Hytale Updated April 27, 2026

Installing Your Hytale Dedicated Server

A step-by-step guide to installing and launching a Hytale dedicated server from scratch.

HytaleInstallJavaSetupDedicated Server

Installing Your Hytale Dedicated Server

Hytale launched Early Access on January 13, 2026. Running a dedicated server requires Java 25 and authentication through the Hytale Downloader CLI. This guide walks you through the full installation process.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

A machine running Linux (Ubuntu 22.04+ recommended) or Windows Server
At least 2 GB RAM (4 GB or more recommended for modded servers)
Java 25 installed
A Hytale account with server entitlements

Installing Java 25

Java 25 is required. Older versions will cause the server to fail on launch.

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y openjdk-25-jre-headless
java -version

Confirm the output shows openjdk version "25" or higher.

Step 1 — Install the Hytale Downloader CLI

Hytale does not use SteamCMD. Server files are distributed via the Hytale Downloader CLI, which uses OAuth2 Device Code Flow to authenticate with your Hytale account.

Download the CLI from the Hytale Developer Portal and place it in a convenient directory.

chmod +x hytale-downloader
./hytale-downloader auth

Follow the on-screen prompt — you will be given a URL and a code to enter in your browser to link your Hytale account.

Step 2 — Download Server Files

Once authenticated, download the latest server build:

./hytale-downloader download --type server --output /opt/hytale-server

This will populate /opt/hytale-server with the server binary and default configuration files.

Step 3 — Review the Directory Structure

After download, your server directory should look like this:

/opt/hytale-server/
├── HytaleServer.jar
├── config.json
├── permissions.json
├── whitelist.json
├── bans.json
├── mods/
└── universe/
    ├── worlds/
    └── players/

Step 4 — Configure the Server

Open config.json and set at minimum:

{
  "serverName": "My Hytale Server",
  "maxPlayers": 20,
  "gameMode": "survival",
  "port": 5520
}

See Configuring Your Hytale Server for the full list of options.

Step 5 — Open the Required Port

Hytale uses UDP port 5520 exclusively (QUIC protocol). Make sure UDP 5520 is open in your firewall — TCP is not used and does not need to be opened.

sudo ufw allow 5520/udp

See Hytale Server Port Configuration for detailed firewall instructions.

Step 6 — Launch the Server

cd /opt/hytale-server
java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar HytaleServer.jar

Adjust -Xms and -Xmx to match your available RAM. The server is ready when you see a message indicating it is listening on port 5520.

Running as a Background Service

For a production server, run it as a systemd service so it restarts automatically:

[Unit]
Description=Hytale Dedicated Server
After=network.target

[Service]
WorkingDirectory=/opt/hytale-server
ExecStart=/usr/bin/java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar HytaleServer.jar
Restart=on-failure
User=hytale

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save to /etc/systemd/system/hytale.service, then:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now hytale

Back to Knowledgebase

Need help? Submit a Ticket →

Installing Your Hytale Dedicated Server