updates=1000000
Sets the limit of the number of consecutive neighbor updates before skipping additional ones. Negative values disable the limit.
max-players=20
Sets the maximum number of players on the server. A higher number of players consumes more server resources.
max-tick-time=60000
Sets the time a tick is allowed to take before the server stops (watchdog). The value is in milliseconds. Recommended to disable for heavy modpacks by setting it to -1.
max-world-size=29999984
Sets the maximum block size of the world border. A higher value has no impact. Recommended to leave on default.
Example: max-world-size=1000 gives a 2000x2000 world border.
motd=A Minecraft Server
Sets the message of the day displayed in the server list.
network-compression-threshold=256
Sets the packet size threshold for compression. Recommended to leave on default.
online-mode=true
Sets whether the server checks if joining players are listed on the Minecraft account database. Recommended to leave on true to protect the server from fake accounts.
op-permission-level=4
Sets the default permission levels of operators.
pause-when-empty-seconds=60
Sets how many seconds must pass after no player has been online before the server is paused.
player-idle-timeout=0
Sets whether idle players are kicked from the server after a certain amount of time. The value is in minutes.
prevent-proxy-connections=false
Sets whether players whose ISP/AS differs from the Mojang authentication server are kicked.
query.port=25565
Sets the query port for when enable-query=true.
rate-limit=0
Sets the maximum number of packets a player can send before being kicked. 0 disables this feature.
rcon.password=
Sets the rcon password for when enable-rcon=true.
rcon.port=25575
Sets the rcon port for when enable-rcon=true.
region-file-compression=deflate
Sets the region chunk compression algorithm. The values are deflate, lz4, or none.
require-resource-pack=false
Setting the value to true prompts joining players to accept the server resource pack. Declining will disconnect players from the server.
resource-pack=
Sets the resource pack URL when adding a resource pack to the server.
resource-pack-id=
Sets a unique optional UUID for a resource pack to identify it to clients.
resource-pack-prompt=
Sets a custom message to be shown on the resource pack prompt when require-resource-pack=true.
resource-pack-sha1=
Sets an optional SHA-1 digest of the resource pack in lowercase hexadecimal. Verifies the integrity of the pack.
server-ip=
Sets the IP address the server binds to. Recommended to leave empty.
server-port=25565
Sets the port of the server.
simulation-distance=10
Sets the maximum distance in chunks that the server updates entities and blocks. A lower value is recommended when experiencing significant lag.
spawn-protection=16
Sets the side length of the square spawn protection area. If operators are not present on the server, spawn protection is automatically disabled.
status-heartbeat-interval=0
Sets the interval in which the management server sends heartbeat notifications.
sync-chunk-writes=true
Sets whether synchronous chunk writes are enabled or not. Recommended leaving on true.
text-filtering-config=
Sets the configuration for the chat filtering mechanism.
text-filtering-version=0
Sets the version of the configuration format used for text-filtering-config.
use-native-transport=true
Sets whether Linux server performance improvements are enabled or not. Recommended to leave on true.
view-distance=10
Sets the server's view distance, regardless of players' client settings. A lower value is recommended when experiencing significant lag.
white-list=false
Sets whether the whitelist is enabled. When true, only users listed in whitelist.json can connect.

Helpful Links

Minecraft Server Properties Wiki
Edit Minecraft Server Settings
Add a Resource Pack to a Minecraft Server
Install Minecraft Mods