How to Set Up a Hytale Server

Your complete guide to creating, configuring, and running a Hytale dedicated server.

What You'll Learn

System requirements and Java installation

Obtaining and running server files

Authentication and firewall configuration

Configuration and recommended plugins

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

4GB RAM minimum
Java 25 (we recommend Adoptium)
x64 or arm64 architecture supported

Resource Drivers

CPU: High player/entity counts
RAM: Large loaded world area, high view distance

Tip: Monitor RAM and CPU usage while the server is running. Resource usage heavily depends on player behavior. Experiment with Java's -Xmx parameter to set memory limits.

Step 1: Install Java 25

Download Java 25

Download and install Java 25 from Adoptium (recommended).

Verify Installation

Run this command to confirm Java is installed:

java --version

Expected output:

openjdk 25.0.1 2025-10-21 LTS
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Temurin-25.0.1+8 (build 25.0.1+8-LTS)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Temurin-25.0.1+8 (build 25.0.1+8-LTS, mixed mode, sharing)

Step 2: Get Server Files

There are two ways to obtain the server files:

Option A: Copy from Launcher

Best for quick testing. Find the files in your launcher installation folder:

Windows: %appdata%\Hytale\install\release\package\game\latest

Linux: $XDG_DATA_HOME/Hytale/install/release/package/game/latest

macOS: ~/Application Support/Hytale/install/release/package/game/latest

Copy the Server folder and Assets.zip to your server directory.

Recommended

Option B: Hytale Downloader CLI

Best for production servers. Easy to keep updated. Download the CLI tool and run:

./hytale-downloader # Download latest release

./hytale-downloader -print-version # Show version

./hytale-downloader -check-update # Check for updates

Step 3: Run the Server

Launch Command

Start the server with:

java -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

The -XX:AOTCache flag uses the pre-trained AOT cache for faster boot times.

Authenticate Your Server

After first launch, authenticate your server to enable player connections:

> /auth login device
===================================================================
DEVICE AUTHORIZATION
===================================================================
Visit: https://accounts.hytale.com/device
Enter code: ABCD-1234
===================================================================
Waiting for authorization...

[Complete authorization in browser]

> Authentication successful! Mode: OAUTH_DEVICE

Note: There is a limit of 100 servers per Hytale game license.

Change Port

Default port is 5520. Change it with the --bind argument:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip --bind 3500

Step 4: Configure Firewall

Important: Hytale uses the QUIC protocol over UDP (not TCP). Configure your firewall and port forwarding for UDP only.

Windows Firewall

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Hytale Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 5520 -Action Allow

Linux (ufw)

sudo ufw allow 5520/udp

Port Forwarding

If hosting behind a router, forward UDP port 5520 (or your custom port) to your server machine. TCP forwarding is not required.

Server File Structure

Directory Layout

Directories

.cache/ - Cache for optimized files
logs/ - Server log files
mods/ - Installed mods
universe/ - World and player save data

Configuration Files

config.json - Server configuration
permissions.json - Permission configuration
bans.json - Banned players
whitelist.json - Whitelisted players

Recommended Plugins

Install mods by downloading .zip or .jar files and dropping them into the mods/ folder.

Nitrado:WebServer

Base plugin for web applications and APIs.

Nitrado:Query

Exposes server status (player counts, etc.) via HTTP.

Nitrado:PerformanceSaver

Dynamically limits view distance based on resource usage.

ApexHosting:PrometheusExporter

Exposes detailed server and JVM metrics.

Tips & Tricks

View Distance

View distance is the main driver for RAM usage. We recommend limiting maximum view distance to 12 chunks (384 blocks) for both performance and gameplay. Hytale's default of 384 blocks is roughly equivalent to 24 Minecraft chunks.

Automatic Backups

Enable automatic backups with command-line arguments:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip --backup --backup-frequency 30

Disable Sentry (Development)

When developing plugins, disable Sentry crash reporting to avoid submitting your development errors:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip --disable-sentry

Command Reference

View all available arguments:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --help

Common Arguments

Argument	Description
--assets <Path>	Asset directory (default: ../HytaleAssets)
-b, --bind <Address>	Address to listen on (default: 0.0.0.0:5520)
--auth-mode	Authentication mode: authenticated or offline
--backup	Enable automatic backups
--backup-frequency <Int>	Backup interval in minutes (default: 30)
--allow-op	Allow operator commands

Next Steps

Install Plugins

Add essential plugins for moderation, economy, and gameplay features.

Set Up Votifier

Connect to server lists and reward players who vote for your server.

Moderation Guide

Learn best practices for managing your server community.

List Your Server

Add your server to our directory and attract players.

Join the Community

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