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Run Minecraft Java, Bedrock, and Cross-play servers on Windows. 
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PocketMC is a Windows desktop app for creating and managing Minecraft server instances — Java and Bedrock — without touching a command line. Java is bundled automatically. Public sharing is one click via Playit.gg.
Supported server types: Vanilla · Paper · Fabric · Forge · Bedrock (BDS) · PocketMine-MP
- Managed runtimes — PocketMC downloads and isolates its own JRE and PHP. Nothing touches your system.
- Multi-instance — Run multiple servers side-by-side with isolated folders and configs.
- Live metrics — CPU, RAM, and player count per instance, updated in real time.
- Public tunneling — Playit.gg integration with guided first-time setup. Public address shown as a copyable link on the dashboard.
- Console — Colorized logs, search, filtering, crash visibility, and command input in one panel.
- Plugins, mods, and worlds — Browse and install from supported sources. Import worlds from ZIP. Poggit integration for PocketMine plugins.
- Backups — Manual and scheduled backups with restore workflows and retention control.
- AI session summaries — Optional structured summaries of server sessions via external AI providers.
| Tool | Type | Hosting | Cost | Java | Bedrock | Mods/Plugins | 1-Click Install | Backups | Live Metrics | No Port-Forward | Open Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PocketMC | Windows desktop app | Self-hosted | Free | ✅ Vanilla/Paper/Fabric/Forge | ✅ BDS + PocketMine-MP + Geyser | ✅ CurseForge/Modrinth/Poggit | ✅ | ✅ Scheduled + manual | ✅ CPU/RAM/players | ✅ Playit.gg built-in | ✅ MIT |
| SquidServers | Desktop app | Self-hosted | Free | ✅ Vanilla/Paper/Fabric | ✅ via Geyser | ✅ Mods | ✅ | ❌ manual only | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| auto-mcs | Desktop + Docker | Self-hosted | Free | ✅ Paper/Purpur/Fabric/Forge/Spigot/Vanilla | ✅ via Geyser | ✅ Modrinth | ✅ | ✅ Auto | ❌ | ✅ playit.gg | ✅ AGPL-3.0 |
| MCSManager | Web panel | Self-hosted | Free | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ marketplace | ✅ scheduled | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ Apache-2.0 |
| Pterodactyl | Web panel | Self-hosted | Free | ✅ | ✅ via eggs | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ MIT | |
| fork.gg | Windows GUI | Self-hosted | Free | ✅ Vanilla/Paper/Waterfall | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | |
| Apex Hosting | Managed host | Cloud | ~$4.49+/mo | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ 1-click modpacks | ✅ | ✅ daily | ✅ graphs | N/A | ❌ |
| Aternos | Managed host | Cloud | Free (ads) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Google Drive | ❌ | N/A | ❌ | |
| CubeCoders AMP | Web panel | Self-hosted | £7.50+ one-time | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ local + S3 | ✅ + analytics | ❌ | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| e4mc | Tunnel mod | — | Free | ✅ | ❌ | N/A | N/A | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Essential Mod | Client mod (P2P) | Self-hosted | Free | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ Host World | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | |
| Minehut | Managed host | Cloud | Free / ~$4-12 | ✅ | ✅ (beta crossplay) | ✅ upload jars | ✅ | ✅ 2/GB RAM | ❌ | N/A | ❌ |
| playit.gg | Tunnel service | — | Free / $3 mo | ✅ | ✅ | N/A | N/A | ❌ | ✅ tunnel stats | ✅ | ❌ |
Download Setup.exe from the latest release and run it.
- No admin rights required — installs per-user.
- .NET 8 Desktop Runtime is prompted automatically if missing.
- Java does not need to be pre-installed. PocketMC manages its own JRE stack.
- Updates are handled automatically via Velopack.
1. Pick a root folder on first launch. Everything — servers, runtimes, tunnel — lives here.
2. Create an instance. Hit New Instance, choose a server type and version, accept the EULA, click Create & Download. The JAR fetches automatically.
3. Start your server. Hit Start. Metrics go live. Connect from Minecraft at localhost or your LAN IP.
Optional: Enable public access. Open the instance, enable Playit.gg tunneling, and follow the one-time account link flow. Your public address appears on the dashboard.
| Dashboard | Server Console |
|---|---|
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| Server Settings | Plugin Browser |
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| Minimum | |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 1809 (build 17763) or Windows 11 |
| Architecture | x64 |
| RAM | 4 GB (8 GB+ recommended) |
| .NET | .NET 8 Desktop Runtime (auto-prompted on install) |
| Internet | Required for first-run JRE download and Playit.gg |
- In-app whitelist and op management
- Forge 1.17+ bootstrapper stability pass
- Modpack install progress UI
- Player activity charts and historical metrics
- Multi-monitor window persistence
Fork the repo, branch off main, and open a PR with a clear description of what changed and why. For significant architecture changes, open an issue first.
When testing locally, cover process lifecycle edge cases — crash recovery, orphan process cleanup, tunnel teardown. The full build guide is in CONTRIBUTING.md.
Discord: discord.gg/h27uNCaxPH
MIT © 2024 PocketMC Contributors — see LICENSE.
