Short answer

A sleeping server is stopped, not deleted. Joining with its address starts it again, and the first connection takes a moment while Minecraft boots. ChunkArc Free Beta servers stop after 15 continuous minutes with no players and start again when a real player connects.

Why servers sleep

A Minecraft server uses memory and CPU even when nobody is online. Sleep behavior prevents idle worlds from consuming active capacity forever, helping ChunkArc keep the Free Beta available for small communities.

Starting an inactive server

Free Beta servers pause after 15 minutes without players. You can start one from the ChunkArc panel, or simply join using its custom address: a real player connection starts it automatically. The first connection may take a moment while Minecraft boots.

The Console page shows startup output, so you can see when Minecraft is ready for connections.

Make the first join easier

  • Share the same server address with your friends.
  • Ask the first player to join a moment before a group session.
  • Use /my-server in Discord for status and the panel for power controls.
  • Add trusted co-hosts with /server-cohost add so your community is not dependent on one owner being online.

What sleep mode does not change

Sleeping does not delete your world or files. Still, the Free Beta does not promise automatic customer world backups. Download a copy of any world or configuration you cannot afford to lose.

Manage your server from one place

Use the ChunkArc panel for console, files, startup settings and power controls. See what free Minecraft server hosting on the Free Beta includes.

For group session timing, see the server availability guide. When the first player is joining, the invite friends guide helps you share the address and check the usual connection details.

Open the panel