How to Create a Hytale Server in 2026

Want to play Hytale with your friends without random strangers joining? Or maybe you want to experiment with mods and custom settings without worrying about server rules? Creating your own Hytale server gives you complete control over who plays, what mods are installed, and when the server is available.

By the end of this guide, you'll have your own Hytale server running and ready for your friends to join. We'll cover two main approaches: self-hosting (free, but requires some technical setup) and managed hosting (costs a few dollars per month, but incredibly easy).

Let's get your server up and running.

Quick Decision: Which Option is Right for You?

Before diving into the details, here's a quick comparison to help you decide:

Quick recommendation: If you just want to play with a few friends occasionally and don't mind turning on your PC when everyone wants to play, self-hosting with Tailscale is a great free option. If you want your server to be available 24/7 or plan to build a community, managed hosting is worth the small monthly cost.

Option 1: Self-Hosting (Free but Technical)

Self-hosting means running the Hytale server software on your own computer. It's free, but comes with some important trade-offs.

⚠️ Important: The Always-On Reality

Your server stops when you turn off your computer. This is the biggest thing to understand about self-hosting. When you close the server or shut down your PC, your friends can no longer connect. Everyone needs to coordinate play times around when you're available to run the server.

If you're thinking about leaving your computer running 24/7, keep in mind that electricity costs can add up, and most home computers aren't designed for continuous operation. This is the main reason many people eventually choose managed hosting instead.

What You'll Need

Before we start, make sure you have:

• A computer running Windows, Mac, or Linux
• Hytale server files (downloadable from the official Hytale website)
• At least 4GB of RAM available for the server
• A stable internet connection (upload speed matters for hosting)

Step 1: Download and Start the Server

1. Download the server files from the official Hytale website. Look for the "Server Download" section and choose your operating system.
2. Extract the files to a folder on your computer. "Extracting" means unzipping the downloaded file. On Windows, right-click the .zip file and select "Extract All." On Mac, double-click the .zip file.
3. Create a dedicated folder like C:\HytaleServer (Windows) or ~/HytaleServer (Mac/Linux) and move the extracted files there.
4. Run the server:
   • Windows: Double-click the start.bat file
   • Mac/Linux: Open Terminal, navigate to your folder with cd ~/HytaleServer, then run ./start.sh
5. Wait for the server to start. You'll see a lot of text scrolling by. When you see a message like "Server started" or "Done," your server is running.
6. First time setup: You may need to accept the EULA (End User License Agreement). Open the eula.txt file, change eula=false to eula=true, save the file, and run the server again.

Congratulations! Your server is now running locally.

Step 2: Connect Locally (Same Network)

If your friends are on the same WiFi network as you (like at your house), connecting is simple:

1. Find your local IP address:
   • Windows: Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig. Look for "IPv4 Address" under your active network adapter. It usually looks like 192.168.1.XXX.
   • Mac: Go to System Settings → Network → Click your connection → Look for IP Address.
2. Share this IP with your friends. They enter it in Hytale's multiplayer menu.
3. They connect! Since you're all on the same network, the connection is direct and fast.

⚠️ Limitation: This only works when everyone is physically in the same location, connected to the same router. For friends in different locations, you'll need one of the next two options.

Step 3: Let Friends Connect Remotely

For friends who aren't on your local network, you have two options. We recommend Tailscale for most people.

Option A: Tailscale (Recommended!)

Tailscale is the easiest method for playing with friends. It's free, requires no router configuration, and is actually more secure than port forwarding. Think of it as creating a private tunnel that only connects you and your friends.

Why Tailscale is perfect for friend groups:

• No router configuration needed at all
• Works even on strict networks like college dorms or apartments
• Extra security: strangers can't even see your server exists
• Free for personal use (up to 100 devices)
• Takes about 5 minutes to set up

What is Tailscale? It creates a secure, private network between devices you choose. Your friends install Tailscale, you invite them to your network, and suddenly their computers can talk to yours as if they were on the same WiFi—even if they're across the world.

Setting Up Tailscale

Step 1: You (the server host) set up Tailscale

1. Go to tailscale.com and click "Get Started"
2. Sign up using Google, Microsoft, or GitHub (whichever is easiest)
3. Download and install Tailscale for your operating system
4. Open Tailscale and click "Connect" or "Log in"
5. Once connected, you'll get a Tailscale IP address. It looks like 100.x.x.x
6. Write down this IP address—this is what your friends will use to connect

Step 2: Your friends set up Tailscale

1. Each friend goes to tailscale.com
2. They sign up and install Tailscale on their computer
3. They connect and get their own 100.x.x.x address

Step 3: Invite your friends to your network

1. Go to the Tailscale admin console
2. Click "Invite users" or "Share"
3. Send the invite link to your friends
4. When they accept, their devices can now see yours

Step 4: Connect and play!

1. Run your Hytale server normally (just start it like before)
2. Give your friends your Tailscale IP address (100.x.x.x)
3. They enter that IP in Hytale's multiplayer menu
4. Done! You're connected through a secure private tunnel

Why Tailscale is More Secure

With traditional port forwarding, anyone who knows your IP address and port can attempt to connect to your server. With Tailscale:

• Your server isn't visible on the public internet
• Only people you've invited to your Tailscale network can even attempt to connect
• All traffic is encrypted end-to-end
• Even if someone somehow gets your Tailscale IP, they can't connect unless you've invited them

It's like having a secret door that only your friends know exists.

Option B: Port Forwarding

Port forwarding lets friends from anywhere in the world connect to your server. It's the traditional way to host game servers, but it requires configuring your router.

What is port forwarding? Your router acts like a security guard for your home network. By default, it blocks all incoming connections from the internet (that's a good thing for security). Port forwarding creates an exception that says: "If someone tries to connect on port 5520, send them to my computer running the Hytale server."

Here's how to set it up:

1. Find your router's admin page. Open a web browser and try one of these addresses:
   • 192.168.1.1
   • 192.168.0.1
   • 10.0.0.1
   • Check your router for a sticker with the address
2. Log in to your router. The username and password are often printed on a sticker on the router itself. Common defaults are admin/admin or admin/password.
3. Find the Port Forwarding section. This varies by router brand, but look for:
   • "Port Forwarding"
   • "NAT/Gaming"
   • "Virtual Servers"
   • "Applications"
4. Add a new port forwarding rule:
   • Name: Hytale (or anything you want)
   • Protocol: UDP
   • External Port: 5520
   • Internal Port: 5520
   • Internal IP: Your computer's local IP (the 192.168.x.x address from earlier)
5. Save and restart your router if prompted.
6. Find your public IP address by visiting whatismyip.com. This is the address you'll share with friends.
7. Test if it worked using an online port checker. Search for "port checker tool," enter your public IP and port 5520, and it should show as "open" when your server is running.

⚠️ Security Note: Port forwarding exposes your server (and by extension, your home network's IP address) to the public internet. While generally safe for gaming, be aware that your IP becomes visible to anyone who connects.

Option 2: Managed Hosting (The Easy Way)

Managed hosting means a company runs the server hardware for you. You just configure your server through a web panel, and everything else is handled automatically.

Why people choose managed hosting:

• Server runs 24/7 even when you're asleep, at work, or on vacation
• No technical setup required on your end
• Better hardware = smoother gameplay with less lag
• Automatic backups protect against data loss
• DDoS protection keeps your server online even if someone tries to attack it

How it works:

1. Pick a hosting provider
2. Choose a plan based on how many players you expect
3. They set everything up automatically
4. You receive a server address to share with friends
5. Start playing!

The whole process takes about 2 minutes. You don't need to install anything on your computer, configure your router, or worry about your PC being on.

At Hyguild, we handle all the technical stuff so you can focus on playing with your friends. Our servers are optimized specifically for Hytale with instant setup and a powerful management panel. Check out our plans to see what works for you.

Bonus: Setting Up a Custom Domain

Instead of telling friends to connect to 192.168.1.50 or 100.64.0.1, you can use a memorable domain like play.myserver.com. This is completely optional but makes your server feel more professional.

What You'll Need

• A domain name (~$10-15/year from providers like Namecheap, Cloudflare, or Porkbun)
• Access to that domain's DNS settings

Setting Up Your Domain

1. Purchase a domain from a domain registrar. Pick something memorable related to your server name.
2. Go to your domain's DNS settings. This is in your registrar's dashboard.
3. Add an A record:
   • Type: A
   • Name: play (this creates play.yourdomain.com) or @ (for just yourdomain.com)
   • Value: Your server's IP address (public IP for port forwarding, or Tailscale IP for Tailscale users)
   • TTL: Auto, or 3600 if you need to choose
4. Wait 5-30 minutes for DNS to update worldwide.
5. Share your domain instead of the IP address!

ℹ️ Note: Hytale uses UDP port 5520 and doesn't support SRV records, so you can't hide the port number. If you're using a non-default port, players will still need to enter play.myserver.com:5520.

First Steps After Setup

Once your server is running, here are some quick wins to get started:

1. Make yourself an admin so you have full control:

   /op YourUsername
   

2. Set a memorable server name by editing config.json and changing the server name field.
3. Create a welcome message (MOTD) that players see when connecting. You can use formatting like <b>bold</b>, <i>italic</i>, and <color=#FF5500>colored text</color>.
4. Set your maximum player count based on your plan or PC capabilities.

We'll have more detailed guides on server configuration and setting up whitelists coming soon.

Inviting Your Friends

Quick summary of how friends connect based on your setup:

If you want extra security, consider setting up a whitelist so only approved players can join.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Connection refused"

• Is your server actually running? Check for the "Server started" message
• Double-check the IP address—typos are the #1 cause of connection issues
• If using Tailscale, make sure both you and your friend are connected

"Connection timed out"

• For port forwarding: verify the port forwarding rule is set up correctly
• Check that your firewall isn't blocking port 5520
• For Tailscale: make sure your friend accepted the network invite

"Can't find server"

• Verify the IP address and port number
• Try restarting the server
• If using a domain, wait a bit longer for DNS to update

Server crashes or runs slowly

• Close other programs to free up RAM
• Check that you meet the minimum requirements (4GB+ RAM)
• Consider upgrading to managed hosting for better performance

Wrapping Up

You now know everything you need to create your own Hytale server. Here's a quick recap:

For a free setup with friends:

1. Download and run the Hytale server software
2. Install Tailscale on your computer and your friends' computers
3. Share your Tailscale IP and start playing

For a hassle-free experience:

• Use managed hosting to get a 24/7 server without any technical setup

For maximum control:

• Set up port forwarding to host publicly from your own hardware

Whichever path you choose, the most important thing is having fun with your friends. Don't stress too much about getting everything perfect—you can always adjust settings and try different approaches as you go.

Ready to skip the technical setup and get playing in minutes? Check out Hyguild's hosting plans and have your server running before you finish your coffee.

Happy building!