Minecraft server without port forwarding: ProximaTunnel

If you want to run a Minecraft server without port forwarding or a public IP — so friends can just join by a short address — that's what ProximaTunnel does. It forwards your local server through our nodes: no hosting, no router setup.

What ProximaTunnel is

ProximaTunnel is both a mod and a plugin for Minecraft, starting from version 1.16. It links your local server to our nodes and hands out a public address that other players use to connect — without opening ports or having a public IP.

Supported platforms:

• as a plugin — the server cores Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur;
• as a mod — Fabric and Forge (for a singleplayer world opened to the network).

Why you'd want it

• No hosting needed — the server runs on your own PC.
• No public IP needed.
• No port forwarding on the router.
• Friends join your local server by an address.
• Works with mods and plugins.

How it works

You start the server (or open a singleplayer world to the network) on your PC. ProximaTunnel registers it on our nodes and gives you an address like name.proximamp.com. Your friend types that address into the Minecraft client and connects to you. No router configuration required.

You don't need a Telegram bot to add local servers. Don't open it or try to add the server through it — the connection works via the name.proximamp.com address.

What's supported

Platform	Role	Support
Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur	plugin (server)	yes
Fabric, Forge	mod (singleplayer world to LAN)	yes
Dedicated Forge servers	server	not yet
Hybrid cores (Mohist, Arclight, Magma, etc.)	server	not yet

Installation: three options

Option A — via ProximaClient (the easiest). Create a server in ProximaClient and enable the ProximaTunnel checkbox. For plugin-capable cores the plugin is already built in — nothing to configure by hand.

Option B — a ready-made build. Download a ready-made server build from the ProximaTunnel page and run it.

Option C — manually. Download a plugin-capable core (Paper, Purpur, Spigot or Bukkit), install the ProximaTunnel plugin and configure the server — steps below.

Server with the plugin (manual setup)

1. Put the ProximaTunnel plugin into the plugins/ folder.
2. In server.properties, set your server name in the motd field (Latin letters, no spaces) — it becomes the address.
3. Turn off online mode: online-mode=false.
4. Start the server.
5. Connect via <motd>.proximamp.com — or join the proximamp.com server and find your server by its motd in the local servers menu.

online-mode=false disables account license verification: anyone can join such a server with any username. If that matters, use a whitelist.

Next, you can configure the plugin: set a join password and pick the server icon shown in the local servers list.

Server via the mod

1. Install the ProximaTunnel mod (Fabric or Forge) into the mods/ folder, like any other mod.
2. Launch the game and enter a singleplayer world.
3. Open the world to the network: pause menu → "Open to LAN" (no need to change ports).
4. Your friend connects via <your-nick>.proximamp.com (your in-game name).

Sometimes connecting by a direct address with mods throws a connection error — just try again, usually it works on the second or third attempt.

Mod or plugin — which to pick

• You need a persistent server with plugins and settings → install the plugin on a core (Paper, Purpur, Spigot) or create a server through ProximaClient.
• You want to quickly play a modpack with friends from your singleplayer world → install the ProximaTunnel mod straight into your modpack. It's the simplest way to play with mods.

FAQ

Do I need a public IP? No.

Do I need to open ports on the router? No.

Do I need a Telegram bot? No. The connection works via the name.proximamp.com address.

Does it work with mods? Yes — through the mod version (Fabric/Forge). On a plugin server you can also install plugins.

Are Forge servers supported? Dedicated Forge servers and hybrid cores aren't supported yet. To play with mods, use the mod version in a singleplayer world.

Which Minecraft version? 1.16 and newer.

The easiest way — ProximaClient

To skip the manual setup, ProximaClient creates the server and enables ProximaTunnel with a single checkbox. Download ProximaClient → or grab a ready-made build on the ProximaTunnel page.