How to Make a Minecraft Skyblock or OneBlock Server

There are two ways to make a Skyblock or OneBlock server. For one shared island, upload a Skyblock map folder and set level-name in server.properties to its name. For an island per player, run Paper, put BentoBox in plugins/, start once, then add the BSkyBlock or AOneBlock addon to plugins/BentoBox/addons/ and restart. Players type /is or /ob to get their island. Set island distance before anyone plays, because it cannot change later.

Which method do I want?

Other island plugins exist, such as SuperiorSkyblock2 and IridiumSkyblock, and work on the same idea. This guide uses BentoBox because it is free, open source and runs both Skyblock and OneBlock from one core.

Method 1: Upload a Skyblock or OneBlock map

1. Download a map built for your server's Minecraft version (or older). Unzip it so you have a folder with level.dat directly inside.
2. Stop the server and upload the folder into the server root.
3. In server.properties, set level-name to the folder's exact name, and gamemode=survival.
4. Start the server and join.

Most maps are made as void worlds, and the generator is saved in the map's level.dat, so new chunks stay empty. If the map was saved with normal generation, you will find ordinary terrain if you build far enough out. Adding a custom map to a Minecraft server covers uploads in more detail.

Want a plain empty void world to build your own start in? Set these in server.properties before the world is generated, since they only apply to a new world:

level-type=minecraft\:flat
generator-settings={"biome":"minecraft:the_void","layers":[{"block":"minecraft:air","height":1}]}

Method 2: BentoBox with BSkyBlock or AOneBlock

What goes where

BentoBox 3.23 runs on Paper 26.3 (BentoBox on Modrinth). AOneBlock needs BentoBox 3.22.0 or newer, Java 25 and Minecraft 1.21.5 or newer, per its documentation. Check the addon page for your exact Minecraft version, because addons sometimes trail BentoBox by a release.

Step 1: Install BentoBox

Stop the server, upload the BentoBox jar to plugins/, and start it once so it creates plugins/BentoBox/addons/. Stop the server again.

Step 2: Add the game mode

Upload BSkyBlock, AOneBlock or both to plugins/BentoBox/addons/. Start the server so they create their config files and worlds, then stop it.

Step 3: Set island size, then delete the fresh worlds

Open the game mode's config.yml and decide these now:

If you changed anything that affects the world, delete the worlds that were generated (the bskyblock_world or oneblock_world world plus its Nether and End) and start the server. On older Paper these are folders in the server root. Paper 26.1 moved world storage into world/dimensions/ (PaperMC's 26.1 notes), so look there if they are not in the root. They regenerate with your values.

Step 4: Play

Players log in to the normal world first. Build a small spawn there, or put a sign telling people to type /is or /ob.

The gotcha: island distance is locked in forever

BentoBox lays islands out on a fixed grid from distance-between-islands. Once islands exist, changing the value would put the grid in different places, so BentoBox refuses. The BSkyBlock config says it plainly: "This value cannot be changed mid-game and the plugin will not start if it is different." The only fix is a full reset of the game mode's database and worlds, which deletes every island.

So decide before launch. 400 (islands 800 blocks apart) suits most servers. Smaller values save disk space and pregeneration time on big servers, larger ones suit groups who build huge. Protection range can be raised later per player with /bsbadmin range set <player> <range>, as long as it stays below the distance.

Common problems

• BentoBox loads but there is no island command: no game mode addon is in plugins/BentoBox/addons/, or it does not support your Minecraft version. Check the console.
• "Plugin will not start" after editing config: you changed distance-between-islands on a live world. Put the old value back.
• Uploaded map spawns you in a normal world: level-name does not match the folder name, or level.dat sits one folder too deep.
• Void settings did nothing: the world already existed. level-type and generator-settings only apply when a world is created.
• Islands lag with many players: see the Minecraft server lag fix and limit hoppers and farms in the BentoBox flags.

Skyblock on GamezServers

On a Minecraft server from GamezServers, choose Paper in Settings and use the file manager to download BentoBox and its addon jars from their links straight into place, or upload and extract a map zip on the server. Press Backup before deleting test worlds. A 4 GB plan comfortably handles a Skyblock server for a group of friends, and you can upgrade as it grows.

FAQ

How do I make a OneBlock server in Minecraft?

Run Paper, install BentoBox and the AOneBlock addon, restart, and players type /ob to start their block.

Can I make a Skyblock server without plugins?

Yes. Upload a Skyblock map and set level-name to its folder name. Everyone then shares one island.

Where are the BentoBox Skyblock worlds stored?

BentoBox creates worlds named bskyblock_world (plus a Nether and End) or oneblock_world. On older Paper they are folders in the server root. On Paper 26.1 and newer, check under world/dimensions/ as well.

Can I change the island size after players start?

Protection range, yes, per player. The distance between islands, no, without resetting every island.