🌐 What is the Use of a Dedicated IP in Minecraft?

What is the utility of a dedicated IP in the Minecraft universe? As server service providers for this fascinating game, we offer our clients the option to acquire exclusive IP addresses for a small additional fee. We want you to fully understand the purpose behind this charge, as IP addresses are a limited resource, which forces us to apply a nominal cost, even though we would love to provide them for free to all our clients.

Opting for a dedicated IP means you will be assigned a unique address composed of four numbers separated by dots (#.#.#.#), and the server will operate on port 25565, the default for Minecraft. If you don't specify a port along with the IP, the game client will automatically search on this port.

You might be wondering: why consider a dedicated IP? Below, we present a list of factors that might influence your decision when evaluating whether to include this feature in your Minecraft server hosting package.

🌐 Connecting a Domain Name:

If you want your server's address to be yourdomain.com, you will need to purchase that domain name on a website like GoDaddy. It’s important to note that yourdomain.com is NOT a dedicated IP, but rather a domain name that can redirect to your server's IP address. This entire process is configured within the DNS settings when purchasing the domain. Once correctly configured, you will be able to connect to the server using either the domain name or the IP, which we’ll call the server address.

🔧 How to Get a Custom IP for Your Minecraft Server:

If you’ve purchased a domain name, you have two options. You can redirect the domain (yourdomain.com) to your server’s address and use it directly. However, most people prefer to reserve the domain for their website and set the actual server address to play.yourdomain.com or another subdomain of your choice. After creating an A record in your DNS manager and pointing it to the server's IP, you won’t need to worry about further configurations. Without a dedicated IP, setting up an SRV record is necessary to define the server's port, as the default address goes directly to port 25565. Defining a port within an A record is not possible, so understanding how to implement SRV records is essential without a dedicated IP address.

❓ Is a Dedicated IP Necessary for My Minecraft Server?

In most cases, a dedicated IP is recommended because it simplifies server setup and provides a unique IP that no one else knows.

In some situations, this may not be necessary, as we offer free subdomains (yourserver.pixel.pro) and handle all the necessary configuration. This option makes it easy to get a named address for your server instead of relying on the IP, and a dedicated option is not required. During checkout, simply specify the desired subdomain, and it will be created upon receiving the order.

If you have more questions about whether you should use a dedicated IP address for your server, feel free to contact us via live chat. We’re here to help.

Best Regards,

João @PixelHost