How do I modify server.properties without breaking the server?
Stop the server, modify the useful keys and check the regenerated values at startup.
server.properties controls, among other things, the server port, difficulty, whitelist and view and simulation distances. Some values are rewritten at startup if their format is invalid.
Step-by-step procedure
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Stop cleanly
Send stop in console and wait for offline state before opening the file.
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Create a backup
Duplicate server.properties before changing multiple parameters.
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Respect the format
Keep only one key per line, with no spaces around =. Use true or false in lowercase.
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Restart and check
Start the server then check the file and the console to confirm that the values were accepted.