How to Host a Hytale Server

Hytale supports fully dedicated servers that run independently from the game client. This allows players to host private worlds, community servers, or modded experiences with complete control over settings, permissions, and gameplay rules.

While server hosting often sounds complex, Hytale provides official tools and documentation that make the process straightforward once broken down properly. This guide walks you through everything you need, from system requirements to authentication, configuration, and network setup.

Technical Requirements

Before starting, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements for running a Hytale server:

• RAM: At least 4 GB (more recommended for multiple players or mods)
• Processor: x64 or ARM64 architecture
• Java: Java 25 LTS is required

Hytale servers will not run on older Java versions. The recommended distribution is Adoptium (Temurin).

After installing Java 25, verify the installation by running the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

java --version

A valid installation should return output similar to:

openjdk 25.0.1 2025-10-21 LTS
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Temurin-25.0.1+8
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Temurin-25.0.1+8

Step 1: Retrieve the Server Files

There are two supported methods to obtain the Hytale server files. For beginners, the manual method is the simplest.

Manual Method (Recommended for First-Time Setup)

1. Navigate to your Hytale installation directory on your PC.
2. Locate:
   • The Server folder
   • The Assets.zip file

Copy both into a new empty folder, for example:

MyHytaleServer

The default path is usually:

%appdata%\Hytale\install\release\package\game\latest

This folder will become your server directory.

Hytale Downloader CLI (Advanced / Production Servers)

For long-term or production servers, Hytale provides a command-line tool called the Hytale Downloader. This tool downloads and updates server files automatically using secure OAuth2 authentication.

After downloading the tool, it is recommended to rename the file to something simple like hytale-downloader.

Common commands include:

Download files to a specific archive:

./hytale-downloader -download-path game.zip

Check for updates:

./hytale-downloader -check-update

Display the game version:

./hytale-downloader -print-version

Download the latest version:

./hytale-downloader

Step 2: First Launch and Server Authentication

Unlike many games, a Hytale server must be linked to a Hytale account to function. Each account can authorize up to 100 servers.

1. Open a terminal or command prompt in your server folder.
2. The server will display a login code.
3. Enter the displayed code and confirm the authorization.

Visit:

https://accounts.hytale.com/device

When prompted, authenticate the server by typing:

/auth login device

Start the server using:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets PathToAssets.zip

Replace PathToAssets.zip with the actual path to your Assets.zip file.

Once completed, the server console will confirm successful authentication.

Step 3: Server File Structure Explained

After the first successful launch, several folders and configuration files will be created automatically.

Key files and directories include:

These files allow you to control gameplay rules, player access, and server behavior.

Step 4: Network and Firewall Configuration

Hytale uses the QUIC protocol over UDP, not TCP. This is critical when configuring firewalls and routers.

Port Forwarding

• Default port: UDP 5520
• Forward this port from your router to the local IP address of your server machine
• TCP forwarding is not required

You can change the port if needed by binding a custom address:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets PathToAssets.zip --bind 0.0.0.0:25565

Firewall Rules

Windows Defender Firewall

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

Linux (iptables)

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

Linux (ufw)

sudo ufw allow 5520/udp

Performance Tips

• Use SSD or NVMe storage for better world loading performance

Use AOT caching for faster startup:

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

Allocate more RAM for larger servers:

java -Xmx8G -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip

Hosting a Hytale server may look complex at first, but when broken into steps, it becomes manageable even for beginners. By preparing your system, retrieving the correct files, authenticating your server, and configuring networking properly, you gain full control over your multiplayer experience.

Whether you are creating a private world for friends or building a public community server, Hytale’s official tools provide everything you need to get started.