Pick a launch date you can meet
A launch date gives everyone something to aim for, but a date that slips costs trust before the server has even opened. Choose it with the checklist in front of you, not before.
- Leave at least two weeks between picking the date and opening, even for a small server.
- Open on a Friday or Saturday, or at the start of a school holiday, when players have time to stay.
- Pick an hour that suits the time zone of the players you want, such as early evening for them.
- Avoid the week of a big Minecraft update, when players are busy elsewhere and plugins may break.
- Check that your staff are free on the day and the two days after.
Server checklist: 15 technical checks
Most launch day disasters are technical: lag when forty players explore at once, a plugin that fails on restart, or a backup that turns out to be empty. Work through these first, because they take the longest to fix.
Version and performance
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Choose the Minecraft version and confirm every plugin supports it | One outdated plugin can stop the server from starting |
| Pre-generate the world around spawn with a plugin such as Chunky | Generating new land while players explore is the biggest cause of launch lag |
| Set view-distance and simulation-distance in server.properties | Lower values keep the server smooth when it is full |
| Invite a few friends for a test evening at the launch hour | Finds lag, crashes and confusing spots with real players |
| Plan an automatic restart at a quiet hour | Keeps memory use steady over the first busy days |
Safety and backups
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Make sure backups run, and restore one to test it | A backup you have never restored is a hope, not a backup |
| Keep operator rights to the owner only | Operators can do anything, including by accident |
| Set up permission groups for players and staff | Staff get the commands their role needs and nothing more |
| Install a block logging plugin | Griefing on day one can be checked and rolled back |
| Keep online-mode set to true | Only players with a real account can join under their name |
| Decide whether the server uses a whitelist | Changing your mind after launch confuses players |
On Astroworld Hosting, a backup is taken every night and can be restored from the panel. Permission groups are easiest with LuckPerms, which has a step by step tutorial. If you do use a whitelist, the guide to whitelist applications covers the form and the review.
Joining
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Use a short address players can type, without a port if you can | Every extra character is a chance for a typo |
| Join from Bedrock on a phone or console, if you support it | Bedrock players often need a different port and fail silently |
| Add a server icon and a two line MOTD | An empty entry in the server list looks abandoned |
| Test the resource pack prompt, if you use one | A pack that fails to load kicks players straight back out |
On Astroworld Hosting you can give the server a short address with no port for Java players. For the MOTD and the words around it, see the guide to server descriptions.
World and gameplay checklist: 8 checks
The world is what players judge in their first ten minutes. These checks make sure it explains itself.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Spawn is finished and shows where to go next | Players who stand around confused leave within minutes |
| The most important rules are on signs at spawn | Not every player opens the website or Discord first |
| Land claims work and a new player can make one | Protection is the first thing most survival players look for |
| Starting items or a starter kit are set | An empty inventory in a big world feels harsh |
| The world border is set to a sensible size | Stops players wandering so far that nobody meets |
| Shops, jobs or the economy are tested with real items | A broken price on day one empties the economy |
| There is a first goal, such as a rank, a quest or a town | Gives players a reason to come back tomorrow |
| The first event of the first week is planned | A date on the calendar brings the first players back |
For the first hour of a new player in more detail, read the part on keeping the players you get. For event ideas that suit a launch week, see the guide to server events.
Community checklist: 8 checks
On launch day, questions arrive faster than staff can answer them. Each item here is a page or a place that answers questions before they are asked.
| Check | Guide |
|---|---|
| Rules are written, with a punishment ladder | Server rules |
| Staff roles are decided and handed out | Staff roles |
| The Discord has channels, roles and spam protection | Discord setup |
| A FAQ answers joining, rules and ranks | Server FAQ |
| Players know how to appeal a ban | Ban appeals |
| Ranks and perks are clear, if you sell any | Server ranks |
| Your description is ready for server lists | Server descriptions |
| Your server website is online | The steps at the end of this guide |
Launch day checklist: 9 checks, hour by hour
Launch day goes best when nobody has to decide anything. Write down who does what and when, and share it with your staff a few days before.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| One week before | Announce the date and time on Discord, your website and your server lists |
| Three days before | Share the staff schedule, so someone is online for every hour of the first two days |
| One day before | Take a fresh backup and join once from Java and once from Bedrock |
| One hour before | Staff are online, the announcement is written and the whitelist or maintenance mode is still on |
| At launch | Open the server, post the announcement and ping the people who asked to be told |
| First ten minutes | Greet every player in chat and watch the console for errors |
| First hour | Answer questions in Discord and note every bug in one place |
| End of the day | Thank players, post a short update and fix the most reported bug |
| Next morning | Check the backup from the night and read what players said while you slept |
The first week after launch
Most new servers are busiest on day one and lose half their players by day seven. What you do that week decides how many stay.
- Fix the most reported bug every day, and say in Discord that it is fixed.
- Post short patch notes for every change, even small ones.
- Run the first event on the first weekend, while new players are still curious.
- Ask for feedback with a short poll, and change at least one thing because of it.
- Look at how many players came back on day two and day seven, not only how many joined on day one.
- Thank the players who helped others, in public.
How to get your server website ready for launch
Players look for your server before they join it, so the website should be live before you share the address. This is how you get a site from the website builder ready in time.
Open the website editor
Go to Website in the server panel of Astroworld Hosting or minecrafthosting.cc and open the editor.
Set the name and Discord link
Open Site settings, fill in the Site name exactly as on your server lists and paste a Discord invite that never expires under Discord link.
Check the address and status
In most templates the first button on the home page copies your server address. The survival, skyblock and factions templates also have a status section that shows whether the server is online and how many players are on it.
Fill in the rules and the FAQ
Replace the example rules on the Rules page with your own, and answer the questions new players ask in the FAQ section.
Add a countdown, if your template has one
The Factions and Creative templates include a countdown section. Set its Date and time, in UTC, to your launch and write what should show under After the countdown.
Publish a day early
Press Publish at least a day before launch. After the automatic content check and a review by our team, usually within a few hours, the site is live and ready when players arrive.
Questions about launching a Minecraft server
What should I do before launching a Minecraft server?
Test backups and the server under load, pre-generate the world, set up permissions, finish spawn, write your rules and FAQ, prepare your Discord and website, and plan launch day with your staff.
How long does it take to prepare a Minecraft server launch?
Two to four weeks for most small and medium servers. Building spawn and testing plugins take the longest, so start with those.
What is the best day to launch a Minecraft server?
A Friday or Saturday, or the start of a school holiday, at an early evening hour in the time zone of your players. Avoid the week of a major Minecraft update.
Should I pre-generate the world before launch?
Yes. Generating new chunks while many players explore is one of the main causes of lag on a new server. A plugin such as Chunky can generate the area inside your world border ahead of time.
How many staff do I need on launch day?
At least one staff member online for every hour of the first two days, and more at the launch hour itself. Helpers who answer questions are as useful as moderators on day one.
What if something breaks on launch day?
Tell players straight away in Discord what is wrong and when you expect it fixed. If needed, restore the backup from the day before, and keep a list of reported bugs so nothing is forgotten.
More server website guides
Get players on a Minecraft serverServer lists, voting, Discord, a website and a first hour that makes people stay: twelve ways to find players and keep them.
Minecraft server rules24 example rules sorted by topic, the rules each type of server needs first, and how to build a rules page players read.
Minecraft Discord server setupA channel layout to copy, the roles and permissions to give, how to keep spam out and how to connect Discord to your Minecraft server.
Minecraft server event ideasTwenty five event ideas sorted by type of server, with a plan for announcing, running and rewarding each event.
Minecraft server descriptionA one sentence formula, 24 example descriptions by game mode, what goes in a long description and how to write a two line MOTD.
Minecraft server patch notesA patch notes template, 12 example entries for common changes, how to write them clearly and where and how often to post updates.
Minecraft server season resetWhat to wipe and what to keep, season lengths per game mode, a reset timeline, the steps for reset day and rewards that carry over.