Minecraft server settings explained (server.properties)
What the most useful Minecraft server settings do, like difficulty, gamemode, PvP, MOTD, max players and view distance, and how to change them from your panel.
Updated 3 November 2026 · 4 min read
Every Minecraft server has a settings file called server.properties. You don't need to edit it by hand: the Properties page in your panel shows each setting with a switch, a list or a text box.
After changing settings, click Save, then restart the server. Settings only load when the server starts.
Gameplay
| Setting | What it does | Good for friends & family |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | How tough mobs are: peaceful, easy, normal or hard. Peaceful has no hostile mobs. | Easy or normal |
| Gamemode | The mode new players start in: survival, creative, adventure or spectator. | Survival |
| Force gamemode | Puts players back in the default gamemode every time they join. | Off, unless you need it |
| PvP | Lets players hurt each other. | Off for a friendly server |
| Hardcore | One life only. If you die, you become a spectator. | Off, unless you all want the challenge |
| Spawn protection | Radius around spawn that only OPs can build in. 0 turns it off. |
0 on a whitelisted server |
Who can join
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Max players | How many players can be online at the same time. |
| Whitelist / Enforce whitelist | Only players on the list can join. See How to whitelist your friends. |
| MOTD | The message under your server's name in the server list. Make it fun, like Budi's family world. |
Performance
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| View distance | How many chunks around each player are sent to their game. Lower is smoother. 8 to 10 is a good start. |
| Simulation distance | How far from players mobs move and crops grow. 6 to 8 keeps most servers smooth. |
If the server lags, lowering these two is the quickest fix. See How to reduce lag.
World
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level name | The world folder the server loads. Change it to switch worlds. |
| Level seed | The seed for a new world. It does nothing to a world that already exists. See New world or custom seed. |
| Allow nether | Turn off to disable the Nether. |
| Allow flight | Stops players being kicked for "flying". Turn it on if you use mods or plugins with jetpacks, elytra boosts or similar. |
Safe to leave alone
If you don't know what a setting does, leave it at its default. The server runs fine without touching anything else.