Minecraft server: first start, EULA and joining

Your new Minecraft server is installed, but before you let players in, you need to accept the Minecraft license terms (EULA) and start the server for the first time. We'll go through it step by step: where to find the address, what the EULA means, how to read the console, how to join from the game and how to give yourself operator rights.

Where to find the server address#

1. In the customer area, open My services and click your Minecraft server.
2. Go to the Network tab.
3. Find the Connection address row with the “primary” label. It looks like IP:port, for example 203.0.113.10:25600.

Enter the address in the game in full, including the port after the colon. The default Minecraft port is 25565, but our servers often run on a different port. Without the right port, the game connects somewhere else and shows an error.

You can set up a nicer address without numbers and a port (for example myserver.stormhost.eu) in the Domain tab. The steps are in Server address and domain. For your first connection, the address from the Network tab is all you need.

What the EULA is and why you have to accept it#

The EULA (End User License Agreement) is the license agreement from Mojang and Microsoft. The Minecraft server software won't start until the eula.txt file in the server root contains the line eula=true. That line confirms you agree to the terms.

For running a server, these points matter most:

• You may run a Minecraft: Java Edition server and play on it with others.
• You may not distribute the game or its files (for example, offer a modified client for download).
• Making money on a server (VIP, ranks, items for real money) is only allowed within the limits set by the Minecraft Usage Guidelines (opens in a new window). If you want to sell anything on your server, read them first.

The full text is on the Minecraft EULA (opens in a new window) page.

If the EULA isn't accepted, the server stops right after starting and the console shows:

[12:00:03 INFO]: You need to agree to the EULA in order to run the server. Go to eula.txt for more info.

Accepting the EULA in the customer area#

1. Go to the Console tab.

2. Above the console there's a Minecraft EULA block with the text “The server will not start until you accept the Minecraft license terms.” The Minecraft EULA link in the block opens the full text.

3. Click Accept and start.

   The customer area writes your consent to eula.txt and starts the server right away. The block disappears and you'll see the message “EULA accepted.”

If you want to accept the EULA without starting the server yet, click Accept EULA instead. You'll find the same block in the Software tab as well.

The customer area writes this content to the file:

#By changing the setting below to TRUE you are indicating your agreement to our EULA (https://aka.ms/MinecraftEULA).
#Accepted via the StormHost customer portal 2026-10-01T12:00:00.000Z
eula=true

• Lines starting with # are comments. The server ignores them; they're just for information (a link to the EULA and the time it was accepted).
• eula=true is the only line that matters. A value of false or a missing file means the server won't start.

First start in the console#

1. In the Console tab, click Start (if you used Accept and start, the server is already starting).
2. Watch the console output. The first start takes longer than later ones because the server generates a new world.
3. Wait for the line that starts with Done. Only then is the server ready to accept players.

The output looks roughly like this (the exact lines differ by version and server type; Paper and modded servers print more of them):

[12:00:01 INFO]: Starting minecraft server version 26.3
[12:00:01 INFO]: Loading properties
[12:00:01 INFO]: Default game type: SURVIVAL
[12:00:02 INFO]: Starting Minecraft server on *:25600
[12:00:05 INFO]: Preparing level "world"
[12:00:14 INFO]: Done (12.345s)! For help, type "help"

Lines marked WARN are warnings. On the first start it's normal for the server to report missing files, which it then creates itself. Lines with ERROR or output starting with Exception mean a real problem. Fixes for the most common errors are in Common Minecraft server errors.

Joining from the game#

The game version has to match the server version. You can see the server version in the Software tab under Installed software (the number right next to the server type, for example Paper 26.3), or in the first line of the console output on startup.

1. Start the Minecraft Launcher.

2. If the server isn't on the latest version, open the Installations tab in the launcher, click New installation and choose the same version the server runs. For the latest version, the default “Latest release” profile is enough.

3. Start the game and click Multiplayer in the main menu.

4. Click Add Server.

5. In the Server Name field, type any name you like, for example My server. It's only for you in the list.

6. In the Server Address field, paste the address from the Network tab including the port, for example 203.0.113.10:25600. If you've set up an address in the Domain tab, that one is enough, for example myserver.stormhost.eu.

7. Click Done.

   The server appears in the list. If it's running, you'll see its description (MOTD), the player count and a signal icon.

8. Double-click the server, or select it and click Join Server.

To connect once without saving the server to the list, use the Direct Connection button.

Operator rights for yourself#

An operator (op) can use every command on the server, for example /gamemode, /tp or /stop. Make yourself one first.

1. Join the server from the game so the server knows your account.

2. In the customer area, go to the Console tab.

3. In the “Type a command and press Enter” field, type the following command and press Enter:

   op <NICK>

   • op – the command that makes a player an operator.
   • <NICK> – your in-game name exactly as you see it in the game, without the angle brackets. For example op Steve.

   The console confirms it:

   [12:05:10 INFO]: Made Steve a server operator

4. In the game you can now use slash commands, for example /gamemode creative.

Commands typed in the customer area console are written without a slash at the start. In the in-game chat you do type the slash. The differences and more commands are covered in the Command cheat sheet.

What to set up right away#

• A private server just for friends: turn on the whitelist so no strangers can join. Type whitelist on in the console, then whitelist add <NICK> for each friend. Details are in Whitelist, operators and bans.
• Leave account authentication (online-mode) on. The server then checks that each player owns a genuine account. With authentication off, anyone can join under any name, including an operator's name.
• Difficulty, player count, server description: change them in the Server properties tab. Every setting is explained in the server.properties article.
• Backups: before you start building, consider a backup slot, see Game server backups.
• Your own world: want to continue in a world from single-player? The steps are in Upload your own world.
• Plugins or mods: depending on the server type, continue with Installing plugins or Mods and modpacks.

Verify it works#

1. Join the server from the game.

2. In the Console tab, type the list command.

   [12:06:02 INFO]: There are 1 of a max of 20 players online: Steve

   Your name is in the output, so the server is running and the connection works.

3. You can also check that the server is reachable from outside with the Minecraft status tool. Enter the server address including the port.

Troubleshooting#

The server stops right after starting#

The console shows You need to agree to the EULA in order to run the server. The EULA hasn't been accepted. Follow Accepting the EULA in the customer area. If the server stops with a different message, find the first ERROR line in the console and check Common Minecraft server errors.

Incompatible client! Please use 26.3 or Outdated client! / Outdated server!#

The game version doesn't match the server version. The number in the message is the version the server needs. If your game is set to another language, you'll see the message translated. Messages sent by Paper and Purpur servers are always in English. Create an installation with this version in the launcher (step 2 in Joining from the game). Paper and Purpur servers show Outdated client! Please use … when your game is older, and Outdated server! I'm still on … when your game is newer than the server. The opposite approach, changing the server version, is described in Changing the version and software.

Failed to connect to the server or Connection refused#

• The server isn't running or is still starting. Check the status in the Console tab and wait for the Done line.
• You entered the wrong port. Copy the address again from the Network tab, including the number after the colon.

Can't resolve hostname or Unknown host#

The game couldn't find the address. Check for typos. If you use a domain, check its DNS records as described in Server address and domain. Until then, connect using the IP address and port.

Failed to verify username!#

The server couldn't verify your account with Mojang. Close the game and the launcher, start them again and log in. A game without a genuine account can't join a server with online-mode on, and that's how it should be.

You are not white-listed on this server! or You are not whitelisted on this server!#

The server has the whitelist turned on and your name isn't on it. Type whitelist add <NICK> in the console. Operators can always join, even if they're not on the whitelist.

Timed out#

The connection dropped. If it keeps happening to all players, the server is probably overloaded. Check its performance as described in Performance and optimization. If it only happens to you, try a different internet connection.

If you're stuck, get in touch through support. Include the service ID, the time of the problem and the full error message.

Further reading#

• Minecraft EULA (opens in a new window)
• Minecraft Usage Guidelines (opens in a new window)
• Minecraft Wiki: server.properties (opens in a new window)