Minecraft Bedrock Server

Utilities for running and updating a Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server on Windows. After initial setup, schedule the PowerShell script with Windows Task Scheduler to automatically check for the latest official server release, install updates when needed, preserve your world and configuration, and start the server again without user interaction.

What This Does

This repository contains a small Windows automation setup:

• MinecraftBedrockServerUpdateScript.ps1 checks for updates, backs up local server state, installs the latest Bedrock server files, restores your world/configuration, and starts bedrock_server.exe.
• get-bedrock-url.js uses Playwright/Chrome to find the latest official Bedrock Dedicated Server ZIP URL from minecraft.net.
• package.json / package-lock.json define the Node dependency on playwright.

The script resolves paths relative to its own location, so the repository folder is treated as the server root.

Requirements

• Windows
• PowerShell, included with Windows
• Node.js and npm
• Google Chrome, because the helper script launches Playwright with channel: 'chrome'

The bedrock-server folder does not need to exist before the first run. The script creates it when installing the server.

Quick Start

There are two common setup options.

Option A: Beginner setup without Git

1. Install the required tools:

   • Node.js so the node and npm commands are available.
   • Google Chrome so the helper script can find the latest Bedrock download.

2. Download this repository from GitHub:

   • Open the repository page in your browser.
   • Select Code.
   • Select Download ZIP.

3. Extract the ZIP somewhere permanent, for example:

   C:\MinecraftServer
   

   Avoid temporary folders like Downloads if you plan to run the server long term.

4. Open PowerShell in the extracted folder:

   • Open the folder in File Explorer.
   • Right-click empty space in the folder.
   • Select Open in Terminal or Open PowerShell window here.

5. Install dependencies and run the script:

   npm install
   .\MinecraftBedrockServerUpdateScript.ps1

If PowerShell blocks the script, run:

powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\MinecraftBedrockServerUpdateScript.ps1

Option B: Developer setup with Git

git clone https://github.com/redwheeler3/minecraft-server.git
cd minecraft-server
npm install
.\MinecraftBedrockServerUpdateScript.ps1

On first run, the script downloads the latest official Bedrock Dedicated Server ZIP, creates bedrock-server/, extracts the server files, and starts bedrock_server.exe.

How Updates Work

The script uses these paths under the repository/script folder:

$rootDir = $PSScriptRoot
$gameDir = "$rootDir\bedrock-server"
$backupDir = "$rootDir\BACKUP"
$scriptLogFile = "$rootDir\MinecraftScriptLog.log"
$serverLogFlle = "$rootDir\MinecraftServerLog.log"

During an install or update, the script:

1. Finds the latest official Bedrock Dedicated Server ZIP.
2. Skips the update if that ZIP was already downloaded.
3. Backs up local server state when present:
   • server.properties
   • allowlist.json
   • permissions.json
   • valid_known_packs.json
   • worlds/
4. Removes older downloaded server ZIPs from BACKUP/.
5. Downloads the latest ZIP.
6. Stops any running bedrock_server process.
7. Recreates bedrock-server/ for a clean install.
8. Extracts the ZIP, restores the backed-up state, and starts the server.

Generated runtime files are intentionally ignored by Git:

node_modules/
BACKUP/
*.log
bedrock-server/

If you already have an existing bedrock-server folder, place it beside MinecraftBedrockServerUpdateScript.ps1 before running the script.

Scheduling with Windows Task Scheduler

After manually testing the script, schedule it with Windows Task Scheduler.

Important general settings:

• Select Run whether user is logged on or not so the server can start after reboots or while no one is signed in.
• Check Run with highest privileges so the script has the permissions it needs to stop/start the server process and update files.

Suggested action:

Program/script: powershell.exe
Arguments: -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\path\to\minecraft-server\MinecraftBedrockServerUpdateScript.ps1"
Start in: C:\path\to\minecraft-server

Suggested triggers:

• At system startup, so the server starts after a reboot.
• On a recurring schedule at a low-traffic time, so updates are checked when players are less likely to be connected.
• Optionally, when the computer resumes from sleep:
  • Begin the task: On an event
  • Log: System
  • Source: Microsoft-Windows-Power-Troubleshooter
  • Event ID: 1

The script uses $PSScriptRoot, but setting Start in is still recommended because it makes scheduled task behavior easier to reason about.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
PowerShell blocks the script	Run it with powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\MinecraftBedrockServerUpdateScript.ps1.
node or npm is not found	Install Node.js, then confirm with node --version and npm --version.
Playwright dependencies are missing	Run npm install from the repository folder.
Chrome is not installed	Install Google Chrome, or update get-bedrock-url.js to use a different installed browser/channel.
Download URL cannot be found	Microsoft may have changed the Bedrock download page; get-bedrock-url.js may need its selector updated.
Startup, download, extraction, or update issues	Check MinecraftScriptLog.log and MinecraftServerLog.log.

Nintendo Switch Connection Instructions

Source: Shockbyte - How to Connect to your Minecraft Bedrock Server on Nintendo Switch

Configure DNS on the Nintendo Switch

1. Press the house button to go to the home screen.

2. Open System Settings.

3. Select Internet from the left sidebar.

4. Select Internet Settings.

5. If prompted for a parental control password, the code is 0710.

6. Select your current network under Registered Networks. If no network is connected, choose one under Networks Found, enter the password, then return to Internet Settings.

7. Select Change Settings.

8. Set DNS Settings to Manual.

9. Set Primary DNS to:

   104.238.130.180
   

10. Set Secondary DNS to:

    008.008.008.008
    

11. Select Save.

12. Select Connect to This Network.

Connect from Minecraft

1. Select Play from the main menu.

2. Open the Servers tab and select any featured server.

3. On the server list, select your saved server name if it appears. Otherwise, continue.

4. Select Connect to a Server.

5. Enter your server address, for example:

   your-server.example.com
   

6. Turn on Add to Server List.

7. Select Submit.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.