Spigot/Bukkit 26.3 Server Setup Guide

Spigot runs Minecraft Java Edition servers with Bukkit/Spigot plugins. Players can join with an ordinary Java Edition client. The server software is free; your PC needs to stay on while people play.

Spigot 26.3 is available . This guide covers Windows and builds the server through SpigotMC’s official BuildTools. Bukkit is the plugin API; CraftBukkit is the server that implements it, and Spigot extends CraftBukkit.

Install Java 25 and Git

Install the Windows x64 JDK 25 MSI from Eclipse Temurin , keeping its PATH option enabled. BuildTools needs the JDK’s compiler. Minecraft 26.3’s version metadata specifies Java 25.

Install Git for Windows too. It includes Git Bash, which we’ll use for the build.

Open a new Git Bash window and check:

1 2 3

java -version javac -version git --version

Both Java commands should report 25. If they don’t, fix PATH or use the full path to the JDK before continuing.

Build Spigot 26.3

Create C:\GameServers\BuildTools26.3 and download BuildTools.jar into it:

Use a build folder without spaces or exclamation marks, as advised by the BuildTools documentation . In Git Bash, run:

1 2	cd /c/GameServers/BuildTools26.3 java -jar BuildTools.jar --rev 26.3

BuildTools downloads the required files and compiles the server. Wait for it to finish successfully. The output is spigot-26.3.jar in the build folder.

Create a separate server folder, such as C:\GameServers\Spigot26.3, and copy that JAR into it. Keep the BuildTools folder for future updates.

CraftBukkit instead

To build CraftBukkit, run this in the same build folder:

1	java -jar BuildTools.jar --rev 26.3 --compile craftbukkit

The --compile craftbukkit option is required because BuildTools doesn’t produce a CraftBukkit JAR by default. Copy craftbukkit-26.3.jar into your server folder, and use that filename in the launch script below.

Create start.bat

In File Explorer, enable View → Show → File name extensions. Save this as start.bat beside your server JAR:

start.bat

1 2 3 4

@echo off cd /d "%~dp0" java -Xms1G -Xmx4G -jar spigot-26.3.jar nogui pause

-Xmx4G limits the Java heap to 4 GiB. Change it to fit the memory available on your PC, leaving room for Windows, the game’s client, and the server’s memory outside the heap. pause keeps startup errors visible.

For CraftBukkit, replace spigot-26.3.jar with craftbukkit-26.3.jar. Start only one server on the default port at a time.

First launch and player access

Run start.bat once. Read the Minecraft EULA , then change eula=false to eula=true in the generated eula.txt if you agree. Run start.bat again and let the world load.

For a private server, enter these commands in its console, without a leading /:

1 2 3

whitelist on whitelist add YourName whitelist add FriendName

Replace the example names with Java Edition usernames. Use whitelist list to check them, and op YourName if you want admin commands in-game.

In Minecraft Java Edition 26.3, choose Multiplayer → Direct Connection and enter localhost when playing on the hosting PC.

Add plugins

Download plugins that support Spigot or CraftBukkit 26.3 from their authors’ pages. Check required dependencies and the supported Minecraft versions before installing.

1. Enter stop in the console and wait for the server to exit.
2. Copy the plugin JARs and their dependencies into the server’s plugins folder.
3. Run start.bat again. Check logs\latest.log for loading errors and use plugins in the console to list loaded plugins.

This follows Spigot’s plugin installation procedure . A plugin that requires Paper APIs needs Paper; Forge and Fabric mods use their own loaders and don’t belong in this folder.

Use a full restart when changing plugins. Check newly generated plugin configuration files before giving players access to new features.

Server settings

Stop the server before editing its configuration. In server.properties, change motd for the multiplayer-list description and max-players for the player limit.

Keep online-mode=true so accounts are verified. Leave server-ip= empty, and keep server-port=25565 unless you need a different port. These settings are described in Spigot’s server.properties reference .

Restart after saving. The vanilla 26.3 guide covers the shared settings in more detail.

Firewall and port forwarding

Open PowerShell as Administrator and allow the game port:

1	New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Spigot Server TCP 25565" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 25565 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow

Run ipconfig and find the IPv4 address under your active Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter. Friends on the same network use that address, for example 192.168.1.10, in Direct Connection.

For internet access, reserve that address in your router’s DHCP settings and forward TCP 25565 to it. Friends outside your network use your public IPv4 address. If you chose another server-port, use it in the firewall and router, then join with IP:port.

For multiple routers or an ISP using CGNAT, follow the port-forwarding section . Test from outside your home network with the server running and the player’s username whitelisted.

Backups and updates

Enter stop and wait for shutdown, then copy the entire server folder to a separate backup location. Include every world folder, plugin configuration, and player-access file.

To update within 26.3, download the latest BuildTools, rerun the same build command, and replace the server JAR while the server is stopped. Start it and check the console before inviting players back.

For an upgrade from an older Minecraft version, test a copy of the server first. Check plugin support and all dimensions after conversion. Spigot’s release notes call out world-file migrations and warn against downgrading converted worlds. Restore the original backup with its matching server version if you need to roll back.

Troubleshooting

• Build fails: check BuildTools.log.txt, use a fresh BuildTools download, and verify that both java and javac resolve to JDK 25.
• JAR not found: make the filename in start.bat match the compiled JAR beside it.
• Plugin won’t load: read its first error in logs\latest.log; check the Minecraft version, required server type, and dependencies.
• Can’t connect: test localhost, then the LAN address, then the public address from another network. Check the whitelist and TCP port at each step.

The earlier Spigot/Bukkit 1.20 article and video cover the older release. Use the Java version and build command above for 26.3.