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Hytale Server Won't Start

Hytale Guide • Updated Aug 2, 2026

Hytale Server Won't Start: Fix Startup Errors

Most startup failures are caused by missing Java 25, a missing Assets.zip file, or a broken config.json. Use the steps below to restore a clean boot.

Common Startup Errors

Error Cause Fix
Unsupported Java version Java 25 not installed Install Java 25 and re-run
Assets.zip not found Missing or wrong path Pass --assets Assets.zip with correct file
Config parse error Invalid JSON in config.json Validate JSON or regenerate config
Port already in use Another service uses the port Change --bind port or stop the conflict

Step-by-Step Fix

  1. Check Java version. Hytale requires Java 25:
java -version
  1. Start with assets explicitly. Use the standard launch command:
java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip
  1. Validate config.json. The main config lives in config/config.json. Fix JSON syntax or move it aside to regenerate on boot.
  2. Check logs. Review logs/hytale-server.log for the exact failure line.
  3. Verify ports. If port 5520 is busy, change the bind port: --bind 0.0.0.0:5521.

Note: After a clean boot, re-apply your settings and test with no mods before enabling them again.

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If the server starts fine until it loads the world, suspect the world rather than the config. The Hytale World Doctor scans region files for chunks the server cannot parse and packages a repaired copy.

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