---
title: "Edit Minecraft server configuration on the Game Panel"
description: "Edit your Minecraft server settings on the Game Panel including game mode, difficulty, and advanced server.properties options."
url: https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-edit-minecraft-config
lang: en
lastUpdated: 2026-06-30
---
# Edit Minecraft server configuration on the Game Panel

## Objective

The Game Panel exposes the Minecraft server configuration directly in the UI. Basic options such as game mode and difficulty are available through a graphical form, and advanced settings let you edit `server.properties` directly for full control.

**This guide explains how to edit Minecraft server configuration on the Game Panel.**

## Requirements

- A [VPS](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/vps/) or a [dedicated server](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/bare-metal/) in your OVHcloud account with the Game Panel feature enabled.
- A Minecraft server deployed on the Game Panel. Refer to [Deploy a Minecraft server on the Game Panel](/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-minecraft/index.md).

## Instructions

### Step 1 — Open the server settings

From the main Game Panel page, locate the Minecraft server you want to configure. In the `Management
` column, click `Settings
`.
![Minecraft server with Settings button highlighted](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-edit-minecraft-config/minecraft-server-settings.png)
### Step 2 — Open the Game Config tab

In the **Server Settings**
 panel, select `Game Config
` in the left sidebar.
![Game Config tab in the Server Settings panel](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-edit-minecraft-config/minecraft-game-config.png)
### Step 3 — Configure your game

The **Game Configuration** section lets you manage the main settings of your Minecraft server through the following tabs:

- **Server Settings**: edit the game settings as well as the Minecraft version used by your server.
- **Plugins/Mods**: upload and manage your plugins and mods to customise the gameplay experience. This feature is only available for PaperMC, Fabric, and NeoForge server types.
- **Operators**: add or remove operators (OP) to manage the server's administration rights.
- **Whitelist**: enable or disable the whitelist, then add or remove players allowed to join the server. Administrators can always connect to the server, even if the whitelist is enabled and they are not on it.
- **Player Bans**: ban players to prevent them from accessing the server.
- **IP Bans**: ban IP addresses to block any connection from them. You can also enter a player's name, provided they are connected at the time of the operation; their IP address is then the one that gets banned.

### Step 4 — Edit advanced settings

The **Advanced Configuration** section gives you direct access to the `server.properties` file, providing more control than the basic UI options.

![Advanced Configuration section showing server.properties editor](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-edit-minecraft-config/minecraft-advanced-config.png)
:::info
For the full list of `server.properties` keys with descriptions, default values, and accepted ranges, refer to the [official Minecraft Wiki page on server.properties](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Server.properties).
:::

Common keys you may want to adjust:

| Key                   | Description                                                          | Default              |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------- |
| `gamemode`            | Default game mode (`survival`, `creative`, `adventure`, `spectator`) | `survival`           |
| `difficulty`          | Server difficulty (`peaceful`, `easy`, `normal`, `hard`)             | `easy`               |
| `max-players`         | Maximum number of concurrent players                                 | `20`                 |
| `motd`                | Message displayed in the server list                                 | `A Minecraft Server` |
| `online-mode`         | Restricts joining to authenticated Minecraft accounts                | `true`               |
| `view-distance`       | Server-side render distance in chunks (3–32)                         | `10`                 |
| `simulation-distance` | Entity update distance in chunks (3–32)                              | `10`                 |
| `white-list`          | Restricts connections to whitelisted players                         | `false`              |
| `hardcore`            | Enables hardcore mode                                                | `false`              |
| `pvp`                 | Enables player-versus-player damage                                  | `true`               |

:::warning
Some keys (such as `level-seed`, `level-type`, `generator-settings`) only take effect when the world is generated. Changing them on an existing world has no effect.
:::

### Step 5 — Save and restart

After saving your changes, restart the Minecraft server from the Game Panel for the new configuration to take effect.

## Go further

- [Deploy a Minecraft server on the Game Panel](/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-minecraft/index.md)
- [Install mods and plugins on your Minecraft server](/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-install-mods-plugins/index.md)
- [Upload a custom world to your Minecraft server](/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-upload-minecraft-world/index.md)

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