Port forwarding a Minecraft server, or skipping it

What port forwarding does

Your router hides every device in your home behind one public address. Port forwarding tells it: connections to this port go to that PC. Minecraft Java uses TCP port 25565; Bedrock uses UDP port 19132.

How to forward the port

1. Give the PC running the server a fixed local address (a DHCP reservation in your router, or a static IP in Windows), so the rule doesn't break after a reboot.
2. Log in to your router, usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (the address and password are often on a sticker on the router).
3. Find Port forwarding (sometimes under Advanced, NAT or Virtual servers) and add a rule: port 25565, TCP, to the PC's local address. For Bedrock, port 19132, UDP.
4. Allow Java (or the Bedrock server) through Windows Firewall when it asks, or add a rule for the port.
5. Friends join your public IP, which you can find by searching "what is my IP".

Why it often doesn't work

• CGNAT. Many internet providers, and nearly all mobile and satellite connections, share one public address between customers. Port forwarding can't work then; your provider may give you your own address if you ask.
• Two routers. If your provider's box and your own router both do NAT, you need to forward on both.
• Your IP changes. Home addresses change from time to time, so friends' saved server breaks. A dynamic DNS name fixes that.
• Your address is public. Everyone who joins learns your home IP.

Skip it: host the server somewhere else

A hosted server lives in a data center with its own public address, so there's nothing to forward and your home IP stays private. Your PC doesn't need to stay on either.

1. Create a free server on Jump: pick Java or Bedrock and a name.
2. Share the address, like yourname.play.jumphosting.cloud. Bedrock players also enter the port shown in the panel.
3. Bring your existing world over with Upload world in Files.

Questions