Update the Minecraft Server to the latest version

IONOS editorial team2023-02-031 min

Learn how to update the version of Minecraft Server running on your Linux server, without losing any data or overwriting your world file. When Mojang issues a Minecraft update, Minecraft server administrators need to manually update the version of Minecraft running on their servers.

Requirements

A Cloud Server running Linux (Ubuntu 16.04)
Minecraft Server installed and running

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Create backups and download the new version

Before upgrading your Minecraft server, go to the Minecraft directory on your server:

cd /minecraft

Back up your world file with the command:

sudo cp -r world world-backup

Next, create a backup copy of your working minecraft_server.jar file:

sudo cp minecraft_server.jar minecraft_server.jar-backup

Go to the Minecraft server download page to get the URL for the new version. Download this version to your server with the command:

sudo wget [URL]

For example, the command to download the most current version (1.11.1) is:

sudo wget https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/versions/1.11.1/minecraft_server.1.11.1.jar

Stop the Minecraft Server and upgrade

To stop the Minecraft server, attach to the screen session:

screen -r

Then stop the server with CTRL + C.

Swap in the new software version with the command:

sudo mv minecraft_server.1.11.1.jar minecraft_server.jar

Restart the Minecraft Server

Begin a new screen session with the command:

screen -r

Then start the Minecraft server with the command:

java -Xms1G -Xmx1G -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

Use CTRL + A, CTRL + D to detach from this session.

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