⏯️How to Start, Stop, and Restart Your Server

Introduction

Three buttons. Three different things. Don't mix them up, one of them can corrupt your world if used wrong.

The Three Buttons

Start ▶️

• Boots the server from a stopped state
• Reads server.properties, loads worlds, loads plugins
• Console shows Done (X.Xs)! when ready
• Use when: the server is fully off

Restart 🔄

• Sends stop to the server, waits for clean shutdown, then starts again
• Saves the world properly
• Use when: you've changed a config, added a plugin, or it's just sluggish

Kill / Force Stop 🛑

• Immediately terminates the process, no save
• Like pulling the power cord
• Use when: the server is hung and not responding to stop

Warning: Kill loses unsaved progress. Always try Restart first. Only Kill as a last resort.

Best Practices

1. 1Schedule restarts, every 12–24 hours, automatically. Set in Scheduled Tasks.
2. 2Stop, don't Kill when changing major configs
3. 3Backup before any version change or major upgrade
4. 4Warn players before restarts, use /say Server restarting in 60 seconds

When the Server Won't Stop

1. 1Try Stop → wait 30 seconds
2. 2Still running? Try Restart
3. 3Still stuck? Use Kill
4. 4Console blank after Kill? Wait 60 seconds, then Start

Tip: A weekly auto-restart keeps memory clean and fixes most slow-creeping lag issues.

Need More Help?

Server won't start at all? Paste the last 50 console lines in Discord.