Can’t create or host a server on Minecraft on Windows with an error message saying ‘Failed to Bind to Port’?

One of the best features of Minecraft is that it allows you to join or host servers online, in which you can invite your friends so that you can play together in the world that you have created. However, it is really frustrating when the feature decides to malfunction especially if you are the one tasked by your friends to host the server. 

This kind of Error usually occurs when the Java program on your computer runs on the background, which triggers a bug or error related to server hosting. On other occasions, the ‘Failed to Bind to Port’ error can also occur due to improper network settings, outdated network drivers, or an overprotective firewall. 

To eliminate this specific problem on Minecraft, we decided to create a guide that will show you different techniques on how to fix the ‘Failed to Bind to Port’ error on Minecraft. 

Let’s get started! 

• 1. Restart Your Computer. 
• 2. Check Your Internet Connection. 
• 3. Use the Network Troubleshooter.
• 4. Update Your Network Drivers. 
• 5. Terminate Jave on Your Computer. 
• 6. Temporarily Disable Your Firewall. 
• 7. Clear Your IP Settings. 

1. Restart Your Computer. 

For the first method, what we recommend you do is to give your computer a simple restart. It is possible that some of your system resources related to your network may not be loaded properly the first time you turn on your computer which causes the problem on Minecraft. 

To rule out this scenario, you can try rebooting your operating system by doing the steps below. 

1. On your computer, click on the Start button located at the taskbar below your screen. 
2. Inside the Start menu, click on the Power button to open the Power Options menu. 
3. Lastly, click on Restart. This will begin to reboot your computer.

Wait for the process to finish, then go back to Minecraft and try to host a server to see if the error message would still occur on your computer. 

However, if the problem is still present after rebooting your operating system, you can proceed to the next method below to try and fix the issue with Minecraft. 

2. Check Your Internet Connection. 

Hosting a server on Minecraft would require a fast and stable connection from your internet so that you and your friends can play without any problems. However, if you are seeing a ‘Failed to Bind to Port’ error message on Minecraft, it can indicate that your internet connection is currently having issues. 

To verify this, you can try running a speed test on your computer using a third-party website like Fast.com (provided by Netflix) which can accurately measure your internet upload and download speed. 

If the speed test result comes out slow or not close to the specified internet speed bandwidth on your monthly subscription, what you can do next is to restart your router. In restarting your router, locate the power cable on your router and unplug it. Now, wait for at least 5-10 seconds to allow the router to rest, then plug it back into your router to turn it on again. 

Once the router has booted up, go back to your browser and perform another speed test to see if your internet connection is already fixed. However, if you are still having issues with your internet, then we recommend you to contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and report to them the issue that you are dealing with their internet service. 

3. Use the Network Troubleshooter. 

Since the ‘Failed to Bind to Port’ error message is related to your network connection, what you can try doing next is to run the Windows network troubleshooter which can effectively diagnose and fix problems related to your internet connection. 

To use the troubleshooter, check out the steps below to guide you through the process. 

1. Press on the Windows key + S and search for Troubleshoot. Then hit Enter. 
2. Inside the Troubleshoot settings, click on Internet Connections. 
3. Lastly, click on Run the Troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen prompts to guide you on how to use the network troubleshooter. 

After that, go back to Minecraft and try to host another server once again to see if the error message would still occur on the game. 

4. Update Your Network Drivers. 

If the troubleshooter was not able to fix the issue on Minecraft, what you can try doing next is to update your network drivers. It is possible that your drivers got corrupted during use or it has an existing bug or error which causes problems to the game when you try to host a server. 

To rule this out, you can check for an update on your drivers by doing the steps below. 

1. On your keyboard, press on the Windows key + S and search for Device Manager. 
2. After that, click on Open to launch it. 

3. Next, click on Network Adapters to expand it. 
4. Lastly, right-click on your network driver and select Update Driver. Follow the on-screen prompts to properly update the driver on your computer. 

After installing the driver update, restart your computer and try to host another server on Minecraft again to see if the ‘Failed to Bind to Port’ error message would still occur on your computer. 

On the other hand, if you are still unable to host a game on Minecraft, what you can do next is to check if Java is running in the background. 

5. Terminate Java on Your Computer. 

For some unknown reasons, if the Java program on your computer is running in the background problems with hosting a server on Minecraft occur. In this case, what you should do is to close the Java program on your computer manually before hosting a server on the game. 

To do this, check out the guide below. 

1. On your computer, press and hold the CTRL + ALT + DEL key on your keyboard to open the selection screen. 
2. Next, click on Task Manager. 
3. Lastly, find the Java program from the list of apps running on your computer and click the End Task button to close it. 

Now, go back to Minecraft and try to host a server once again to see if the error message would still occur on your computer. 

6. Temporarily Disable Your Firewall. 

Since Minecraft uses your network to create a virtual server for your friends to join, it is possible that your firewall is actually blocking Minecraft from making any changes on your network which triggers the ‘Failed to Bind to Port’ error message. 

To bypass this, you can try disabling your firewall while hosting servers on Minecraft. Check out the steps below on how to do this. 

1. First, press on Windows key + S on your keyboard and search for Windows Defender Firewall.
2. Next, click on Open. 

3. Inside the Windows Firewall, click on Turn Windows Firewall On or Off. 
4. Lastly, turn off Windows Firewall and click on Ok to save the changes. 

After that, go back to Minecraft once again and try to host a server to see if the ‘Failed to Bind to Port’ error message would still occur. 

7. Clear Your IP Settings. 

For the final method, what you can do is to erase the IP Address on Minecraft’s server properties. It is possible that the IP address set on the game’s server properties is already in use by another server which causes the error message. 

To fix this, you can try clearing the IP address on your server properties. 

1. First, open the Server folder for Minecraft using the File Explorer. 
2. Next, scroll down and right-click on server.properties. 
3. After that, click on Edit with Notepad. 

4. Lastly, find the server-ip line on Notepad and clear its values. Save the changes and close Notepad. 

Now, go back to Minecraft and try to host another server to check if the error message would still occur on the game. 

This sums up our guide on how to fix the ‘Failed to Bind to Port’ error on Minecraft. If you know other ways on how to fix this kind of issue on the game, feel free to share it in the comment section below. 

If this guide helped you, please share it.

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