Why can't players connect to my Hytale server?

Hytale uses UDP port 5520 with the QUIC protocol, not TCP. Make sure your port forwarding rule is specifically for UDP, not TCP. Also verify your firewall allows UDP traffic on port 5520 and that your server is properly authenticated.

What Java version does Hytale server require?

Hytale servers require Java 25 or newer. This is different from most other game servers. We recommend downloading Eclipse Temurin from Adoptium for the best compatibility.

How do I authenticate my Hytale server?

After starting your server, run '/auth login device' in the console. Visit the URL shown, enter the code, and authorize with your Hytale account. Each license supports up to 100 servers.

Why does my Hytale server crash or run out of memory?

Hytale requires at least 4GB RAM. Increase the -Xmx value in your start command (e.g., -Xmx6G for 6GB). View distance is the main driver for RAM usage - Hytale's default 384 blocks is roughly equivalent to 24 Minecraft chunks.

How do I install mods on my Hytale server?

Download mod files (.zip or .jar) and place them in the 'mods' folder in your server directory. Restart the server to load them. For development, use --disable-sentry to avoid submitting development errors.

How to Make a Hytale Server (2026) | Complete Setup Guide

Overview

Running your own Hytale dedicated server gives you full control over your gaming experience. You can customize game settings, install mods, manage who can join, and create a private space for you and your friends to explore the world of Orbis together.

This guide walks you through setting up a dedicated Hytale server. The process involves installing Java 25, obtaining the server files, authenticating with Hytale's services, and configuring your network so others can connect.

Requirements

Minimum System Requirements

RAM: 4GB minimum (more recommended for multiple players or large view distances)
CPU: High player or entity counts require more CPU power
Architecture: x64 or arm64 supported
Network: Stable internet connection (UDP port 5520 must be accessible)
Java: Java 25 or newer (we'll install this)
Hytale License: A valid Hytale game license for server authentication

Resource Usage Tips

CPU is driven by high player or entity counts. RAM usage increases with larger loaded world areas (high view distance, players exploring independently). Monitor both while testing to understand your server's needs.

Step 1: Install Java 25

Hytale servers require Java 25 to run. This is newer than what most other games require, so you'll likely need to install it fresh. We recommend using Eclipse Temurin from Adoptium.

Download Java 25

Visit the Adoptium website and download Eclipse Temurin JDK 25 (LTS).

Run the installer

Double-click the downloaded .msi file and follow the installation wizard. Make sure to check the option to set JAVA_HOME and add Java to PATH.

Verify installation

Open Command Prompt and verify Java is installed correctly:

java --version

You should see output similar to:

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 the Hytale Server Files

There are two ways to obtain Hytale server files: copy them from your game installation, or use the Hytale Downloader CLI tool.

Create a server folder

Create a new folder for your server:

mkdir C:\HytaleServer

Option A: Copy from Launcher (Quick Testing)

Best for quick testing, but harder to keep updated.

Locate your game files

Open File Explorer and navigate to:

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

Copy required files

Copy the Server folder and Assets.zip to your HytaleServer folder.

Option B: Hytale Downloader CLI (Recommended for Production)

Best for production servers. Easy to keep updated.

Download the CLI tool

Download hytale-downloader.zip from the official Hytale support page and extract it to your server folder.

Run the downloader

Open Command Prompt in your server folder and run:

.\hytale-downloader.exe

Follow the OAuth2 authentication prompts. See QUICKSTART.md in the archive for details.

Hytale Downloader CLI Commands

./hytale-downloader - Download latest release

./hytale-downloader -print-version - Show game version without downloading

./hytale-downloader -patchline pre-release - Download from pre-release channel

Step 3: Start Your Server

Now it's time to start your Hytale server for the first time. The server includes an AOT (Ahead-Of-Time) cache that improves boot times.

Navigate to your server folder

Open Command Prompt and navigate to your server folder:

cd C:\HytaleServer\Server

Start the server

Run the server with the AOT cache for faster startup:

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

Create a start script (optional)

Create a file called start.bat for convenience:

start.batbash

@echo off
java -Xmx4G -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets ..\Assets.zip
pause

Memory settings: -Xmx sets max memory. The default 4GB minimum is recommended. Increase if you have high view distance or many players.

Step 4: Authenticate Your Server

After starting your server for the first time, you'll need to authenticate it with Hytale's services. This enables communication with Hytale's APIs and allows players to connect.

Run the auth command

In the server console, type:

/auth login device

Complete device authorization

You'll see a message like this:

===================================================================
DEVICE AUTHORIZATION
===================================================================
Visit: https://accounts.hytale.com/device
Enter code: ABCD-1234
Or visit: https://accounts.hytale.com/device?user_code=ABCD-1234
===================================================================
Waiting for authorization (expires in 900 seconds)...

Open the URL in your browser, enter the code, and authorize the server using your Hytale account.

Confirmation

Once authorized, you'll see:

Authentication successful! Mode: OAUTH_DEVICE

Your server can now accept player connections.

Note: There is a limit of 100 servers per Hytale game license to prevent abuse. If you need more capacity, purchase additional licenses or apply for a Server Provider account.

Step 5: Set a Static IP Address

Before setting up port forwarding, assign a static IP address to your server computer. Without this, your router may assign a different IP address after a restart, breaking your port forwarding rules.

Open Network Settings

Press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to Network & Internet > Ethernet (or Wi-Fi) > Edit next to IP assignment.

Switch to Manual

Change from "Automatic (DHCP)" to Manual, then enable IPv4.

Find your current network info

Before changing settings, open Command Prompt and run:

ipconfig

Note down your current Default Gateway (usually ends in .1) and Subnet Mask.

Enter your static IP details

IP address: Use your gateway but change the last number (e.g., if gateway is 192.168.1.1, use 192.168.1.100)
Subnet mask: Usually 255.255.255.0
Gateway: Enter the Default Gateway from ipconfig
Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)

Step 6: Port Forwarding

For players outside your local network to connect, you need to set up port forwarding on your router.

Important: Hytale Uses UDP, Not TCP

Hytale uses the QUIC protocol over UDP. Make sure your port forwarding rule is for UDP port 5520, not TCP. This is different from most game servers!

Access your router settings

Open a web browser and go to your router's admin page. Common addresses:

192.168.1.1
192.168.0.1
10.0.0.1

Create a port forwarding rule

Navigate to Port Forwarding and create a new rule:

Name: Hytale Server
Internal IP: The static IP you set in Step 5
Internal Port: 5520
External Port: 5520
Protocol: UDP only (not TCP!)

Find your public IP

Share your public IP with friends. Find it by searching "what is my ip" on Google.

Step 7: Configure Firewall

Your operating system's firewall may block incoming connections. You need to allow UDP traffic on port 5520.

Open PowerShell as Administrator

Right-click the Start button and select "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "PowerShell (Admin)".

Create firewall rule

Run this command to allow Hytale server traffic:

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

Step 8: Connect to Your Server

Your server should now be running and authenticated. Here's how to connect:

Local connection (same network)

If you're on the same network as the server:

Open Hytale
Go to the server browser or direct connect option
Enter your local IP (e.g., 192.168.1.100:5520)
Connect and play!

Remote connection (different network)

For friends connecting from outside your network:

Share your public IP address with them
They enter your public IP with port: your.public.ip:5520

Security note: Your public IP reveals your approximate location. Only share it with trusted friends, or use a VPS/dedicated server for public hosting.

Configuration

Hytale servers have several configuration files you can customize:

Server File Structure

.cache/ - Cache for optimized files
logs/ - Server log files
mods/ - Installed mods (.zip or .jar)
universe/ - World and player save data
bans.json - Banned players
config.json - Server configuration
permissions.json - Permission configuration
whitelist.json - Whitelisted players

Useful Server Arguments

--bind 3500 - Change the server port (default: 5520)
--backup - Enable automatic backups
--backup-frequency 30 - Backup interval in minutes
--allow-op - Allow operator commands
--disable-sentry - Disable crash reporting (useful for mod development)
--help - View all available arguments

View Distance Tip

View distance is the main driver for RAM usage. Hytale's default of 384 blocks (12 chunks) is roughly equivalent to 24 Minecraft chunks. Consider limiting this based on your expected player count and available RAM.

Troubleshooting

"Connection refused" or players can't connect

Verify the server is running and authenticated
Check that port forwarding is set up for UDP port 5520 (not TCP!)
Make sure your firewall allows UDP traffic on port 5520
If using a custom port with --bind, forward that port instead

Authentication failed or expired

Run /auth login device again in the server console
Make sure your Hytale account owns a valid game license
Check if you've hit the 100 server limit per license

Server crashes or runs out of memory

Increase the -Xmx value in your start script (e.g., -Xmx6G for 6GB)
Reduce view distance in your server configuration
Monitor RAM and CPU usage to understand your server's needs
High CPU during normal operation often indicates memory pressure from garbage collection

"Protocol mismatch" or version errors

Client and server must be on the exact same version
Update your server files when Hytale releases updates
Use the Hytale Downloader CLI with ./hytale-downloader to get the latest version

NAT or connection issues for some players

QUIC handles NAT well, but ensure port forwarding is specifically for UDP
Symmetric NAT configurations may cause issues - consider a VPS
Players behind carrier-grade NAT (mobile networks) should connect fine as clients