The server.properties file is one of the most important files on your Minecraft server. It controls the basic settings of your Minecraft server, from game difficulty to changing your server’s authentication mode. This guide will cover the basics of the file, and will describe what the most common settings are. RCON and other settings will be covered in other guides, and when they are written, they will be included below. Lets get started with the most common settings you will see!

Settings Galore

Setting Name	Description	Scenario
gamemode	This setting will allow you to set your server’s default gamemode (OPs can still change their gamemode!	If you want to run a creative server, you would change this setting to `creative`.
enable-command-block	This setting will allow admins to disable command blocks, preventing even OPs from using them.	You might use this command to stop your staff from trolling players with them.
motd	This will allow you to change the message that shows up in the server list.	Showcase events, notices and more in the motd field
pvp	This setting allows admins the ability to disable pvp	You might set this to `false` if your server doesn’t allow pvp
online-mode	This setting changes your server’s authentication mode, so it no longer reaches out to Mojang to verify player accounts.	This setting is used for cracked servers, as well as servers apart of a bungeecord network.
allow-flight	This will allow players to fly with cheats	You might want to enable this if you are having issues with elytra.
allow-nether	This setting lets admins disable the nether entirely	You might set this to `false` if you don’t want players visiting the nether (minigame servers)
max-players	This setting lets admins configure the max amount of players allowed on a server at a time.	If you want to only allow 5 players at a time, you can set this setting without using plugins.
level-name	This setting allows the admins to set a custom world as the default.	This setting is useful if you uploaded a custom world
spawn-monsters	This setting allows admins to disable the spawning of hostile mobs	This is useful in superflat building worlds!
spawn-animals	This setting allows admins to disable the spawning of passive mobs	This is useful if you don’t want animals spawning in a custom map/world.
spawn-npcs	This setting allows admins to disable the spawning of village type mobs (Villagers/Traders)	This is useful if you don’t want villagers on your server.
hardcore	This setting makes it so players who die cannot respawn	Useful for 100 day servers.