With Hytale Early Access now available, server owners can finally set up their own dedicated servers and start building communities. This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know about hosting a Hytale server, from initial setup to advanced configuration.

Whether you're hosting a small server for friends or planning to run a large public community, this guide covers the official setup process based on the Hytale Server Manual from Hypixel Studios.

System Requirements

Before getting started, ensure your server machine meets the minimum requirements:

• RAM: Minimum 4GB (8GB+ recommended for larger servers)
• Java: Java 25 or newer
• Architecture: 64-bit x64 or arm64
• Operating System: Windows or Linux (Ubuntu, Debian recommended)
• Storage: SSD or NVMe recommended for best performance

Resource usage depends heavily on player behavior. High player or entity counts increase CPU usage, while large loaded world areas (high view distance, players exploring independently) consume more RAM.

Step 1: Install Java 25

Hytale servers require Java 25. We recommend downloading from Adoptium Temurin, which provides reliable, open-source Java builds.

After installation, verify it's working by running:

java --version

You should see output similar to:

openjdk 25.0.1 2025-10-21 LTS
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Temurin-25.0.1+8 (build 25.0.1+8-LTS)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Temurin-25.0.1+8 (build 25.0.1+8-LTS, mixed mode, sharing)

Step 2: Download Server Files

There are two ways to obtain the Hytale server files:

Option A: Copy from Launcher (Quick Testing)

Find the files in your Hytale launcher installation:

• Windows: %appdata%\Hytale\install\release\package\game\latest
• Linux: $XDG_DATA_HOME/Hytale/install/release/package/game/latest
• MacOS: ~/Application Support/Hytale/install/release/package/game/latest

Copy the Server folder and Assets.zip to your server directory.

Option B: Hytale Downloader CLI (Recommended for Production)

For production servers, use the official Hytale Downloader CLI. This tool makes it easy to keep your server updated.

Common commands:

• ./hytale-downloader - Download latest release
• ./hytale-downloader -print-version - Show current game version
• ./hytale-downloader -patchline pre-release - Download pre-release builds

Step 3: Start Your Server

Launch your server with this command:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets PathToAssets.zip

On first launch, you'll need to authenticate your server. Run the authentication command:

/auth login device

You'll receive a code to enter at accounts.hytale.com/device. Once authenticated, your server can accept player connections.

Note: Each Hytale license supports up to 100 servers. For larger operations, you can purchase additional licenses or apply for a Server Provider account.

Step 4: Configure Networking

Hytale uses the QUIC protocol over UDP (not TCP). The default port is 5520.

Port Forwarding

If hosting behind a router, forward UDP port 5520 to your server. TCP forwarding is not required.

Firewall Configuration

Windows Defender Firewall:

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Hytale Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 5520 -Action Allow

Linux (ufw):

sudo ufw allow 5520/udp

Linux (iptables):

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 5520 -j ACCEPT

Want to use a custom port? Add the --bind argument:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets PathToAssets.zip --bind 0.0.0.0:25565

After configuring your server, use our Server Status Checker to verify it's accessible from the internet.

Server File Structure

After first launch, your server directory will contain:

• .cache/ - Cache for optimized files
• logs/ - Server log files (use our Log Analyser to troubleshoot issues)
• mods/ - Installed mods and plugins
• universe/ - World and player save data
• config.json - Main server configuration
• permissions.json - Permission configuration
• whitelist.json - Whitelisted players (create one easily with our Whitelist Creator)
• bans.json - Banned players

Installing Mods and Plugins

One of Hytale's strengths is its modding support. Download mods from CurseForge and place .zip or .jar files in the mods/ folder.

Recommended Plugins

These plugins from official Hytale hosting partners provide essential functionality:

• Nitrado:WebServer - Base plugin for web applications and APIs
• Nitrado:Query - Exposes server status via HTTP (player counts, etc.)
• Nitrado:PerformanceSaver - Dynamically limits view distance based on resources
• ApexHosting:PrometheusExporter - Detailed server and JVM metrics

Performance Optimization

View Distance

View distance is the primary driver of RAM usage. The recommended maximum is 12 chunks (384 blocks). Hytale's default view distance is roughly equivalent to 24 Minecraft chunks, so expect higher RAM usage with default settings.

AOT Cache for Faster Startup

Use the pre-trained Ahead-Of-Time cache for faster boot times:

java -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets PathToAssets.zip

Memory Configuration

Control heap size with JVM parameters:

java -Xms4G -Xmx8G -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets PathToAssets.zip

This sets minimum RAM to 4GB and maximum to 8GB. Adjust based on your server's needs and available resources.

Multi-Server Architecture

Hytale supports native player routing between servers without reverse proxies like BungeeCord:

• Player Referral: Transfer connected players to other servers with optional payload data
• Connection Redirect: Redirect players during handshake for load balancing or regional routing
• Disconnect Fallback: Automatically reconnect players to a lobby if a game server crashes

For custom proxy implementations, Hytale uses QUIC exclusively. Packet definitions are available in HytaleServer.jar under com.hypixel.hytale.protocol.packets.

Get Your Server Listed

Once your server is running, get it discovered by the community! List your server on Hyvote to attract players and grow your community. Our platform helps Hytale servers gain visibility through voting systems and server discovery.

Hytale will also offer an official in-game Server Discovery catalogue where players can browse servers directly from the main menu. Servers must adhere to operator guidelines and provide accurate content ratings to be listed.

Useful Commands

View all available server arguments:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --help

Key arguments include:

• --bind <address:port> - Set listen address (default: 0.0.0.0:5520)
• --auth-mode <authenticated|offline> - Authentication mode
• --backup - Enable automatic backups
• --backup-frequency <minutes> - Backup interval (default: 30)
• --disable-sentry - Disable crash reporting (recommended during development)
• --allow-op - Enable operator commands

Troubleshooting

Players Can't Connect

• Ensure you've forwarded UDP (not TCP) port 5520
• Check your firewall allows inbound UDP traffic
• Verify client and server are on the same protocol version
• Use our Server Status Checker to test connectivity

High Memory Usage

• Reduce view distance in your configuration
• Monitor with the PrometheusExporter plugin
• Check for players exploring far from each other (increases loaded chunks)

Server Crashes

• Check logs/ folder for error details
• Disable mods to identify conflicts
• Ensure you have enough allocated RAM

What's Coming Next

Hypixel Studios has announced several upcoming features for server operators:

• Party System: Players can group up and join servers together
• Integrated Payments: Accept payments through a built-in, secure gateway
• First-Party APIs: UUID lookups, player profiles, server telemetry, and more
• Protocol Tolerance: Allow ±2 version difference between client and server

Need Help?

Running into issues? Check out our other Hytale server tools or browse more guides on our blog. You can also visit the official Hytale Support portal or join the Hytale Discord community for help.

Ready to grow your server? Add your Hytale server to Hyvote and start building your community today!