iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Godlike.Host offers hosted Minecraft Bedrock servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
You can run Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server (BDS) on a modest modern computer. Mojang’s current baseline is an Intel Core i3-3210, AMD A8-7600 APU or equivalent CPU, 4 GB of RAM, 180 MB to 1 GB of available disk space, and a broadband internet connection. The current Linux build requires Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later; Windows builds require Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later or Windows Server 2016 or later.
What Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server is
Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server (BDS) is Mojang’s official, free server software for hosting a multiplayer world for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition. It runs separately from the normal Minecraft client, so the computer hosting the world can be left running while players connect from compatible Bedrock devices.
Recommended Free Tools
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Minecraft - Bedrock Edition PS4 | $42.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Minecraft | Java & Bedrock Deluxe Collection | Windows Digital Code | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Playstation, Minecraft Bedrock for PS4 | $41.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The requirements below describe the official software baseline, not a guaranteed capacity target. Mojang does not publish a player-count-to-RAM formula or a benchmark table. A world with more simultaneous players, larger exploration distances, add-ons or heavier activity can need more resources than the minimum.
Official requirements at a glance
| Component | Current official requirement | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i3-3210, AMD A8-7600 APU, or equivalent | This is the named baseline for running the server software. |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | The published minimum; extra headroom may be needed as workload grows. |
| Storage | 180 MB to 1 GB available disk space | Keep additional free space for the operating system, backups and an expanding world. |
| Internet | Broadband internet connection | Players connecting over the internet must be able to reach the host through its network. |
| Linux | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later for the current Linux build | Use a supported 22.04 LTS-or-newer installation when downloading the current binary. |
| Windows | Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later, or Windows Server 2016 or later | The host must meet the stated Windows version floor. |
The CPU, memory and storage figures come from Minecraft/Mojang’s current requirements page, accessed in 2026. The page does not give a separate publication year.
#1 Best Overall
- Play and share with friends on console, mobile and Windows 10
- discover community creations in the new in-game store
- access new mini games and game modes through servers
Choosing hardware beyond the minimum
CPU headroom
The listed processors establish compatibility, not a promise of smooth performance under every workload. A newer multi-core desktop or server CPU gives the operating system and other services room to run alongside BDS. Prioritize a system that can remain powered continuously and does not throttle under sustained load.
Memory planning
Four gigabytes is the official requirement. It must also cover the operating system and any background services on the host, so a machine with exactly 4 GB can have little room left for other tasks. Mojang does not publish a guaranteed amount of RAM per player; avoid calculators that present an unsupported fixed number. Instead, monitor memory use while your actual world and add-ons are active, and increase the host’s RAM if the operating system begins paging or the server becomes unstable.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteDisk capacity and reliability
The official available-space range is 180 MB to 1 GB. Treat that as the space needed to obtain and start the software, not as a complete long-term capacity plan. World data, behavior packs, resource packs, logs and backups require additional room. Leave a safety margin so a full disk does not interrupt saves or updates. A reliable local drive is more important than buying a particular consumer product; no physical product is required by the official documentation.
Supported operating systems: Windows versus Ubuntu
Windows editions
The current requirements page lists Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later and Windows Server 2016 or later. Microsoft’s getting-started documentation separately describes Windows 10 version 1703 or later and Windows Server 2016 or later in its recommended-systems section. Version 1703 corresponds to a later Windows 10 release than the numerical 10.0.15063 floor, so use a fully updated Windows 10 installation or a supported Windows Server release rather than an older build.
Ubuntu editions
The current download requirement is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later. A separate Microsoft getting-started page still mentions Ubuntu Linux 18 or later. That is a documentation discrepancy: for the current Linux server binary, follow the stricter download-page requirement and install Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or a newer supported release.
Which platform should you use?
- Choose Windows if you already administer Windows, want the simplest executable launch and are comfortable responding to Windows Defender Firewall prompts.
- Choose Ubuntu if you prefer a lean server operating system, command-line administration and explicit firewall control.
- Do not mix binaries and assumptions. Download the BDS package for the operating system you are actually running and keep that operating system updated.
Installing BDS on Windows
BDS is distributed as a ZIP archive. Use an empty directory for the installation so that generated files are easy to identify and back up.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #2
- DELUXE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, three Bedrock add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items, and 700 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
- Download the current Bedrock Dedicated Server ZIP from the official Minecraft site.
- Create an empty folder on the Windows host and extract the entire ZIP archive into it.
- Open that folder and start the server with
bedrock_server. Windows may display a Defender Firewall prompt when the process first listens for connections. - Allow the required network profile in the firewall prompt. Select only the profiles appropriate for the networks from which your players will connect.
- Wait for the first startup to finish. BDS creates its
worlds,behavior_packsandresource_packsdirectories.
Keep the server window available while testing. Stop the process cleanly before replacing files or copying a world so that the latest save is flushed to disk.
Installing BDS on Ubuntu
- Install Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later on the host and apply the operating system’s updates.
- Download the Linux Bedrock Dedicated Server ZIP and extract it into an empty directory.
- From that directory, launch the binary with
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=. ./bedrock_server. - Allow the first startup to create
worlds,behavior_packsandresource_packs. - Configure the host firewall to allow the BDS ports before asking remote players to connect. Microsoft’s setup documentation provides the corresponding UFW rules.
The LD_LIBRARY_PATH=. prefix tells Linux to use the libraries shipped in the extracted server directory. Run the command from that directory; otherwise the relative library path will not point to the BDS files.
Network and firewall requirements
Default ports
Microsoft documents server-port 19132 for the default Bedrock connection and server-portv6 19133 for IPv6. The firewall must permit inbound traffic on the port and protocol you intend to use. If you change the server configuration, make the firewall and the connection details match that change.
LAN and internet connections
Players on the same local network should use the host computer’s reachable local IP address and the configured port. Internet players need an address that is reachable from outside the home or office network, plus any required router forwarding and firewall permission. A broadband connection is an official prerequisite, but the documentation does not promise a particular upload speed or latency for a given player count.
Windows loopback testing
Connecting to a BDS instance from the same Windows computer is a special case. Microsoft documents enabling loopback with a CheckNetIsolation.exe command. Apply that documented command when local-client testing fails, then retry using the server host and configured port. Remote or LAN clients should instead use the host’s reachable IP address.
Creating or moving a Bedrock world
On first launch, BDS creates the folders needed for worlds and packs. To use an existing Bedrock world, allow initialization to complete, stop the server, and copy the world into the server’s worlds directory. Keep the world’s folder structure intact, then restart BDS and select or configure that world according to the server settings.
Rank #3
- Invizimals: The Alliance
- Discover the community's creations in the new store
- Access new mini-games and game modes
- Play together on your sofa too thanks to the split screen
Back up the original world before migration. Behavior packs and resource packs used by the world may also need to be present in their respective server directories; otherwise players can see missing-content errors or a world that behaves differently from the original.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsVersion compatibility and update procedure
The client and server protocol versions must match. Microsoft notes that minor-version changes commonly affect protocol compatibility and that even patch versions are not guaranteed to remain compatible. An “Outdated Client” message means the connecting client needs an update; “Outdated Server” means the BDS installation needs an update.
- Check the Bedrock client version on every device that will connect.
- Update BDS and its clients in a coordinated window rather than updating only one side.
- Stop the server and make a world backup before replacing the server files.
- Extract the new ZIP into a clean directory or follow the release’s upgrade instructions, preserving the world and pack directories.
- Start BDS, verify that the world loads, and test a connection before inviting all players.
Do not assume that a tiny patch release is harmless: the official guidance explicitly says patch compatibility is not guaranteed.
Troubleshooting common failures
The server will not start
- Confirm that the operating system meets the current Windows or Ubuntu requirement.
- On Ubuntu, run
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=. ./bedrock_serverfrom the extracted directory. - On Windows, launch
bedrock_serverfrom the folder containing the extracted files. - Check that the ZIP was fully extracted into an empty directory and that the host has available disk space.
Players cannot connect
- Verify that BDS is running and listening on the configured port.
- Check the Windows Defender Firewall or Ubuntu firewall rule for inbound traffic.
- Use the server’s reachable LAN or internet IP address, not an address that exists only inside the host.
- For internet play, verify router forwarding and whether the network provider places the connection behind an address-sharing service.
“Outdated Client” or “Outdated Server” appears
Update the side named by the message, then ensure the client and BDS protocol versions are aligned. If the error began after a patch update, treat that as a real compatibility change rather than repeatedly changing firewall settings.
The host can connect locally only after special configuration
Enable Windows loopback using Microsoft’s documented CheckNetIsolation.exe command. This applies to a client running on the same Windows machine; it does not replace normal firewall and routing setup for other players.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
Self-hosting gives you direct control of BDS files, worlds, packs, configuration and update timing. It also makes you responsible for the operating system, backups, firewall, port exposure, power availability and a reachable network address.
A managed Bedrock host can remove much of the local operating-system and network administration. Before choosing one, verify that it explicitly supports Bedrock Dedicated Server, the game version you need, world and pack uploads, backups, geographic availability, player limits and its current pricing and terms. Those details vary by provider and are not established by Mojang’s server requirements.
Quick Recap
| Decision area | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | You install and maintain supported Windows or Ubuntu. | The provider maintains the server environment; confirm its Bedrock support. |
| Hardware | You supply at least the official CPU, RAM and storage baseline. | Capacity depends on the selected plan; check how resources are allocated. |
| Networking | You configure firewall rules, ports and reachable addresses. | The provider usually handles network exposure, subject to its control panel and terms. |
| Maintenance | You coordinate BDS and client updates and perform backups. | Some maintenance may be offered, but update and backup policies must be verified. |
| Control | Direct access to files and configuration. | Convenience in exchange for provider limits and recurring charges. |
A practical readiness checklist
- CPU meets the Intel Core i3-3210, AMD A8-7600 APU or equivalent baseline.
- At least 4 GB RAM is available, with additional capacity if the host runs other services.
- At least 180 MB to 1 GB of free disk space is available for the published requirement, plus room for worlds and backups.
- The machine has broadband internet and a reachable network path for intended players.
- Windows is version 10.0.15063 or later, or Windows Server 2016 or later; Ubuntu is 22.04 LTS or later for the current Linux build.
- The BDS ZIP has been extracted to an empty directory.
- Inbound traffic is allowed on the configured Bedrock port, with 19132 and 19133 as the documented defaults.
- World, behavior-pack and resource-pack files are backed up before migration or updates.
- Client and server versions are kept synchronized.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
