Install Minecraft Server Using Docker Compose

This article is for those looking for a detailed and straightforward guide on installing Minecraft Server using Docker Compose.

A Minecraft Server is a player-owned or business-owned multiplayer game server for the 2009 Mojang Studios video game Minecraft. In this context, the term “server” often colloquially refers to a network of connected servers, rather than a single machine.

TIP

Architecture Context

Choose a self-hosted Minecraft server when you need full control over mods, plugins, world configuration, and player limits. Minecraft Realms offers a managed alternative with simpler setup but limited customization and a 10-player cap. Self-hosting is the right approach when you need modded gameplay, custom server properties, or want to avoid per-player subscription costs.

💾 You can find the repository used in this guide on GitHub.

CAUTION

You will need A-type records in the external DNS zone, which point to the IP address of your server where Minecraft Server is installed. If you have created these records recently, you should wait before starting the installation of the services. Full replication of these records between DNS servers can take from a few minutes to 48 hours or even longer in rare cases.

NOTE

Alternatively, you can use the public static IP address of your server to connect directly.

IMPORTANT

Docker Engine and Docker Compose must be installed on the server.

For a step-by-step guide on installing Docker Engine on Ubuntu Server, see Install Docker Engine and Docker Compose on Ubuntu Server

IMPORTANT

OpenSSH must be installed on the server, and port 22 must be open in order to be able to connect to the server using the SSH protocol.

To install OpenSSH on the server you can use the command:

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sudo apt install openssh-server

NOTE

To connect to the server from a Windows system, you can use tools like PuTTY or MobaXterm.

NOTE

This guide walks you through connecting to a server with the iTerm2 terminal emulator on macOS.

CAUTION

You will need to open the following TCP ports for access to the services:

• TCP port 25565 - to connect Minecraft clients to the server.

We connect to the server on which Minecraft Server is planned to be installed.

Now it is necessary to create a network for your services.

We create a network for Minecraft Server using the command:

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docker network create minecraft-server-network

Next, you need to clone the repository that contains the configuration files, which include all the necessary conditions for Minecraft Server to work.

You can clone the repository using the command:

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git clone https://github.com/heyvaldemar/minecraft-server-docker-compose.git

Navigate to the directory with the repository using the command:

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cd minecraft-server-docker-compose

Next, you need to change the variables in the .env file according to your requirements.

NOTE

The .env file and plugins folder should be in the same directory as minecraft-server-docker-compose.yml.

Now let’s start Minecraft Server with the command:

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docker compose -f minecraft-server-docker-compose.yml -p minecraft-server up -d

CAUTION

To connect to your Minecraft server, enter the domain name into the Minecraft client. This domain name should point to the IP address of your server where the Minecraft Server is installed. Alternatively, you can use the public static IP address of your server to connect directly.

CAUTION

Before using a domain name, ensure you have set up A-type records in your external DNS zone that point to this IP address. If you’ve recently created these records, it’s advisable to wait before starting the installation of the services. DNS record propagation can vary, taking anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours, and in rare cases, even longer.