• A dedicated machine (or cloud server) with the RAM headroom for your player count. Don't host from your gaming PC unless it's the only option. Running the client and server side by side will gut your in-game FPS.
• Java 25 installed. Adoptium Temurin builds are the safe pick on every OS. Older Java versions (8, 11, 17, 21) will not boot the server.
• A static IP or a dynamic-DNS setup if you want a stable address for friends.
• Router access for UDP port forwarding (unless you're on a hosted plan, we do this automatically).
• A legitimate Hytale account. The server checks each connecting player's license at join time.

How much RAM does a Hytale server need?

A Hytale server needs 4 GB of RAM for up to 5 players on vanilla, 6 to 8 GB for 10 to 15 players, and 12 GB+ for heavily modded servers. CPU single-thread performance matters more than raw core count. Hytale's tick loop, like Minecraft's, runs hot on high clock speeds.

More RAM than you need isn't always better. Oversized allocations cause Java garbage-collection stalls that show up as TPS dips.

Reference sizing chart:

Use our hosting-RAM calculator for a second opinion based on your exact player count.

Step 1. Install Java 25

Hytale's dedicated server targets Java 25. Older runtimes simply won't start it.

Linux (recommended for long-running hosts):

# Ubuntu / Debian
wget -O - https://packages.adoptium.net/artifactory/api/gpg/key/public | sudo apt-key add -
echo "deb https://packages.adoptium.net/artifactory/deb $(awk -F= '/^VERSION_CODENAME/{print$2}' /etc/os-release) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/adoptium.list
sudo apt update && sudo apt install temurin-25-jre
java -version  # confirm "openjdk version 25"

Windows + macOS: download the installer from adoptium.net and run it. Restart your terminal and run java -version to confirm.

Step 2. Download the dedicated server

Hytale's server files come directly from Hypixel Studios via the official Hytale Server Manual. The manual walks through the exact download link, supported OSes, and the licence-key requirements.

Extract the bundle to a fresh directory. Don't mix it with your local Hytale client install.

mkdir hytale-server
cd hytale-server
# extract the downloaded archive here

You'll end up with the server executable, a config/ folder, and a launch script (.sh or .bat depending on OS).

Step 3. Configure the server

Open config.json (the main server config). At minimum, set:

• Server name: what players see in the server list.
• MOTD: your welcome message.
• Port: defaults to 5520 (UDP/QUIC). Change only if you have a clash.
• Max players: keep this in line with your RAM allocation from above.
• Game mode: Adventure, Survival, Creative, or a community default.

Save it. You'll reload it after any mod install or tuning change.

Step 4. Forward UDP port 5520

Hytale uses the QUIC protocol over UDP, not TCP. This is the single biggest gotcha for first-time hosts coming from Minecraft, which uses TCP. Don't bother forwarding TCP. Forward UDP only, or the server boots fine but no client can connect.

If you're hosting from home:

1. Log into your router (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Find the Port Forwarding section.
3. Forward UDP 5520 (or your custom port from config.json) to your host machine's local IP.
4. Add a firewall exception on the host machine for the same UDP port (Windows Defender or your Linux firewall).
5. Share your public IP (whatsmyip.org) plus the port with friends.

Worth knowing: ISPs increasingly use carrier-grade NAT which breaks port forwarding even when configured correctly. If external players still can't connect after you've triple-checked the rules, your ISP may be the bottleneck. That's the moment a cloud-hosted Hytale server with a real public IP becomes the easier path.

Step 5. First-launch device authentication

This is the part that catches everyone, because Minecraft doesn't have it and the older Hytale guides don't cover it.

When you launch the server for the first time, the console prints a one-time device code and a URL. Open the URL in any browser:

1. Server console shows something like: Visit https://accounts.hytale.com and enter code ABCD-1234.
2. Open that URL on any device, sign in with your Hytale account, and paste the code.
3. The console confirms authentication. The server saves the linkage to config/auth/. You won't be prompted again unless you wipe that folder.

If you skip this step, the server will boot but reject every connection.

Step 6. Start the server

Run the launch script. First boot creates log files and initialises world data. Watch the log for a line confirming the server is ready to accept connections.

Connect from your Hytale client using PUBLIC_IP:5520.

Installing mods via CurseForge

Hytale's modding ecosystem is live and growing fast. Popular community mods to consider:

• BetterMap: improved minimap and waypoints (500K+ downloads).
• EyeSpy: enhanced camera and photo mode (400K+).
• RPG Leveling: RPG-style character progression (275K+).
• Browse the full catalogue on curseforge.com/hytale.

Workflow:

1. Download the mod .zip from CurseForge.
2. Drop it into the server's mods/ folder (or wherever the official manual points for your build).
3. Restart the server.
4. That's it. Hytale streams the mod's models, textures, sounds, and UI to every connecting player automatically. No client-side install, no mod loader, no version-mismatch hell. This is one of Hytale's biggest wins over Minecraft modding.

Golden rule: every mod must target the same Hytale Update version. Mismatched Update 4 vs Update 5 mods are the #1 cause of silent mod failures.

Five common errors and how to fix them

1. Java version not supported

What it means. You're running Java 8, 11, 17, or 21. Hytale wants 25.

Fix. Install Adoptium Temurin 25, set your JAVA_HOME to its install path, then java -version to confirm. Hosted plans handle this for you.

2. Authentication failed or Device not registered

What it means. You skipped the first-launch auth flow, or you wiped config/auth/ accidentally.

Fix. Stop the server, restart, watch the console for the device code, complete the flow at accounts.hytale.com.

3. Port already in use

What it means. Another process (or another Hytale server instance) is holding UDP 5520.

Fix. Change the port in config.json, or stop the conflicting process. On Windows: netstat -ano | findstr :5520. On macOS/Linux: lsof -i :5520.

4. Cannot allocate memory (crash on boot)

What it means. You asked Java for more RAM than the host machine has free.

Fix. Lower the -Xmx value in the launch script. Rule of thumb: leave 2 GB for the OS, give the rest to the server. On an 8 GB machine, -Xmx6G is the max safe value.

5. Can't keep up / TPS drops in logs

What it means. The server is under-powered for the load. Too many mods, too many players, or too-low CPU clock.

Fix. Reduce view distance, simulation distance, or active-chunk count in config.json. If you're on a 3.0 GHz or lower CPU, upgrade the hardware or move to a host like BruceNode running AMD's high-clock platform.

Self-host vs managed host: honest comparison

Self-hosting works great for 5-person friend groups on a closed LAN. The moment you want public access, 24/7 uptime, or a growing community, the math flips fast.

BruceNode Hytale plans start at $2/mo with BRUCE20 for 20% off your first month.

Post-setup: three things every Hytale server should do

1. Daily automated backups. Hytale worlds are save-bound. A single corrupted tick can take hours of gameplay with it. Hosted plans set this up automatically. Self-hosts need a cron plus save-rotation script.
2. Version-lock your mods. When Update 5 drops, don't update until your mod list is confirmed compatible. Mismatches silently break servers.
3. Monitor memory plus TPS. A server running at 95%+ heap constantly will stutter. Bump RAM or trim mods before players complain.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hytale still in Early Access in 2026?

Yes. Hytale launched Early Access on January 13, 2026 and is actively receiving updates. Full 1.0 release has not been announced as of this post. Adventure Mode (a key post-launch feature) is slated for a future update.

Does the Hytale server really need Java 25 specifically?

Yes. The dedicated server bundle targets Java 25 via Adoptium Temurin (or your distribution's equivalent OpenJDK 25 build). Older Java versions (21, 17, 11, 8) will fail to start it. Future Hytale updates may move to a newer Java release, so always check the official server manual when you update.

Why UDP, not TCP?

Hytale uses the QUIC protocol over UDP. QUIC handles connection setup and packet loss faster than TCP in low-latency game scenarios, and it's already shipping in major browsers and CDNs. The practical impact for you: forward UDP only when setting up the router rule.

Can I run a Hytale server on Windows, macOS, or Linux?

Per the official Hytale Server Manual, the dedicated server ships for the major desktop OSes. Performance tends to be best on Linux for long-running hosts. Less OS overhead, better Java GC behaviour under load. Most hosted providers (us included) run Linux under the hood.

How many players can a Hytale server handle?

Depends entirely on RAM, CPU, and mod load. A 6 GB plan on modern hardware comfortably handles 10 to 15 vanilla players. A 16 GB plan with a full mod list handles 20 to 25. Past 30 concurrent, chunk loading and mod overhead start to compete.

Do I need a licence for each player?

Each player needs their own Hytale account and game licence. The server validates against their account at connection time, the same way Minecraft online-mode servers do.

What's the best Hytale hosting in 2026?

The right host gives you: fast single-thread CPU (3.8 GHz+), NVMe disk, Java 25 pre-installed, UDP-friendly networking out of the box, a panel with CurseForge or direct-mod install, and real humans on support. BruceNode's Hytale plans cover all of it. Code BRUCE20 for 20% off your first month.

Closing

Hytale's launch window is the first-mover moment for server hosts. Content, mods, and community infrastructure are all being built in real time. Whether you self-host for your friends or spin up a public server, the tech is more approachable than a brand-new 2026 survival game usually is.

If you run into a setup issue we didn't cover here, open a ticket in our Discord or email hi@brucenode.com. We've helped enough Hytale server admins in the first week of Update 4 to spot most issues from the first five lines of a log.

Happy adventuring.

Related guides

• How to host a modded Hytale server (2026 guide)
• Hytale server requirements (RAM, CPU, storage)
• Best Hytale mods in 2026