Knowledgebase

Create Hytale Server in Debian / Ubuntu

You would like to install a Hytale Server on your Linux operating system (Debian / Ubuntu)? Then you have come to the right place!

In this tutorial, we will explain how to use the official Hytale Downloader, install the server, and perform the initial authentication.

Before we start, it is important that you first update your operating system's package list and install any available updates. You can do this with a simple command:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

1. Java Installation (Java 25):

According to the official Hytale Server Manual, Java 25 is mandatory. Install this version as well as unzip and screen with the following command:

apt install openjdk-25-jre-headless unzip screen -y

Verify the installation with java -version. The output should contain "openjdk 25...".

2. Create User:

Create a sub-user for security reasons:

adduser --disabled-login hytale

Simply press "Enter" through the queries. Then switch to the user:

su hytale && cd

3. Hytale Downloader & Server Files:

Download the official Hytale Downloader CLI directly:

wget https://downloader.hytale.com/hytale-downloader.zip

Unzip the tool. Since the archive already contains a folder named Server/, we will move the Assets.zip (if uploaded separately) into it, switch to the directory, and make the downloader executable:

unzip hytale-downloader.zip
mv Assets.zip Server/
cd Server/
chmod +x hytale-downloader-linux-amd64

Now run the downloader to update or download the actual server files:

./hytale-downloader-linux-amd64

(Note: The downloader fetches the latest version of the HytaleServer.jar and the Assets.zip.)

4. Create Start Script:

Create a start.sh file:

nano start.sh

Insert the following content. We also use the recommended AOT Cache here for faster boot times:

#!/bin/bash
# CONFIGURATION
SCREEN_NAME="hytale"
SERVER_FILE="HytaleServer.jar"
ASSETS_FILE="Assets.zip" # Standard name
MEM="8G" # Adjust RAM to your needs (Min. 4GB)

# START LOOP
while true; do
    echo "Starting Hytale Server..."
    # Start command with AOT-Cache optimization according to manual
    java -Xms$MEM -Xmx$MEM -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot -jar $SERVER_FILE --assets $ASSETS_FILE
    
    echo "Restarting in 5 seconds... Press CTRL+C to cancel"
    sleep 5
done

Save with "CTRL + X", then "Y" and "Enter".

Make the script executable:

chmod +x start.sh

5. Start Server:

screen -dmS hytale ./start.sh

Open the console:

screen -r hytale

IMPORTANT: Authentication (Device Login):

On the first start, you must authenticate the server. Enter the following command in the console:

/auth login device

Visit the displayed link (e.g., https://accounts.hytale.com/device) on your PC and enter the code shown in the console. Once "Authentication successful!" appears, your server is ready.

Press "CTRL + A + D" to leave the console again.

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