Set up a Hytale dedicated server

A Hytale dedicated server keeps your world online when you log off, so friends can play on it at any time. It's a Java program for Windows, macOS and Linux, and it needs a Hytale account that owns the game, both to download it and to let players join.

1. Install Java 25

The server runs on Java 25. Eclipse Temurin is the build most guides use; install its JRE or JDK and check the version:

java -version

Plan for at least 4 GB of memory for a few players, and more as the view distance and the number of players grow.

2. Download the server

Hypixel's downloader fetches the current release. Get it from downloader.hytale.com/hytale-downloader.zip, unzip it and run the build for your system:

./hytale-downloader-linux-amd64 -download-path hytale-server.zip

The first run prints a link and a code: open the link, sign in with your Hytale account and enter the code. The downloader keeps the sign-in in .hytale-downloader-credentials.json and renews it each time it runs, so keep that file. The ZIP holds Assets.zip and a Server folder with HytaleServer.jar. -print-version shows the current release without downloading it.

3. Start it

From the folder that holds both:

java -XX:AOTCache=Server/HytaleServer.aot -jar Server/HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip --bind 0.0.0.0:5520

-XX:AOTCache uses the class cache Hypixel ships to start faster; leave it out if your Java build cannot use it. The server creates its files in the folder you start it from, and prints Hytale Server Booted! once it is ready. The first start generates the world, which takes longer.

4. Sign the server in

Players can only join a server that is signed in to Hytale. Until it is, they are turned away with Server authentication unavailable. In the server console, type:

/auth login device

Open the link it prints, sign in and enter the code. To keep the sign-in when the server restarts, type /auth persistence Encrypted afterwards. One Hytale account can sign in many servers.

5. Open the port

Players connect on UDP 5520, over QUIC; the server uses no TCP port. Forward UDP 5520 on your router, and allow it in the firewall:

sudo ufw allow 5520/udp

To run several servers on one machine, give each its own port with --bind.

6. Change its settings

Stop the server and edit config.json in its folder:

• ServerName and MOTD, the name and message players see.
• Password: what players type to join. Leave it empty for an open server.
• MaxPlayers: how many can be on at once.
• MaxViewRadius: how far players can see, in chunks of 32 blocks. It decides most of the server's memory use; 12 chunks is the game's default view of 384 blocks.
• Defaults.GameMode: Adventure or Creative, for players joining the default world.

Operators, the whitelist and bans live in permissions.json, whitelist.json and bans.json beside it. Commands such as /op add change them while the server runs.

Where the world is saved

Worlds and players are in universe/: universe/worlds/<name> for each world, and config.json's Defaults.World names the one players join. Mods go in mods/, and logs in logs/. To bring a singleplayer world, see moving your world to a dedicated server.

Keep it up to date

Players can only join a server on the same version as their game. When Hytale updates, stop the server, download the new release, replace Assets.zip and the Server folder, and start it again. Your universe and settings stay as they are.