How to Host a Minecraft Server Without Port Forwarding in 2026
Learn how to host a Minecraft server without port forwarding, router access, or a public IP using a simple tunnel with Portwarp.
Portwarp Team
Aug 26, 2026
Hosting a Minecraft server for your friends usually requires port forwarding port 25565 on your router.
But what if you can't access your router, your ISP uses CGNAT, or port forwarding simply doesn't work?
You can still host your Minecraft server.
In this guide, we'll use Portwarp to give your local Minecraft server a public address without changing anything on your router.
Can you host a Minecraft server without port forwarding?
Yes.
Instead of opening a port on your router, you can use a tunnel.
Portwarp creates a connection between your computer and its public network. Players connect to the public Portwarp address, and their Minecraft traffic is sent through the tunnel to your local server.
The setup looks like this:
Your friends
↓
Public Portwarp address
↓
Portwarp tunnel
↓
localhost:25565
↓
Minecraft server
This also makes it useful if you're behind CGNAT or don't have access to your router.
Step 1: Start your Minecraft server
First, start your Minecraft Java server normally.
By default, Minecraft Java servers use:
25565
You can check this inside your server.properties file:
server-port=25565
You don't need to change this port.
Before continuing, make sure you can connect to the server locally using:
localhost:25565
If the server doesn't work locally, fix that first before creating the tunnel.
Step 2: Install Portwarp
Create a free Portwarp account and install the Portwarp app for your operating system.
Portwarp is available as a desktop app, or you can use the CLI if you're running Minecraft on a server or prefer the terminal.
After installing it, sign in to your account.
Step 3: Create your Minecraft tunnel
Create a new tunnel for your Minecraft server.
For a standard Minecraft Java server, configure it to use:
Protocol: TCP
Local port: 25565
The tunnel should point to the machine where your Minecraft server is running.
If Minecraft and Portwarp are running on the same computer, that's simply:
localhost:25565
Start the tunnel and Portwarp will give you a public server address.
It may look similar to:
myserver.pwrp.cc:13881
The hostname and remote port assigned to your server may be different.
Step 4: Invite your friends
Now you can give that public address to your friends.
They only need to open:
Minecraft → Multiplayer → Add Server
and enter the Portwarp address:
myserver.pwrp.cc:13881
They do not need to install Portwarp.
Only the computer hosting the Minecraft server needs the tunnel.
Your server is now publicly accessible without creating a port forwarding rule on your router.
Don't change your Minecraft port
A common mistake is changing server.properties to use the public Portwarp port.
Don't do that.
For example, if Portwarp gives you:
myserver.pwrp.cc:13881
your Minecraft server should still be running on:
localhost:25565
Portwarp handles the connection between the public address and your local Minecraft port.
So your setup can be:
Minecraft: localhost:25565
Public address: myserver.pwrp.cc:13881
Your friends use the public address, while Minecraft keeps using 25565 locally.
What if I'm behind CGNAT?
You don't need a dedicated public IPv4 address to use this setup.
With traditional port forwarding, CGNAT can prevent incoming connections from ever reaching your router.
A Portwarp tunnel starts from your computer instead, so there is no inbound port forwarding rule that needs to reach your home network.
This makes tunneling especially useful for people using:
- ISPs with CGNAT
- Mobile or 5G internet
- Apartment networks
- Dorm or university networks
- Routers without port forwarding access
Troubleshooting
The tunnel is online but Minecraft doesn't work
Make sure the Minecraft server is running and listening on the same local port configured in Portwarp.
For a normal Java server:
localhost:25565
My friends can't connect using port 25565
Unless your public Portwarp address specifically uses 25565, your friends should use the complete address assigned to the tunnel.
For example:
myserver.pwrp.cc:13881
not:
myserver.pwrp.cc:25565
Minecraft doesn't work on localhost
If you can't connect using:
localhost:25565
then the problem isn't the tunnel yet.
Check that your Minecraft server started successfully and that server.properties contains the correct port.
Is Portwarp free for Minecraft servers?
You can start with Portwarp's Free plan, so you don't need to pay just to create your first Minecraft tunnel.
If you later need more tunnels, additional regions, advanced networking controls, analytics, or other features, you can upgrade to PRO.
Do my friends need Portwarp?
No.
Your players connect using the normal Minecraft Multiplayer screen.
They don't need a Portwarp account, client, VPN, or any special Minecraft mod.
What about Minecraft Bedrock?
Minecraft Bedrock uses UDP instead of the standard Minecraft Java TCP connection and normally uses a different local port.
Portwarp supports both TCP and UDP tunnels, so make sure you select the correct protocol and local port for the edition of Minecraft you're hosting.
Start hosting without touching your router
That's all you need.
Instead of configuring router rules, dealing with CGNAT, or exposing a port manually, your Minecraft server can stay on:
localhost:25565
while Portwarp provides the public address your friends use to connect.
No router configuration. No port forwarding.
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