If you want to play Minecraft with friends without paying for a hosting plan, Hamachi is still one of the easiest old-school tricks in the book. It is not flashy. It is not glamorous. It is basically the cargo shorts of multiplayer tools. But it can still get the job done for a small private server, especially when you want a quick setup and would rather not wrestle your router like it personally insulted you.
This guide walks you through how to make a Minecraft server with Hamachi for Minecraft: Java Edition, using a Windows PC as the host. By the end, you will know how to install the server, create a Hamachi network, invite friends, fix common connection issues, and decide whether this method is still worth using in a world full of Realms and paid hosts.
What Hamachi Actually Does
Hamachi creates a private virtual network that makes far-away computers behave a bit like they are on the same local network. In plain English, it helps you and your friends connect as if you were all sitting in one room with snacks, tangled cables, and at least one person asking who touched the pizza.
That matters because Minecraft multiplayer on a self-hosted PC usually needs either port forwarding or some other network solution. Hamachi skips the router gymnastics for many small groups by giving everyone a virtual IP address inside the same private network.
There is one important catch: Hamachi is best for a small private Minecraft server, not a giant public empire with 47 plugins, three moderators, and a player named xX_DiamondKing_Xx demanding admin rights. Hamachi’s free version is designed for smaller groups, so think “friends-only world,” not “next great gaming startup.”
Before You Start
To make a Minecraft server with Hamachi, gather these essentials first:
- A Windows PC that will host the server
- Minecraft: Java Edition
- A current Java installation
- The official Minecraft server file
- Hamachi installed on the host PC
- Hamachi installed on every friend’s PC
- A stable internet connection
Also, make sure everyone is using the same Minecraft Java version. If the server runs one version and your friends launch another, Minecraft will react the way it always does when something is slightly off: by refusing to cooperate and acting mysterious about it.
Step 1: Install Java and Make a Server Folder
Minecraft Java servers run on Java, so the host computer needs a current version installed. Once Java is ready, create a new folder somewhere easy to find, such as your desktop or documents folder. Name it something obvious like Minecraft-Hamachi-Server.
Keeping all server files in one dedicated folder matters more than people think. Without it, your PC can turn into a digital junk drawer full of random text files, logs, world data, and one mysterious folder you are too afraid to open.
Pro tip
If you want easier commands later, keep the folder name simple and avoid weird symbols. Your future self will be grateful.
Step 2: Download the Official Minecraft Server File
Next, download the official Minecraft: Java Edition server file from Minecraft’s server download page. Save the file directly into the folder you just made.
You can rename the downloaded file to something simple like server.jar. This is not required, but it makes your startup command much cleaner. Clean commands are like organized toolboxes: not necessary for life itself, but extremely helpful when things start going sideways.
Step 3: Run the Server Once and Accept the EULA
Double-click the server JAR file once. The server will not fully start on the first run, and that is normal. Minecraft uses this first launch to generate the basic files your server needs, including eula.txt.
Open eula.txt in Notepad. Change this line:
to this:
Save the file and close it. Without this step, the server will not start. Minecraft is very serious about this part, which is fair. It is hard to run a world full of blocky cows and dangerous caves without at least pretending everyone read the paperwork.
Step 4: Create a Startup File
Now create a new text file in the same folder and paste in this command:
Save the file as start.bat. Make sure it is actually a BAT file and not secretly a TXT file wearing a fake mustache.
Here is what that command means:
-Xms2Ggives the server 2 GB of starting RAM-Xmx2Glets the server use up to 2 GB of RAM-jar server.jartells Java which file to runnoguistarts the server without the graphical interface, which usually saves resources
If you are hosting for only two or three players on a lightweight survival world, 2 GB may be enough. If you use mods or have more players, you may want to raise that number to 3 GB or 4 GB. Just do not give the server every last drop of memory your computer has, unless your goal is to turn your PC into a very expensive toaster.
Step 5: Start the Server and Let Windows Through the Door
Double-click start.bat. The server should begin loading and generate more files and folders, including your world data and the all-important server.properties.
Windows may pop up a firewall warning the first time. If it does, allow Java or the server app through the firewall for private networks. This is a common step, and if you skip it, your friends may stare at “Can’t connect to server” while you confidently claim everything should work.
When the server is fully loaded, you should see a line ending with something like:
That means your Minecraft server is alive.
Step 6: Adjust Your Server Properties
Open server.properties if you want to customize your world. This file controls your server settings, including:
motdfor the server name players seegamemodefor survival, creative, or adventuredifficultyfor peaceful through hardmax-playersfor how many people can joinonline-modefor account authentication settingsserver-portwhich is usually the default Minecraft port
For a basic Hamachi setup, you can leave most settings alone. Just make sure the world fits your group. If your friends want a cozy survival server and you accidentally leave cheats enabled with creative mode on, there is a decent chance someone will build a lava pyramid by sunset.
Step 7: Install Hamachi and Create a Network
Download and install Hamachi on the host PC. Open it and click the power button to turn it on. Then choose the option to create a new network.
You will be asked for:
- A network ID
- A password
Make both simple enough to share with friends, but not so simple that your network password becomes minecraft123 and your dignity leaves the building.
After the network is created, have each friend install Hamachi, power it on, and choose Join an existing network. They will enter the network ID and password you created.
Once everyone joins, you should see their computers appear in the Hamachi window. If the little status indicators are green, you are in good shape. If they are not, that is your sign to visit the troubleshooting section later in this guide.
Step 8: Find the Host Hamachi IP Address
On the host computer, look at the Hamachi window and find the host system’s virtual IPv4 address. This is the address your friends will use to connect to the Minecraft server.
It is different from your normal home IP address. That is the whole point. Hamachi gives you a virtual network address so players can connect through the Hamachi network instead of relying on your router’s public-facing setup.
If you want to double-check local network information on Windows, you can also use ipconfig in Command Prompt, but for Hamachi connections, the important one is usually the Hamachi IPv4 address shown inside the app.
Step 9: Join the Server in Minecraft
Now for the fun part. Launch Minecraft: Java Edition on the host computer and test the server first. Open Multiplayer, then choose Add Server or Direct Connection.
If you are testing from the host machine, you can usually connect with:
or the host’s own Hamachi IP.
For your friends, the server address should be the host’s Hamachi IPv4 address. If needed, add the port like this:
If you did not change the port in server.properties, the default Minecraft server port is typically 25565. Many setups work with just the Hamachi IP, but adding the port can help if Minecraft acts dramatic.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
1. Friends cannot see or join the server
First, make sure the server is actually running on the host PC. Then confirm every player is connected to the same Hamachi network. Finally, check that everyone is using Minecraft Java Edition and the same game version.
2. Hamachi says “Request timed out” or seems blocked
This usually points to a firewall or adapter problem. Check Windows Firewall settings, make sure Hamachi is allowed, and confirm the network adapter installed properly.
3. The server opens and closes instantly
That often means Java is missing, the JAR filename in your BAT file is wrong, or the EULA has not been accepted. Triple-check all three before blaming the moon cycle.
4. The server lags badly
Lag usually comes from limited RAM, a weak CPU, too many players, too many mods, or an unstable internet connection. Hamachi is fine for a small private world, but it is not magic. If your host PC is also running a browser with 47 tabs, Discord, Spotify, a shader pack, and emotional baggage, performance will suffer.
5. The host can join, but friends cannot
This is one of the most common Hamachi Minecraft server issues. Usually the server itself is fine, but something in the firewall, Hamachi network membership, or game version mismatch is blocking remote players. Re-check permissions and verify the exact IP your friends are using.
Is Hamachi Still a Good Way to Host Minecraft?
For a small, private, budget-friendly world, yes. Hamachi is still useful when you want to make a Minecraft server with Hamachi quickly and avoid port forwarding. It is especially handy for a casual group of friends who just want to build a village, fight over wheat farms, and somehow lose three diamonds in the first 20 minutes.
But it is not always the best long-term option. Paid hosts, Minecraft Realms, and more modern networking tools can offer better stability, easier scaling, and less troubleshooting. Hamachi shines when your priorities are:
- Low cost
- Private access
- Small player count
- Simple setup for friends
If your plans are bigger than that, you may outgrow it fast.
Real-World Experiences With a Hamachi Minecraft Server
One reason people still search for how to make a Minecraft server with Hamachi is simple: it feels personal. A Hamachi server is not some polished cloud product with a dashboard full of shiny buttons. It is your computer, your world, your settings, and your slightly chaotic friend group all stitched together with equal parts enthusiasm and technical improvisation.
The first experience most hosts have is a mix of excitement and panic. You launch the server, see a wall of text, and briefly wonder whether you have become a systems administrator against your will. Then one friend joins. Then another. Suddenly the whole thing feels like magic. You are standing in a world that exists because you made it exist, and that little moment is weirdly satisfying.
There is also something charmingly old-school about the Hamachi routine. You create the network, send out the ID and password, tell everyone to install the same version, and wait while at least one person says, “Hold on, mine is updating.” It is not elegant, but it feels collaborative in a way that one-click hosting sometimes does not. Everyone is a little involved, which makes the world feel like a group project instead of a subscription.
Of course, the experience is not always smooth. Hamachi servers have a talent for working perfectly one day and then choosing chaos the next. Maybe someone’s firewall blocks the connection. Maybe the host changed Wi-Fi networks. Maybe a friend tries to join with the wrong Minecraft version and swears they did not. Troubleshooting becomes part of the ritual. Oddly enough, that is part of the nostalgia too. Long-time PC players know there is a certain bonding experience in collectively yelling, “Wait, what IP did you use?”
Performance is another real-world lesson. A Hamachi Minecraft server can feel great with two or three friends in a light survival world. Add a giant redstone machine, a few ambitious builders, and someone exploring chunks like they are being paid by the mile, and things can get rough. Hosting teaches you quickly that Minecraft is adorable, but it is not exactly gentle on a modest PC.
Still, many players love Hamachi because it keeps the experience private and cozy. Public servers can be noisy, crowded, and full of rules long enough to qualify as literature. A Hamachi server is usually the opposite. It is your inside jokes, your builds, your pace. It is the kind of server where someone logs in just to finish a roof, another person spends two hours organizing chests, and someone else definitely “accidentally” releases livestock into the wheat field.
In that sense, a Hamachi Minecraft server is less about perfect technology and more about memorable sessions. It is the digital equivalent of hosting game night in your garage. Sure, the chairs are mismatched and the lighting is questionable, but everyone is happy to be there.
Final Thoughts
If you want a low-cost way to host a private world for a few friends, learning how to make a Minecraft server with Hamachi is still a practical option. It takes a little setup, a little patience, and maybe one dramatic sigh when Windows Firewall gets involved, but once everything clicks, it works surprisingly well for small groups.
The biggest keys are simple: use Minecraft Java Edition, install the official server file, accept the EULA, create a Hamachi network, share the host’s Hamachi IP, and make sure every player is on the same version. Do that, and you are well on your way to building your own tiny online universe, one suspiciously square tree at a time.
