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To play Pixelmon with friends, every player needs Minecraft Java Edition and an identical Minecraft, Forge or NeoForge, and Pixelmon version. Host a server on the same local network for a household group, or use remote networking or managed hosting for friends elsewhere. The host installs the matching server loader, accepts the Minecraft EULA, adds Pixelmon to the server’s mods folder, starts the server, and gives friends the server address.

What you need before anyone connects

Pixelmon is a Forge-based Minecraft mod. The Pixelmon installation guide states that only Minecraft Java Edition can run Forge mods such as Pixelmon; Bedrock, console and other Minecraft editions cannot run this setup. Java Edition is a paid PC edition, so each player must own and install it before adding Pixelmon.

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  • A supported Minecraft Java Edition installation for the Pixelmon branch you choose.
  • The matching mod loader: Forge for branches that require Forge, or NeoForge for branches that require NeoForge.
  • The exact same Pixelmon release on the server and every client.
  • Enough memory: the official installation guide advises at least 2 GB of available or assignable RAM for a client. The server guide recommends at least 3 GB for the server, with the actual requirement depending on player count and other installed mods.
  • A network plan: a local connection for people on the same home network, or remote access/managed hosting for people connecting over the internet.

Do not begin by installing files at random. Select one complete version set first, then give every player that same set or a prepared modpack.

Pick one exact Minecraft, loader and Pixelmon version set

A Pixelmon multiplayer server is not compatible with clients merely because they are all running “Pixelmon.” Minecraft version, loader build and Pixelmon release must line up. The server guide warns that a client using a different Pixelmon version receives a Mod Rejection error and cannot join.

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Item What must match Why it matters
Minecraft The server’s Minecraft version Pixelmon branches are built for particular Minecraft versions.
Mod loader The server’s Forge or NeoForge build The loader starts the mod and checks compatibility before connection.
Pixelmon The server’s exact Pixelmon release A different release can trigger Mod Rejection.
Additional mods Any server-required additions and their versions Extra required content must also be present on the client.

Release availability changes. CurseForge currently lists Pixelmon 9.4.1 for Minecraft 1.21.1 with NeoForge, released September 16, 2026. That listing is a dated availability point, not a guarantee that it will remain the newest release. Older Pixelmon branches target earlier Minecraft versions, so check the supported Minecraft version and loader on the official Pixelmon installation and server pages immediately before downloading.

Choose LAN, remote access or managed hosting

The right hosting method depends mainly on where your friends are and how much server administration you want to do.

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Approach Who can connect Setup effort Control and cost Best fit
Local server on your computer People on the same local network, such as the same home router Manual installation and server administration Full control over files and settings; no separate recurring hosting charge, but you provide the computer, power and bandwidth A small group playing together in one home or location
Remote self-hosting Friends connecting from outside your local network Local server setup plus remote-network configuration required by your router and internet service Full control; you are responsible for connectivity, updates, security and uptime A technically comfortable host who wants to run the hardware personally
Managed Minecraft/Pixelmon hosting Friends connecting over the internet Usually less manual networking; the provider supplies the server environment Recurring hosting fees; less direct control over the underlying machine, but maintenance and availability are easier to manage Remote groups or servers that need dependable uptime

Local hosting generally allows only people on the host’s local network to connect. For friends elsewhere, configure remote access according to the host network’s requirements or choose a managed host. The official server guide strongly recommends paid hosting for bigger servers because performance, stability and safety become more important as the group grows.

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Install Pixelmon on every player’s client

Each friend needs a working single-player Pixelmon installation before joining the server. The exact launcher screens differ, but the sequence is the same.

  1. Install Minecraft Java Edition. Sign in with the account that owns the PC edition and launch the selected vanilla Minecraft version once so the launcher creates its files.
  2. Choose the Pixelmon branch. Confirm its Minecraft version and whether it requires Forge or NeoForge. Do this before installing a loader.
  3. Install the required loader. Use the installer for the exact Forge or NeoForge build required by that Pixelmon branch. A loader for another Minecraft version will not substitute for the required one.
  4. Install Pixelmon. Add the Pixelmon release that matches the selected Minecraft and loader versions. Keep the mod as a jar file; do not open it as an archive or change its filename unless the installation instructions specifically require it.
  5. Allocate memory. The official installation guide advises at least 2 GB of available or assignable RAM for the client. Leave enough memory for the operating system and other applications rather than assigning all physical RAM to Minecraft.
  6. Launch and test locally. Start the Pixelmon profile, create or load a test world, and confirm that Pixelmon’s content appears. Close the game before changing files or installing another version.

For a group, distribute the same launcher profile or modpack rather than asking each person to assemble files independently. This reduces accidental differences in loader, Pixelmon and optional-mod versions.

Create the Pixelmon server

Run the server on a computer that can stay on while friends play, or use a managed server supplied with the matching loader. The following procedure describes a manual server.

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  1. Make a new server folder. Use a dedicated folder so the server’s configuration, world and logs are separate from your client installation.
  2. Install the matching server loader. Download the server-side Forge or NeoForge build corresponding to the chosen Minecraft version. Run its installer and select Install Server, pointing it at the new folder.
  3. Start the server once. Use the generated start script or the launch command supplied by the loader. The first run creates files, including the EULA file, and normally stops when the agreement has not yet been accepted.
  4. Read the EULA. Open eula.txt. Change eula=false to eula=true only if you agree to the Minecraft EULA. Save the file.
  5. Install Pixelmon server-side. Stop the server completely. Create or open the server root’s mods folder and place the matching Pixelmon server jar inside it. Do not extract the jar. If the selected branch requires additional server-side mods, add the same required versions there.
  6. Allocate server memory. The server guide recommends at least 3 GB of allocated memory. Treat that as a starting point: more players and additional mods can require more, while the correct amount also depends on the host computer. Do not allocate more memory than the machine can spare.
  7. Start again and wait for completion. Keep the console open during the first full startup. Let world-generation and Pixelmon initialization finish before attempting to join. Stop the server from its console when shutting it down so the world can save cleanly.

The server and clients must use the same Minecraft, loader and Pixelmon versions. Installing Pixelmon only on the clients, or putting a client-only file on the server, does not make a compatible multiplayer installation.

Configure Pixelmon after the first start

Pixelmon creates its configuration after the mod has started successfully. Server settings are stored in config/pixelmon.hocon. Stop the server before making a backup or editing settings that require a restart. For settings that support live reloading, use the in-game command /pokereload after saving the file. Some changes still require a complete server restart; if a setting does not take effect, stop and start the server rather than repeatedly reloading.

Change only one group of settings at a time and keep a copy of the original file. A malformed configuration can prevent startup, in which case restore the backup or undo the last edit before trying again.

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Let friends join

  1. Start the server first. Wait until the console indicates that startup has completed and the world is available.
  2. Give friends the correct address. For a LAN game, provide the server address reachable from the same local network. For remote play, provide the externally reachable address created by your remote-network setup or the address shown by your managed host. Do not send a client-only single-player world path; friends need the server address.
  3. Have each friend open the matching profile. They should launch the exact Minecraft, loader and Pixelmon set chosen earlier.
  4. Use Minecraft’s Multiplayer screen. Choose the option to add or connect to a server, enter the address you supplied, save it, and select it to join.
  5. Keep the host running. A self-hosted world is available only while the server process and host computer are running. Shut it down from the server console when the session ends.

If everyone is in the same home, local hosting is usually the shortest path because it avoids remote-network configuration. Friends outside that network need a remote connection or a managed server; simply sending a private home-network address will not make the server reachable from the wider internet.

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Fix the problems that stop friends joining

“Mod Rejection” appears

This is the most direct sign of a version or mod-list mismatch. Compare, character for character, the Minecraft version, Forge or NeoForge build, Pixelmon release and any additional required mods on the server and the affected client. Replace the out-of-date file with the server’s file or distribute the complete matching modpack. Restart the launcher after changing the profile so it does not continue using a cached instance.

The server starts, but Pixelmon is missing

  • Confirm that the Pixelmon jar is in the server root’s mods folder, not only in a client folder.
  • Check that the jar was not extracted or placed inside a second nested folder.
  • Verify that the server loader and Minecraft version are the ones required by that Pixelmon release.
  • Read the startup log for a loader or dependency error, then correct the indicated version before inviting players.

A LAN player cannot see or join the server

  • Confirm both computers are connected to the same local network rather than one using a guest or isolated wireless network.
  • Make sure the host server is still running and has finished starting.
  • Use the address reachable on that local network, not an address intended only for the host computer itself.
  • Check the host computer’s firewall prompt and network profile; a firewall can block Java server traffic even when the server console is healthy.

A remote friend cannot connect

A local server normally accepts local-network connections only. Remote play requires network configuration appropriate to the host’s router and internet service, and some connections cannot accept incoming traffic without additional arrangements. Confirm that the address supplied is the remote address, that the server is running, and that the host’s firewall and network rules allow the server. If configuring those pieces is impractical, move the world to managed hosting instead.

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The game crashes or runs out of memory

Check the memory assigned to the client and server separately. The client guidance starts at 2 GB, while the server guidance starts at 3 GB; neither number guarantees smooth play for every group. Reduce unnecessary additional mods, avoid assigning nearly all system RAM to Java, and increase server memory only when the host machine has unused memory. A larger player count or heavily modified world can require more resources than a small test session.

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Keep a multiplayer world reliable and safe

  • Back up the world. Stop the server cleanly, copy the world folder and retain dated backups before upgrading Pixelmon or changing major settings.
  • Upgrade as a coordinated change. Select a new supported Minecraft/loader/Pixelmon set, update the server, then distribute the same client files to every player. Do not let one person update independently during an active session.
  • Test upgrades privately. Start the updated server with a copy of the world first. If it fails, restore the previous server files and backup rather than experimenting on the only copy.
  • Limit access. Share the address only with people you trust, use the server’s permission controls, and avoid publishing a self-hosted address publicly.
  • Watch storage and logs. World generation and logs grow over time. Keep free disk space and inspect the console when a startup or connection suddenly changes.

For a small LAN group, a manually hosted server offers maximum file and configuration control. Once friends are remote or the player count grows, the administrative work shifts toward networking, uptime, backups and security; that is why the official server guide strongly recommends paid hosting for bigger servers.

What to do when the Pixelmon release changes

Pixelmon’s supported Minecraft and loader combinations change over time. The current listing noted above is Pixelmon 9.4.1 for Minecraft 1.21.1 with NeoForge, dated September 16, 2026; an older branch may instead require Forge and Java 8. Java requirements vary by branch, so use the Java version documented for the exact server and client branch you select. Before every fresh installation or upgrade, check the current Pixelmon installation and server documentation, record the three-part version set, and give that record to every player.

When a friend cannot join after an update, compare the recorded set with the launcher’s actual profile and the server’s startup log. The fastest fix is usually to restore the last known-good set, then plan the upgrade for everyone at the same time.

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