How to change player limit on Minecraft server?

The player limit can be configured directly, but it is necessary to measure the capacity that the machine can handle. The proxy and the back server can impose separate limits at the same time.

Step by step

1. Shut down the server properly and update the max-players value in server.properties. For example max-players=12 for a small friends server.

2. If there is a proxy, check separately where the displayed player capacity and the actual admission limit are set.

3. Turn on the server and verify the capacity in the status query. Then monitor TPS, MSPT and memory usage during peak hours.

4. Make the limit increase gradually. If tick time deteriorates as the number of players increases, profile the game world and plugin load.

Keep in mind

The maximum number written in the status response is not a measurement of whether the server will carry that many players without any problems.

Source and tools

• PaperMC: server.properties reference
• Query Minecraft server status