FAQ

Quick, clear answers to common questions about PortalMine’s free Minecraft servers, limits, compatibility, and safety guidelines.

General

Is PortalMine really free?

Yes—PortalMine offers a free tier designed for small, friendly servers. To keep the platform stable, fair-use limits and resource caps may apply.

What Minecraft versions are supported?

PortalMine supports popular Java servers and Bedrock/Nukkit servers. For Java, choose a stable release first; for Bedrock, use the Nukkit option for a lightweight and compatible setup.

Can I use plugins or mods?

Light Java plugin setups and Nukkit-compatible Bedrock plugins may work depending on server type. Large modpacks can be resource-intensive; for those workloads, use hosting designed specifically for modded servers.

Do you offer 24/7 uptime?

We aim for an always-online experience, but the free tier is managed under fair-use. If something looks wrong, check the Status page.

Accounts & security

Why do I need to verify my email?

Email verification helps prevent abuse and allows password recovery. It also helps us contact you about important account issues.

I didn’t receive the verification email

Check spam/junk folders, then try again. If it still doesn’t arrive, contact support.

How do you protect servers?

We use baseline infrastructure best practices and basic traffic protections. No service can guarantee full protection, so we also recommend whitelists and sensible rules.

Troubleshooting

Server shows offline

Try refreshing the dashboard, then check Status for incidents. If the site is healthy, contact support.

Players get kicked frequently

Kicks can happen when the server is overloaded or a plugin misbehaves. Try removing recent changes and lowering view distance.

Can’t connect, “Version mismatch”

Make sure players are using the same Minecraft version the server is configured to run. If unsure, choose a popular stable version.

Where can I see known issues?

We post known incidents and maintenance updates on Status.

Still need help?

If your question isn’t here:

Expanded questions and answers

Is PortalMine officially connected to Minecraft, Mojang, or Microsoft?

No. PortalMine is an independent hosting service. Minecraft is a product and trademark of Mojang Studios, which is part of Microsoft. The service is not endorsed by or affiliated with those companies.

Do I need to install a control panel on my computer?

No. The PortalMine dashboard runs in a web browser. You still need a legitimate, compatible Minecraft client to join the game server.

Can Java players join a Bedrock/Nukkit server?

Not by default. Java and Bedrock use different protocols and ecosystems. Cross-play requires specialized compatibility software and is not guaranteed to be available or supported.

Why does my Bedrock server show a port?

Bedrock clients commonly connect using both a hostname and a UDP port. Enter the exact port displayed in the dashboard. Do not assume the default port if PortalMine shows a different one.

Why does the server stop when nobody is playing?

Idle shutdown releases unused resources so free capacity can be shared. It also reduces waste from servers left running after a play session.

Are coins real money?

No. Coins are an internal platform resource used for eligible actions such as extensions. They cannot be withdrawn, transferred as cash, or treated as stored monetary value.

Can I create several accounts for more servers or coins?

No. Creating duplicate accounts to avoid limits can lead to suspension. The service is intended to provide one fair allocation per user under the current rules.

Will every plugin work?

No. Compatibility depends on server software, Minecraft version, plugin version, dependencies, available resources, and interactions with other plugins. Add plugins one at a time and keep a backup.

Can I run a large modpack?

Large modpacks are usually unsuitable for free-tier resources. They may require more memory, CPU time, storage, upload bandwidth, and manual support than the platform provides.

Why is my server online but I still cannot join?

Check the edition, version, address, port, whitelist, and client error. Then review the connection troubleshooting guide.

How often should I back up?

Back up before version changes, plugin installation, configuration edits, world resets, and major building events. Frequently updated worlds need more frequent backups.

What information should I send to support?

Send your username, server name, edition, time of the problem, action attempted, error text, and relevant recent log lines. Never send your password or authentication code.

Can support recover any deleted world?

Recovery is not guaranteed. The safest protection is a separate backup downloaded before the deletion or failure.

Can I use PortalMine for a paid commercial network?

The free tier is designed for small communities and testing. Commercial projects should use infrastructure with appropriate capacity, billing, support, backups, and service guarantees.

Accounts and security

Should server staff share one PortalMine account?

No. Shared credentials make accountability and recovery difficult. Use individual access where supported, keep the owner account private, and grant in-game permissions according to role.

What information should never be sent to support?

Do not send passwords, browser cookies, private API tokens, full authentication files, payment secrets, or unnecessary personal player data. Send redacted logs and screenshots that preserve the technical error.

Worlds, backups, and updates

When should I back up the world?

Keep a routine schedule and create an additional backup before software updates, plugin or mod changes, migrations, world tools, major configuration edits, or experimental commands.

Is having a backup enough?

A backup is useful only when it is complete, accessible, and restorable. Periodically restore a copy into a safe test environment and verify player data, dimensions, inventories, and important builds.

Can I downgrade a world after updating?

Downgrades can corrupt or remove blocks, entities, dimensions, and metadata introduced by a newer version. Restore a pre-update backup instead of opening the upgraded world in an older version.

Performance and connection questions

Does adding more memory always fix lag?

No. Lag can come from CPU-bound tick work, chunk generation, entities, plugins, storage, networking, or client rendering. Measure the symptom and read console evidence before changing resources.

Why can one player not connect while others can?

The platform and server may be healthy. Compare that player’s edition, version, address, DNS result, authentication, local firewall, router, VPN, and network path with a working player.

Should I restart repeatedly when the server is stuck?

Repeated actions can hide the original error or interrupt installation. Save the console output, identify the current state, wait for active provisioning, and restart only when the workflow calls for it.

Community ownership

What rules does a small private server need?

At minimum: access expectations, griefing and theft rules, chat behavior, prohibited clients or exploits, privacy boundaries, moderator authority, evidence standards, and an appeal route.

Who is responsible for player behavior?

The server owner and appointed moderators manage the community. PortalMine may enforce platform policies, but it does not replace in-server moderation or parental and organizational supervision.