Port 25565: Minecraft
Port 25565 is the default port for a Minecraft Java Edition server. It is not an IANA-registered port, just the value Mojang's server software has shipped with by default since the game's early years, and it is one of the most-searched ports on the internet for exactly that reason.
| Port number | 25565 |
|---|---|
| Service | Minecraft Java Edition server |
| Protocol | TCP |
| Category | Gaming |
| Default encryption | No |
How do I check whether port 25565 is open?
Port 25565 carries TCP, so a connection either completes its handshake or it does not, which makes the check definitive.
| Question | Command | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Is it open on a remote host? | nc -vz example.com 25565 | A TCP handshake either completes or it does not, so netcat gives a definitive answer in one line. |
| Same check on Windows | Test-NetConnection example.com -Port 25565 | Built into PowerShell. TcpTestSucceeded in the output is the answer; telnet is not installed by default on modern Windows. |
| What is listening locally? | ss -tlnp | grep ':25565 ' | Lists the process bound to port 25565 on Linux. On macOS use lsof -nP -iTCP:25565 -sTCP:LISTEN, on Windows netstat -ano | findstr :25565 |
Replace example.com with the host you are testing. A blocked port and a port with nothing listening on it look identical from the outside, so if a service should be running, check locally before blaming the firewall.
Frequently asked questions
What is port 25565 used for?
Port 25565 is the default port for a Minecraft Java Edition server. It is not an IANA-registered port, just the value Mojang's server software has shipped with by default since the game's early years, and it is one of the most-searched ports on the internet for exactly that reason.
Is port 25565 TCP or UDP?
Port 25565 (Minecraft) uses TCP.
Is port 25565 secure?
Port 25565 is not encrypted by default. Where possible, use an encrypted alternative or tunnel it over TLS or a VPN.
Should I open port 25565 on my firewall?
Only if you specifically need Minecraft. Expose it to the smallest set of trusted sources, and never open database or Windows-service ports to the whole internet.