---
title: "server.properties explained"
url: https://help.endercloud.in/docs/server-properties-explained
category: "Minecraft Hosting"
type: Guide
tags: ["config", "minecraft", "properties"]
keywords: "server properties, properties manager, max players, difficulty, gamemode, pvp, view distance, simulation distance, spawn protection, allow flight, level seed, motd, hardcore, command block, whitelist setting, online mode, server.properties, edit server properties, properties tab, change max players, enable pvp, disable pvp, enable flight, flying is not enabled, render distance, server properties not saving"
difficulty: beginner
time: "8 minutes"
updated: 2026-11-14
source: Endercloud Knowledge Base (official)
---

# server.properties explained

> Properties tab → search a setting → flip the switch or type a value → SAVE → restart. Here is what the most useful settings do, and the defaults on a fresh server.

`server.properties` is the main settings file of a Minecraft Java server. On Endercloud you do not need to edit it by hand: the **Properties** tab shows every setting as a switch or a box, with a search bar.

## How to change a setting

1.  Open your server in the Game Panel and go to the **Properties** tab.
    
2.  Type part of the setting's name in the search box, for example `difficulty` or `players`.
    
3.  Change it. On/off settings (like `white-list`, `online-mode`, `allow-flight`, `hardcore`) are **switches**. Others (like `difficulty`, `max-players`, `motd`, `view-distance`) are **text boxes**: type the new value.
    
4.  Click **SAVE** at the top. (**RESET** throws away changes you have not saved.)
    
5.  **Restart** the server. Changes only apply after SAVE + restart.
    

The list is empty on a brand-new server until it has been started once, because `server.properties` is created on the first start.

> **Warning:**
> **Do not change `server-port`, `query.port` or `server-ip`.** The panel sets them to match your server's allocation. If you change them, players will not be able to connect. To get more ports, use the **Network** tab.

## The most useful settings

| Setting | Fresh Endercloud server | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `motd` | A Minecraft Server | The text under your server name in the multiplayer list. See [MOTD and server icon](/docs/how-to-change-the-motd-and-server-icon). |
| `max-players` | 20 | How many players can be online at once. Your real limit is your plan's RAM and CPU. |
| `difficulty` | easy | `peaceful`, `easy`, `normal` or `hard`. |
| `gamemode` | survival | Default game mode for new players: `survival`, `creative`, `adventure` or `spectator`. |
| `force-gamemode` | false | If true, players are switched to the default game mode every time they join. |
| `hardcore` | false | Hardcore mode for newly created worlds: hard difficulty and players become spectators when they die. |
| `online-mode` | true | Checks that every player owns Minecraft. Keep it on. See [offline (cracked) mode](/docs/how-to-enable-offline-cracked-mode) before changing it. |
| `white-list` | **true** | Only players on the whitelist can join. It is **on** for new servers, so add yourself with `whitelist add YourName` in the Console or in **Players**, or switch it off. See [Whitelist, op and ban players](/docs/whitelist-op-and-ban-players). |
| `enforce-whitelist` | false | Kicks online players who are not on the whitelist when the whitelist is reloaded. |
| `view-distance` | 10 | How many chunks around each player are sent to their game. Lower it (6–8) to reduce lag and RAM use. |
| `simulation-distance` | 10 | How many chunks around each player are active (mobs move, crops grow). Lowering it helps performance a lot. |
| `spawn-protection` | 16 | Radius around world spawn where only ops can build. Set `0` to turn it off. It does nothing until at least one player is an op. |
| `allow-flight` | false | If false, players who float in the air too long in Survival are kicked. Set it to true if you use plugins or mods that let players fly, or lag causes false kicks. |
| `level-name` | world | The folder name of the world to load. Change it to load an uploaded world or start a new one. |
| `level-seed` | (empty) | The seed used when a *new* world is generated. Empty means random. |
| `level-type` | minecraft:normal | World type for new worlds, for example `minecraft:flat`, `minecraft:large_biomes` or `minecraft:amplified`. |
| `generate-structures` | true | Whether villages, temples and other structures generate in new chunks. |
| `player-idle-timeout` | 0 | Kicks players who are idle for this many minutes. 0 means never. |
| `resource-pack` and related | (empty) | Sends a resource pack to players. See [resource packs and datapacks](/docs/resource-packs-and-datapacks). |
| `hide-online-players` | false | Hides the list of online player names in the server list. |
| `pause-when-empty-seconds` | \-1 (on our Paper default) | On 1.21.2 and newer, the world pauses after the server has been empty this many seconds. `-1` means never pause, so farms keep running with nobody online. Vanilla and Fabric use `60` by default. |

## Settings that moved to game rules

In Minecraft **1.21.9**, Mojang removed some settings from `server.properties` and turned them into game rules. If your server runs 1.21.9 or newer and you cannot find these in **Properties**, use the `/gamerule` command instead:

| Old property (1.21.8 and older) | Game rule on 1.21.11 and newer |
| --- | --- |
| `pvp` | `pvp` |
| `allow-nether` | `allow_entering_nether_using_portals` |
| `enable-command-block` | `command_blocks_work` |
| `spawn-monsters` | `spawn_monsters` |

Example in the console: `gamerule pvp false`. On 1.21.9 and 1.21.10 the names were still written in camelCase (for example `allowEnteringNetherUsingPortals`). See [Game rules, difficulty and game mode](/docs/gamerules-difficulty-and-gamemode).

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: I saved a change but nothing happened**

Restart the server after saving. Also note that `level-seed`, `level-type` and `hardcore` only apply when a **new** world is created. See [How to reset your world or change the seed](/docs/how-to-reset-your-world-or-change-the-seed).

**Q: Where are Paper's extra settings?**

Paper, Purpur and Spigot have their own config files (for example in the `config` folder, `spigot.yml` and `purpur.yml`). Edit them in **Files**.

**Q: Does this work for Bedrock servers?**

Bedrock servers also have a `server.properties` file, but some names differ, for example `allow-list` instead of `white-list` and `allow-cheats`. See the [Bedrock server guide](/docs/bedrock-server-guide).