Hytale Servers Space

    hytaleservers.space

    Server ListBlogFAQContact
    Back to Blog
    SERVER SETUP

    How to Create a Hytale Server on Windows

    January 14, 2026•8 min read•Windows 10 & 11
    Hytale Server on Windows

    Hosting a Hytale server on Windows is straightforward and gives you complete control over your multiplayer experience. This comprehensive guide covers everything from installing Java 25 to configuring your server, setting up port forwarding, and optimizing performance.

    What you'll learn: Java 25 installation on Windows, downloading server files, Windows Defender Firewall configuration, port forwarding, authentication, and performance optimization.

    System Requirements

    • ▸Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11
    • ▸Minimum RAM: 4GB (8GB+ recommended for multiple players)
    • ▸Java Version: Java 25 (required)
    • ▸Architecture: x64 or arm64
    • ▸Storage: 5GB+ for server files and world data
    • ▸Network: UDP port 5520 open (or custom port)

    Performance Tip: CPU usage increases with high player counts and entity counts (NPCs, mobs). RAM usage increases with large loaded world areas—especially when players explore independently or view distance is high.

    Step 1: Install Java 25

    Hytale servers require Java 25. We recommend Adoptium (formerly AdoptOpenJDK) for the best compatibility and performance on Windows.

    Download and Install

    1. 1.

      Visit the Adoptium website:

      https://adoptium.net/
    2. 2.

      Select Temurin 25 (LTS) from the version dropdown

    3. 3.

      Choose your system architecture (x64 for most systems)

    4. 4.

      Download the .msi installer for Windows

    5. 5.

      Run the installer and follow the setup wizard

    6. 6.

      Make sure to check "Set JAVA_HOME variable" and "Add to PATH" during installation

    Important: The installer will automatically configure environment variables. If you skip this step, you'll need to manually add Java to your PATH.

    Verify Installation

    Open Command Prompt (Win + R, type "cmd") and run:

    java --version

    Expected output:

    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

    You have two options for obtaining Hytale server files: using the Hytale Downloader CLI (recommended for production) or manually copying from your launcher installation.

    Option 1: Hytale Downloader CLI (Recommended)

    The official command-line tool makes it easy to download and keep server files updated.

    1. 1.

      Download hytale-downloader.zip from the official Hytale website

    2. 2.

      Extract the ZIP to a folder (e.g., C:\hytale-server)

    3. 3.

      Open Command Prompt in that folder (Shift + Right-click → "Open PowerShell window here" or "Open Command Prompt here")

    4. 4.

      Run the downloader:

      hytale-downloader.exe
    Pro Tip: Use hytale-downloader.exe -print-version to check the current game version, and hytale-downloader.exe -check-update to check for updates.

    Option 2: Manual Copy from Launcher

    If you have the Hytale launcher installed, you can copy the server files directly:

    1. 1.

      Navigate to your launcher installation folder:

      %appdata%\Hytale\install\release\package\game\latest
    2. 2.

      Copy the Server folder and Assets.zip to your server directory (e.g., C:\hytale-server)

    Step 3: Configure Windows Defender Firewall

    Important: Hytale uses QUIC protocol over UDP (not TCP). You must configure your firewall for UDP traffic on port 5520.

    Method 1: Using PowerShell (Recommended)

    Open PowerShell as Administrator (Right-click Start → "Windows PowerShell (Admin)") and run:

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

    Method 2: Using Windows Defender Firewall GUI

    1. 1.

      Open Windows Defender Firewall from Control Panel

    2. 2.

      Click "Advanced settings" on the left sidebar

    3. 3.

      Click "Inbound Rules" in the left panel

    4. 4.

      Click "New Rule..." in the right panel

    5. 5.

      Select "Port" and click Next

    6. 6.

      Select "UDP" and enter 5520 in "Specific local ports"

    7. 7.

      Select "Allow the connection" and click Next

    8. 8.

      Check all profiles (Domain, Private, Public) and click Next

    9. 9.

      Name it "Hytale Server" and click Finish

    Step 4: Configure Port Forwarding (Router)

    If you want players outside your local network to connect, you need to configure port forwarding on your router.

    General Steps

    1. 1.

      Find your local IP address. Open Command Prompt and run:

      ipconfig

      Look for "IPv4 Address" under your active network adapter (e.g., 192.168.1.100)

    2. 2.

      Access your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)

    3. 3.

      Find the Port Forwarding section (often under "Advanced" or "NAT")

    4. 4.

      Create a new port forwarding rule:

    Service Name: Hytale Server

    Protocol: UDP

    External Port: 5520

    Internal Port: 5520

    Internal IP: Your local IP (e.g., 192.168.1.100)

    Save the rule and restart your router if needed.

    Note: Router interfaces vary by manufacturer. Consult your router's manual or visit portforward.com for device-specific guides.

    Step 5: Start Your Server

    Basic Launch Command

    Open Command Prompt or PowerShell in your server folder and run:

    java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

    Optimized Launch Command

    For better performance, use the AOT cache and allocate appropriate memory:

    java -Xms4G -Xmx8G -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

    -Xms4G: Minimum heap size (4GB)
    -Xmx8G: Maximum heap size (8GB)
    -XX:AOTCache: Uses pre-trained cache for faster boot times (JEP-514)

    Custom Port

    To use a different port (e.g., 25565):

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

    Create a Startup Script (Optional)

    Create a start.bat file for easy server launching:

    @echo off
    title Hytale Server
    java -Xms4G -Xmx8G -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip
    pause

    Save this in your server folder and double-click start.bat to launch the server.

    Step 6: Authenticate Your Server

    All Hytale servers require authentication to communicate with Hytale services and prevent abuse. You can run up to 100 servers per Hytale license.

    After first launch, authenticate using the device code method:

    # In your server console, type:
    /auth login device

    You'll see output like this:

    ===================================================================
    DEVICE AUTHORIZATION
    ===================================================================
    Visit: https://accounts.hytale.com/device
    Enter code: ABCD-1234
    Or visit: https://accounts.hytale.com/device?user_code=ABCD-1234
    ===================================================================
    Waiting for authorization (expires in 900 seconds)...
    1. 1.

      Open the URL in your web browser

    2. 2.

      Enter the provided code

    3. 3.

      Complete the authorization

    4. 4.

      Return to your server console—it will confirm successful authentication

    Performance Optimization Tips

    1. View Distance

    View distance is the main driver for RAM usage. We recommend limiting maximum view distance to 12 chunks (384 blocks) for both performance and gameplay. This is roughly equivalent to 24 Minecraft chunks—expect higher RAM usage with default settings.

    2. Monitor Resources

    Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to monitor CPU and RAM usage. Adjust your -Xmx value based on actual consumption. A typical symptom of memory pressure is increased CPU usage due to garbage collection.

    3. Disable Sentry (Development)

    If you're developing plugins, disable crash reporting to avoid submitting development errors:

    java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip --disable-sentry

    4. Installing Mods

    Download mods (.zip or .jar) from trusted sources like CurseForge and drop them into the mods/ folder in your server directory.

    5. Recommended Plugins

    Consider these community plugins for enhanced server management:

    • ▸Nitrado:WebServer - Base plugin for web applications and APIs
    • ▸Nitrado:Query - Exposes server status via HTTP
    • ▸Nitrado:PerformanceSaver - Dynamically limits view distance based on resources
    • ▸ApexHosting:PrometheusExporter - Detailed server and JVM metrics

    6. Automatic Backups

    Enable automatic backups to protect your world data:

    java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip --backup --backup-frequency 30

    This creates backups every 30 minutes in the backup/ directory.

    Troubleshooting Common Issues

    Players Can't Connect

    Checklist:

    • ▸Verify UDP port 5520 is open in Windows Defender Firewall
    • ▸Confirm port forwarding is configured for UDP (not TCP) on your router
    • ▸Check your public IP address at whatismyipaddress.com
    • ▸Test if the port is open using an online port checker

    "Java is not recognized" Error

    This means Java is not in your PATH. Reinstall Java 25 using the Adoptium installer and make sure to check "Add to PATH" during installation. Alternatively, add Java to PATH manually via Environment Variables.

    Out of Memory Errors

    Increase the -Xmx value when launching the server. For 10+ players with moderate view distance, use at least 8GB. Monitor actual usage in Task Manager and adjust accordingly.

    Server Crashes on Startup

    Verify Java 25 is installed with java --version. Check the logs/ directory for detailed error messages. Ensure Assets.zip is in the same folder as HytaleServer.jar.

    Protocol Version Mismatch

    Currently, client and server must be on the exact same protocol version. When Hytale releases an update, download the latest server files using the Hytale Downloader CLI to match the client version.

    You're All Set!

    Congratulations! Your Hytale server is now running on Windows. Share your public IP and port (default 5520) with friends so they can connect. Don't forget to list your server on Hytale Servers Space to grow your community and attract players.

    List Your ServerLinux Setup Guide →