Why Use a Domain for Minecraft?
Using a domain name (like play.myserver.com) instead of a numeric IP address (like 192.168.1.1) makes it easier for players to remember your server. It also looks more professional and allows you to change your server's hosting provider without asking players to update their server lists.
Option 1: Free Subdomains (Easiest)
Many services offer free subdomains. This means your address will look like myserver.service.com.
Popular Free Subdomain Services:
- No-IP: A popular dynamic DNS service that offers free hostnames.
- DuckDNS: A completely free service with great reliability.
- Minecraft Server Lists: Some server list websites provide a free subdomain if you list your server with them.
Option 2: Free TLDs (.tk, .ml, .ga, .cf, .gq)
Historically, Freenom offered these Top Level Domains (TLDs) for free. However, availability can be sporadic. If available, you can register a domain like myserver.tk completely for free.
ℹ️ Note: Free TLDs are sometimes flagged as spam by some services, but they work perfectly fine for Minecraft connections.
Setting Up DNS for Minecraft
Once you have your domain, you need to point it to your server IP.
- Log in to your domain registrar's dashboard.
- Go to DNS Management.
- Create a CNAME Record:
- Name/Host:
play (or @ for the root domain)
- Value/Target:
ddos.minecraftprotection.com
- Save changes. It may take up to 24 hours to propagate.
✓ Pro Tip: After setting up your domain, add it to your MinecraftProtection dashboard to enable full DDoS protection!