How to Install a Hytale Server

This guide walks you through setting up your own Hytale dedicated server. You'll learn what hardware you need, how to install Java 25, download server files, configure your server, and open the necessary firewall ports.

Requirements

Hardware

• CPU: 2 cores at 3.5 GHz+ (4 cores recommended for more than 4 players)
• RAM: 4 GB minimum, 6 GB recommended for smooth gameplay
• Storage: 20 GB SSD minimum (NVMe preferred for faster chunk loading)
• Network: 2 Mbps minimum upload bandwidth

Software

• Java 25 or higher (required, Adoptium recommended)
• Operating System: Windows 10/11 64-bit, macOS, or Linux 64-bit

Step 1: Install Java 25

Hytale requires Java 25. Download the latest Temurin build from Adoptium and install it. Verify the installation with:

java --version

You should see output similar to openjdk 25.0.1 2025-10-21 LTS.

Step 2: Download Server Files

Create a folder named hytale-server on your desktop or in an easily accessible location. There are two ways to get the files:

Option A: Hytale Downloader CLI (Recommended)

1. Download the Hytale Downloader CLI from the official Hytale Server Manual
2. Extract the zip file into your server folder
3. Run hytale-downloader-windows-amd64 (or the matching file for your OS)
4. When the console opens, visit the authentication URL shown and log in with your Hytale account
5. The downloader will automatically download a ~1.4 GB zip file
6. From inside that zip, copy the following files into your server folder:
   • HytaleServer.jar
   • HytaleServer.aot
   • The Licenses folder
   • The Assets.zip file (do not extract it)

Option B: Manual Copy from Launcher

If you already have Hytale installed, browse to the installation folder, navigate to release/package/game/latest, and copy the same four items listed above into your server folder. This method is quicker for testing but requires manual updates when new versions release.

Step 3: Create a Startup Script

On Windows, create a new text file named run.bat in your server folder. Paste the following into it:

java -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

Explanation of the flags:

• -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot: Uses the AOT cache for faster startup on Java 25
• -Xms4G -Xmx4G: Sets initial and maximum RAM to the same value, preventing garbage collection lag
• --assets Assets.zip: Points to the game assets file

On Linux, create a run.sh file with the same command and make it executable with chmod +x run.sh.

Step 4: First Start and Authentication

1. Run your startup script (double-click run.bat on Windows or ./run.sh on Linux)
2. The console will display an authentication URL and code:

   Please visit the following URL to authenticate:
   https://oauth.accounts.hytale.com/oauth2/device/verify?user_code=XXXXXXXX

3. Open the URL in your browser, log into your Hytale account, and authorize the server
4. The server will generate config.json and world files in your folder once authenticated

Step 5: Configure Your Server

Stop the server (type stop in the console), then open config.json with a text editor. The key settings to change:

• Server name: What players see in the server browser
• Password: Leave empty for a public server, set a password for private
• Max players: Set according to your RAM (e.g., 50 for 4 GB, 100 for 8 GB)
• Game mode: Adventure or Creative
• Max view radius: Lower values (8-12) reduce RAM usage

Important: Always stop the server before editing config.json. Changes made while the server is running may be overwritten.

Step 6: Open Firewall Ports

Hytale uses UDP port 5520 with the QUIC protocol (not TCP). You must allow this through your firewall and forward it in your router.

Windows Firewall (PowerShell as Administrator)

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

Linux (UFW)

sudo ufw allow 5520/udp

Linux (iptables)

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 5520 -j ACCEPT

After opening the firewall, forward UDP port 5520 in your router to your server's local IP address. Without this step, players outside your network cannot connect.

Step 7: Connect to Your Server

1. Launch Hytale
2. Go to Servers and click Add Server
3. If you're on the same machine, enter localhost as the address
4. For other players, share your public IP address and make sure the port is forwarded
5. To make yourself admin, type this in the server console:

   /op add YOUR_USERNAME

Hardware Recommendations by Player Count

For a heavily modded server, choose one tier higher than your player count suggests.

Quick Checklist

1. Java 25 installed and verified
2. Server files downloaded: HytaleServer.jar, Assets.zip, HytaleServer.aot, Licenses
3. Startup script created with RAM allocation and AOT cache
4. OAuth authentication completed in browser
5. config.json edited (server stopped first)
6. UDP port 5520 open in firewall and forwarded in router
7. Server started and players connected