> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.purpify.host/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Start, stop, and restart a server

> Use Purpify panel power controls safely to start, stop, restart, or force-stop your Minecraft server.

Use the power controls in your server management view to control the server process. Wait for each action to finish before selecting another control.

## What each control does

| Control     | Intended use                                                          | Player impact                                   |
| ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Start**   | Launch an offline server.                                             | Players can join after startup completes.       |
| **Restart** | Apply a setting, plugin, mod, or software change.                     | Connected players are disconnected temporarily. |
| **Stop**    | Perform a normal shutdown.                                            | The server saves its data before going offline. |
| **Kill**    | Force an unresponsive process to end. Use this only as a last resort. | The latest unsaved data may be lost.            |

## Start a server

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the server">
    Select your server from the Purpify server list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the server">
    Select **Start** in the server management view.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Watch the console">
    Check the **Console** while the server loads. Startup warnings and errors appear here.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for the server to run">
    Connect only after the panel shows the server as running and startup has completed in the console.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Stop a server safely

<Steps>
  <Step title="Warn connected players">
    Send a message from the console so players have time to finish what they are doing. For example:

    ```text theme={"dark"}
    say Server stopping soon
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Stop">
    Use **Stop** to begin a normal shutdown. This gives the server time to save its data.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for the server to go offline">
    Do not start another power action while the shutdown is still running.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Enter commands in the panel console without a leading `/`.
</Note>

## Safe restart workflow

1. Warn connected players that the server will restart.
2. Create a backup before making a major software, world, plugin, or mod change.
3. Save your configuration changes.
4. Select **Restart** once.
5. Watch the console until startup completes.
6. Join the server and confirm that the change works.

If the server fails to return online, read the first relevant error in the console. The final line often reports only that the process stopped, while the useful cause appears earlier.

## When to use Kill

Try **Stop** first. Use **Kill** only when the server process is unresponsive and a normal shutdown cannot complete.

<Warning>
  **Kill** ends the process immediately. Recent world or configuration changes that have not been saved may be lost.
</Warning>

After force-stopping the server, inspect the console and logs before starting it again. Repeatedly starting an unhealthy server can hide the original error or create more file changes.

## When a power action is stuck

1. Wait for the current startup or shutdown action to finish.
2. Check the console for an active save, shutdown, crash, or startup error.
3. Refresh the panel to make sure the displayed status is current.
4. If the process still responds, try one normal **Stop** action.
5. If it no longer responds, use **Kill** as a last resort.
6. Review the console before starting the server again.

If the problem continues, send Purpify support the server name or ID, the approximate time of the issue, the action you selected, and the relevant console lines.

<Card title="Server will not start" icon="triangle-exclamation" href="/troubleshooting/server-wont-start">
  Diagnose common startup failures and collect useful error details.
</Card>