
Host a Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) Dedicated Server
NeoForge Minecraft server with modern mod support and optional built-in voice chat. NeoForge is a modern fork of Forge with improved performance, updated modding APIs, and active development for the latest Minecraft versions. Supports automatic version resolution, Aikar's flags, and Simple Voice Chat integration. Runs in Docker for isolated resource management.
Hardware Requirements
Here's what you need to run a Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) dedicated server.
Economy
Small server, 1-10 players
Standard
Community server, 10-40 players
Pro
Large server, 40-200 players
Start hosting from your own computer
Run a Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) server on your desktop, laptop, VPS, or dedicated machine — GameCP automates Docker setup, resource allocation, and Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) configuration instantly. Automatic port forwarding means your friends can connect without touching your router. Start local, scale to a VPS when you're ready.
Setup in 4 Steps
Skip the manual installation, port forwarding, and configuration. Install on your own computer and start hosting instantly.
The Manual Way vs. GameCP
Manual Setup
- ✗Configure 4+ firewall ports and router settings
- ✗Write systemd service files
- ✗SSH into server to edit configs
- ✗Requires a VPS or dedicated server
- ✗30-60 minutes if experienced
With GameCP
- Automatic port forwarding — no router config
- Host from your own PC, VPS, or dedicated server
- Docker container with auto-restart
- Visual config editor in browser
- Under 5 minutes total
Under the Hood
The full manual process to host a Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) dedicated server on a VPS. Or install GameCP on your own computer and skip all of this.
Configure & Prepare
Set your server settings, then install Docker, and pull the Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) container image.
# Update system and install Docker sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y docker.io sudo systemctl enable --now docker # Create game server directory sudo mkdir -p /opt/gameserver # Server configuration export GAMEMODE="survival" export DIFFICULTY="easy" export LEVEL_NAME="world" export PVP="true" export SPAWN_MONSTERS="true" export WHITE_LIST="false" export ALLOW_FLIGHT="true" export SPAWN_PROTECTION="16" export HARDCORE="false" export FORCE_GAMEMODE="false" export ALLOW_NETHER="true" export LEVEL_TYPE="minecraft:normal" export GENERATE_STRUCTURES="true" export ONLINE_MODE="true" export ENFORCE_WHITELIST="false" export ENFORCE_SECURE_PROFILE="true" export ENABLE_RCON="false" export ENABLE_QUERY="true" export ENABLE_STATUS="true" export ENABLE_COMMAND_BLOCK="false" export VIEW_DISTANCE="10" export SIMULATION_DISTANCE="10" export MAX_TICK_TIME="60000" export NETWORK_COMPRESSION_THRESHOLD="256" export VOICE_CHAT_ENABLED="true" export VOICE_MAX_DISTANCE="48" export VOICE_WHISPER_DISTANCE="24" export VOICE_ENABLE_GROUPS="true" # Pull the container image docker pull eclipse-temurin:21-jre-alpine
Run the Installation Script
Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) uses a custom install script to download and configure the server files.
#!/bin/bash
apt update
apt install -y wget curl jq xmlstarlet
cd /opt/gameserver || { echo "Failed to change directory to /opt/gameserver"; exit 1; }
# Accept EULA
echo "Accepting EULA..."
echo "eula=true" > eula.txt
# Resolve Minecraft version
MC_VERSION="${MINECRAFT_VERSION:-latest}"
NEOFORGE_MAVEN="https://maven.neoforged.net/releases/net/neoforged/neoforge"
if [ "$MC_VERSION" = "latest" ] || [ -z "$MC_VERSION" ]; then
echo "Fetching latest NeoForge version..."
XML_DATA=$(curl -sSL "$NEOFORGE_MAVEN/maven-metadata.xml")
NEOFORGE_VERSION=$(echo "$XML_DATA" | xmlstarlet sel -t -v '/metadata/versioning/release' 2>/dev/null)
if [ -z "$NEOFORGE_VERSION" ]; then
NEOFORGE_VERSION=$(echo "$XML_DATA" | grep -oP '<release>[^<]+</release>' | sed 's/<[^>]*>//g')
fi
MC_VERSION="1.$(echo "$NEOFORGE_VERSION" | cut -d'.' -f1-2)"
echo "Latest NeoForge version: $NEOFORGE_VERSION (MC $MC_VERSION)"
else
echo "Using specified MC version: $MC_VERSION"
# Derive version key from MC version (e.g., 1.21.4 -> 21.4)
if echo "$MC_VERSION" | grep -qP '^d+.d+.d+$'; then
VERSION_KEY="$(echo "$MC_VERSION" | cut -d'.' -f2-)."
else
VERSION_KEY="$(echo "$MC_VERSION" | cut -d'.' -f2-)"
fi
echo "Resolving NeoForge version for key: $VERSION_KEY"
XML_DATA=$(curl -sSL "$NEOFORGE_MAVEN/maven-metadata.xml")
NEOFORGE_VERSION=$(echo "$XML_DATA" | grep -oP '<version>[^<]+</version>' | sed 's/<[^>]*>//g' | grep "^$VERSION_KEY" | tail -1)
if [ -z "$NEOFORGE_VERSION" ]; then
echo "ERROR: No NeoForge version found for MC $MC_VERSION!"
exit 1
fi
echo "Resolved NeoForge version: $NEOFORGE_VERSION"
fi
# Download NeoForge installer
INSTALLER_JAR="neoforge-$NEOFORGE_VERSION-installer.jar"
DOWNLOAD_URL="$NEOFORGE_MAVEN/$NEOFORGE_VERSION/$INSTALLER_JAR"
echo "Downloading NeoForge installer..."
wget -q "$DOWNLOAD_URL" -O "$INSTALLER_JAR"
if [ ! -f "$INSTALLER_JAR" ]; then
echo "ERROR: Failed to download NeoForge installer!"
exit 1
fi
# Clean previous install for upgrade/downgrade support
rm -rf libraries/net/neoforged/neoforge
rm -f unix_args.txt
# Run installer
echo "Running NeoForge installer..."
java -jar "$INSTALLER_JAR" --installServer || { echo "NeoForge install failed!"; exit 1; }
# Set up unix_args.txt symlink
if [ -d "libraries/net/neoforged/neoforge/$NEOFORGE_VERSION" ]; then
ln -sf "libraries/net/neoforged/neoforge/$NEOFORGE_VERSION/unix_args.txt" unix_args.txt
fi
if [ ! -f unix_args.txt ]; then
echo "ERROR: Installer did not generate unix_args.txt!"
exit 1
fi
# Cleanup
rm -f "$INSTALLER_JAR"
rm -f run.bat run.sh
echo "NeoForge server installed successfully."
# Install Simple Voice Chat mod if enabled
VOICE_ENABLED="${VOICE_CHAT_ENABLED:-false}"
if [ "$VOICE_ENABLED" = "true" ] || [ "$VOICE_ENABLED" = "1" ]; then
echo "Voice Chat enabled. Installing Simple Voice Chat mod..."
mkdir -p mods
MODRINTH_API="https://api.modrinth.com/v2/project/simple-voice-chat/version?loaders=%5B%22neoforge%22%5D&game_versions=%5B%22$MC_VERSION%22%5D"
VOICE_URL=$(curl -sSL "$MODRINTH_API" | jq -r '.[0].files[0].url // empty')
if [ -z "$VOICE_URL" ]; then
echo "No exact version match, trying latest NeoForge build..."
MODRINTH_API="https://api.modrinth.com/v2/project/simple-voice-chat/version?loaders=%5B%22neoforge%22%5D"
VOICE_URL=$(curl -sSL "$MODRINTH_API" | jq -r '.[0].files[0].url // empty')
fi
if [ -n "$VOICE_URL" ]; then
wget -q "$VOICE_URL" -O mods/voicechat.jar
echo "Simple Voice Chat mod installed."
else
echo "WARNING: Could not find Simple Voice Chat for NeoForge. Skipping."
fi
else
echo "Voice Chat disabled. Skipping mod install."
fi
echo "Install Completed"Open Firewall Ports
Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) requires 4 ports to be open for game traffic and queries.
sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp sudo ufw allow 25575/tcp sudo ufw allow 25566/both sudo ufw allow 24454/udp
Launch the Server
Start the Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) server using the configuration from Step 1.
docker run -d \ --name minecraft-java-neoforge-server \ -p 25565:25565/tcp \ -p 25575:25575/tcp \ -p 25566:25566/both \ -p 24454:24454/udp \ -e GAMEMODE="survival" \ -e DIFFICULTY="easy" \ -e LEVEL_NAME="world" \ -e PVP="true" \ -e SPAWN_MONSTERS="true" \ -e WHITE_LIST="false" \ -e ALLOW_FLIGHT="true" \ -e SPAWN_PROTECTION="16" \ -e HARDCORE="false" \ -e FORCE_GAMEMODE="false" \ -e ALLOW_NETHER="true" \ -e LEVEL_TYPE="minecraft:normal" \ -e GENERATE_STRUCTURES="true" \ -e ONLINE_MODE="true" \ -e ENFORCE_WHITELIST="false" \ -e ENFORCE_SECURE_PROFILE="true" \ -e ENABLE_RCON="false" \ -e ENABLE_QUERY="true" \ -e ENABLE_STATUS="true" \ -e ENABLE_COMMAND_BLOCK="false" \ -e VIEW_DISTANCE="10" \ -e SIMULATION_DISTANCE="10" \ -e MAX_TICK_TIME="60000" \ -e NETWORK_COMPRESSION_THRESHOLD="256" \ -e VOICE_CHAT_ENABLED="true" \ -e VOICE_MAX_DISTANCE="48" \ -e VOICE_WHISPER_DISTANCE="24" \ -e VOICE_ENABLE_GROUPS="true" \ -v /opt/gameserver:/opt/gameserver \ -w /opt/gameserver \ eclipse-temurin:21-jre-alpine \ java -Xmx -Xms -Dterminal.jline=false -Dterminal.ansi=true @unix_args.txt
Alternative startup profiles:
- Aikar's Flags (Optimized) — Optimized JVM flags recommended by Aikar for Minecraft servers. Best for servers with 10+ players.
GameCP lets you switch between these profiles with one click.
Or skip all of this
GameCP automates every step above: Docker, port forwarding, startup, and config. Install on your own PC and deploy a Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) server in under 5 minutes.
Deploy with GameCPMore Hosting Guides
Explore step-by-step setup guides for other popular games supported by GameCP.
Ready to Host Your Minecraft - Java Edition (NeoForge) Server?
Install GameCP on your own computer and start hosting in minutes. Automatic port forwarding, zero config — your friends connect instantly.
No credit card required · Free tier available · Install local, scale later