The Ultimate Guide to Portforwarding a Minecraft Server on Mac
Are you a Minecraft enthusiast who wants to create a multiplayer server to invite your friends to join you in your adventure?
One of the most important steps to make this happen is to portforward your Minecraft server. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to portforward a Minecraft server on a Mac.
What is Portforwarding?
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s understand what portforwarding means.
When you create a server for a game like Minecraft, your server receives incoming traffic from your device and your friends’ devices. However, when these incoming requests reach your router, they may not know which device on your network to send the request.
This is where portforwarding comes in. It’s a process that allows incoming requests to bypass your router and reach the correct device with the corresponding IP address and port number.
Checking Your Minecraft Server Version
The first step to portforwarding your Minecraft server on a Mac is to determine the version of your Minecraft server. To do this:
Step 1: Log in to Your Minecraft Server
Log in to your Minecraft server and type the version command into the console.
/version
Step 2: Check the Server Version
The server version will appear in the console, making a note of the version that appears as it’ll affect the port forwarding process.
Find Your Router’s IP Address
To portforward your Minecraft server, you need to access your router’s settings. Here’s how to find your router’s IP address:
Step 1: Open Terminal
Open Terminal by clicking on Launchpad, scrolling down to Other, and selecting Terminal.
Step 2: Type in the Networksetup Command
Type in the following command in the Terminal:
networksetup -listallhardwareports
Step 3: Find Your Router’s IP Address
Your router’s IP address will be listed next to “Router” in the output.
Accessing Your Router’s Settings
Now that you know your router’s IP address, you can access its settings to portforward your Minecraft server. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Your Browser
Open your web browser and type your router’s IP address into the address bar.
Step 2: Log in to Your Router
Enter your login information (usually your username and password) to access the router’s settings.
Step 3: Navigate to Portforwarding Settings
Navigate to the Portforwarding settings page by clicking on the Advanced or Firewall option in your router’s menu.
Portforwarding a Minecraft Server on a Mac
Now that you’re in your router settings, follow these steps to portforward your Minecraft server:
Step 1: Find Your Mac’s IP Address
Open the Network Preferences panel on your Mac to find your Mac’s IP address. It will be listed under “Status” in the form of “192.168.X.X”, make a note of this.
Step 2: Navigate to Portforwarding Section
Go back to your router’s settings page and navigate to the Port Forwarding section.
Step 3: Add a New Rule
Add a new rule and complete the following fields:
- Service Name: Minecraft server
- Service Type: TCP
- External Starting/Ending Port: 25565
- Internal IP Address: Your Mac’s IP address
- Internal Starting/Ending Port: 25565
Step 4: Save Your Settings
Save your settings and restart your router. Your Minecraft server is now portforwarded on your Mac!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check if Minecraft portforwarding is working?
You can use a port checker tool like https://canyouseeme.org to see if the Minecraft port is open and accepting connections.
Can I portforward Minecraft server on Windows or Linux too?
Yes! The process for portforwarding a Minecraft server is similar on other platforms. However, the steps to access your router settings may vary depending on the router’s manufacturer.
What happens if I don’t portforward my Minecraft server?
Without portforwarding, only people on your local network can connect to your server. Portforwarding allows users outside your network to access your server.
Conclusion
Portforwarding your Minecraft server on a Mac is a crucial step to invite your friends to join you in your adventure. Follow the steps we’ve outlined, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a great multiplayer experience for yourself and your friends. Happy gaming!