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How to Host a Minecraft Server Without Port Forwarding (Free)

Host a Minecraft Java server from your own PC without touching your router. How tunnels and relays work, how they compare, and a free step-by-step setup.

Port forwarding is the classic way to host a Minecraft server: open port 25565 on your router and give friends your IP. It often fails. Your ISP may use CGNAT, you may not have access to the router, or you may not want strangers to see your home IP. You can skip it entirely.

How hosting without port forwarding works

Routers block incoming connections but allow outgoing ones. A relay uses that: your PC connects out to a server on the internet and keeps the connection open. The relay gives you a public address, and when a player connects to that address, the relay sends their traffic down the connection your PC already opened.

For players it looks like a normal server address. For you it means no router settings, it works behind CGNAT, school or office networks and mobile data, and your home IP stays private.

Your options compared

MethodPlayers install something?Account needed?Notes
Port forwardingNoNoNeeds router access and a public IP; exposes your IP
Virtual LAN (Hamachi, ZeroTier, Tailscale)Yes, every playerYesFine for 2–3 friends, painful for more
General tunnels (playit.gg, ngrok)NoUsuallyWork for any game or app; you set up the server yourself
VoxelPortNoNoMade for Minecraft: sets up the server and Java, Bedrock crossplay, custom address for supporters
Paid hostingNoYesRuns 24/7 without your PC, but costs money monthly

Free setup in five steps

Get VoxelPort from the Microsoft Store (Windows 10 and 11), download the Windows installer directly (if Windows warns, click More info → Run anyway), or get the Linux build from GitHub. It's free, open source, and needs no account.

  1. Click + Add Server and pick a template or a server type (Vanilla, Paper or Fabric) and version.
  2. Choose the RAM, agree to the Minecraft EULA, and click Install & start. Java is installed automatically if you don’t have the right version.
  3. Wait for the server to show Online, then click Make public.
  4. Copy the address, for example play.voxelport.in:26137. Supporters can claim a custom name like yourname.voxelport.in instead.
  5. Friends open Minecraft, go to Multiplayer → Add Server, paste the address and join.
To stop sharing, click Stop public tunnel. The server keeps running for you locally; nobody else can reach it.

Good to know

Questions

Is hosting without port forwarding safe?

It’s safer than port forwarding. Nothing on your router is opened, and players connect to the relay, so they never see your home IP address.

Is it slower than port forwarding?

Traffic takes one extra hop through the relay, which adds a little ping depending on how far you and your players are from it. For most groups it isn’t noticeable.

Do my friends need to install anything?

No. Java players use normal Minecraft and paste your address into Multiplayer → Add Server.

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