infoServer ErrorsAffects: All versions
How to Fix server.properties Resetting
Fix server.properties resetting by saving as UTF-8 without BOM and removing invalid characters.
Quick Fix
Save server.properties as UTF-8 without BOM. Do not add comments after values.
Error Message
server.properties reverting to defaultsHow to Fix
1
Save as UTF-8 without BOM in your text editor
2
Remove any trailing spaces or invalid characters
3
Ensure values do not have comments on the same line (use # on its own line)
4
Stop the server before editing, save, then start
Common Causes
- Invalid characters or syntax in server.properties
- Encoding issue (file must be ASCII/UTF-8 without BOM)
- Server starting before the file is fully saved
Diagnostic Steps
- Stop the server
- Open server.properties in a plain text editor
- Save as UTF-8 without BOM
- Start the server
FAQ
What encoding should server.properties use?
UTF-8 without BOM. Notepad on Windows can add BOM; use Notepad++ or VS Code instead.