Empty Server Stopper
by MadaHaz
Empty Server Stopper is a Forge server-side mod that shuts the server down after a set number of minutes when no players are connected.
What it does
The mod watches the player list and, once the server has stayed empty, closes it on a timer. The delay is set in minutes in the config file, with a minimum of 1 minute. A config option named shutdownOnLaunch decides whether the countdown also starts when the server first boots, so a server that nobody joins can close without waiting for a player to leave.
Only the server needs the mod. Players join without installing anything, and a client that connects to a server running it sees no change. The config file is generated the first time the mod runs and can be edited by hand, with the default values set so that shutdownOnLaunch is true and the delay is 2 minutes.
The author notes that it was meant to be used together with Sleeping Server Stopper by vincss, which handles a related job on the Fabric side. The mod is published for Forge only, across 15 release versions, with 3.0.1 for 1.20.6 as the latest file. It is open source under the MIT License and has public source code, an issue tracker and a wiki.
Key features
Timed shutdown
Closes the server after the configured number of minutes passes with no players connected.
Launch shutdown option
The shutdownOnLaunch setting starts the countdown at boot, so an unused server does not stay open.
Editable config file
A generated config file holds the shutdown delay and the launch option, with the delay having a minimum of 1 minute.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
1.20.x6 of 6 versions with builds
1.19.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.18.x1 of 1 version with builds
1.16.x1 of 1 version with builds
1.12.x1 of 1 version with builds
1.7.x1 of 1 version with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Who it’s for: Server owners running Forge servers on Minecraft versions 1.7.10 – 1.20.6 who want a server to stop when nobody is connected. Players need nothing installed.
How it compares
Sleeping Server Stopper is a Fabric server-side mod under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 or later, with files for 26.1.2 – 26.2, so it does not run on Forge. Simple serveroff is a NeoForge server-side mod under the MIT License for 1.21.1 only. Auto Shutdown Mod works on Forge and NeoForge for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1, and it requires the server while the client stays optional, while Empty Server Stopper is server-side only.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empty Server Stopper | Forge | 1.7.10 – 1.20.6 | Server-side only | 2025-11-27 |
| Sleeping Server Stopper | Fabric | 26.1.2 – 26.2 | Server-side only | 2026-07-16 |
| Simple serveroff | NeoForge | 1.21.1 | Server-side only | 2026-07-18 |
| Auto Shutdown Mod | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Server required, client optional | 2026-08-14 |
Questions
Does Empty Server Stopper need to be installed on the client?
Which Minecraft versions does Empty Server Stopper support?
Can the server stop even if no one has joined yet?
In the catalog
Empty Server Stopper is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,698 Management mods for Forge. 11,154 mods support Minecraft 1.20.6.
Similar mods
What the author says
This mod is a port of the Sleeping Server Stopper Spigot plugin. Supported versions are: | MC Version ↓ / Plugin Version → | 3.0.0 | 2.0.0 | 1.0.0 | |:-----------------------------: |:-------: |:-------: |:-------: | | 1.7.10 | ⚙️ | ❌ | ❌ | | 1.12.2 | ⚙️ | ❌ | ❌ | | 1.16.5 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | | 1.18.2 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | | 1.19…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/empty-server-stopper
- Owner
- MadaHaz
- Published
- 2025-08-30
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-11-27
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15