Official Website · Discord Support · Public Relay Status

Host Minecraft without port forwarding

TunnelCraft lets you share a Minecraft LAN world or run a dedicated Minecraft server without opening router ports or maintaining a public IP address.

Install TunnelCraft, start your world or server, and share your persistent TunnelCraft address with the players you want to invite.

Key features

• No router configuration or port forwarding
• No public IP address required
• Persistent, easy-to-share TunnelCraft address
• Support for LAN worlds and dedicated servers
• Fabric and NeoForge support
• Bukkit, Paper, Purpur, and Spigot plugin support
• Additional TCP and UDP port forwarding for Premium users
• Public relay status monitoring

How TunnelCraft works

TunnelCraft routes Minecraft network traffic through a dedicated WebSocket-based relay network.

Each connected server receives its own persistent TunnelCraft address, for example: plpx-abc123.

Instead of connecting directly to the server's public IP address, players enter the TunnelCraft address in their Minecraft server list. TunnelCraft then forwards the Minecraft connection between the player and the server through the relay network.

This allows a Minecraft server or LAN world to be reached without exposing a public network port or requiring a public IP address.

Important client requirement

All connecting players must install a compatible Fabric or NeoForge client version of TunnelCraft.

Installing TunnelCraft only as a Bukkit, Paper, Purpur, or Spigot server plugin is not sufficient. TunnelCraft uses its own tunneling protocol and is not compatible with unmodified vanilla clients.

Installation

Dedicated servers

1. Download the correct TunnelCraft version for your Minecraft version and server platform.
2. Place the file in the appropriate directory:
   • mods for Fabric or NeoForge
   • plugins for Bukkit, Paper, Purpur, or Spigot
3. Start or restart the server.
4. Copy the TunnelCraft address displayed in the server console.
5. Install TunnelCraft on every connecting player's Fabric or NeoForge client.
6. Add the TunnelCraft address to the Minecraft multiplayer server list.

LAN worlds

1. Install TunnelCraft on the host and every connecting client.
2. Open the singleplayer world to LAN.
3. Run /tunnelcraft show.
4. Copy the displayed TunnelCraft address.
5. Share the address with the other players.
6. The other players can add the address to their Minecraft multiplayer server list.

Exact Minecraft and loader compatibility depends on the selected TunnelCraft release. Check the Versions tab before downloading.

TunnelCraft compared with e4mc

TunnelCraft and e4mc both provide Minecraft connections without traditional port forwarding, but they are designed for different use cases.

When to use TunnelCraft

TunnelCraft is designed for users who want to:

• Run a persistent dedicated Minecraft server
• Connect a server without opening router ports
• Use Bukkit, Paper, Purpur, or Spigot
• Share a Fabric or NeoForge LAN world
• Forward additional TCP or UDP ports with Premium
• Use networking-dependent services such as Simple Voice Chat

When to use e4mc

e4mc is primarily designed for quickly sharing a singleplayer LAN world.

Only the host needs to install e4mc. Joining players can connect using an unmodified Minecraft client.

Official project pages

• TunnelCraft on Modrinth
• e4mc on Modrinth

Premium port forwarding

Standard TunnelCraft connections forward the Minecraft server connection through the relay network.

Premium users can additionally forward other TCP and UDP ports for mods, plugins, applications, or services that use separate network connections.

Premium capabilities

• Forward additional TCP ports
• Forward additional UDP ports
• Support services that use separate network connections
• Improve compatibility with networking-dependent mods and plugins
• Configure additional services alongside the Minecraft server

This can be used with projects such as Simple Voice Chat, which uses a separate UDP connection for voice communication.

Additional services must still be configured with the correct local and forwarded ports. TunnelCraft provides the network route but does not automatically configure third-party mods or plugins.

Relay performance

All TunnelCraft traffic passes through the TunnelCraft relay network.

Connection quality can therefore be affected by:

• The route between the player and the relay
• The route between the Minecraft server and the relay
• The geographical distance between participants
• The internet connections of the host and players
• Current relay utilization
• Minecraft server performance

TunnelCraft currently operates on self-hosted relay infrastructure. Performance may vary during periods of high usage.

The relay software, routing, and forwarding performance are continuously being improved.

View the public TunnelCraft relay status

Compatibility and updates

The TunnelCraft relay protocol is actively developed. Protocol changes may not remain compatible with older TunnelCraft releases.

For the most reliable connection:

• Use the latest compatible TunnelCraft release
• Keep the server plugin or mod up to date
• Keep all connecting client installations up to date
• Use compatible Minecraft and loader versions
• Check the version information before updating a production server

Connections between incompatible TunnelCraft versions may be rejected.

Privacy and network notice

All traffic transmitted through TunnelCraft is routed through the TunnelCraft relay network.

Server owners remain responsible for:

• Their server configuration
• Installed mods and plugins
• Player access
• Content transmitted through their server
• Compliance with applicable rules and laws

TunnelCraft is an independent project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mojang Studios or Microsoft.

Support TunnelCraft

TunnelCraft is actively developed and maintained as an independent project.

Feedback, testing, bug reports, and community support help improve compatibility and relay performance.

Join the TunnelCraft Discord server