How to Set Up VotingPlugin on a Minecraft Server (With TopRealms)

Vote rewards are one of the best ways to get players to come back every day, and on Minecraft the easiest way to give them is a voting plugin. This guide shows how to connect VotingPlugin to TopRealms with Votifier, so every vote is delivered to your server and your players get their reward in game. No website, code or webhook is needed.

How it works

Voting plugins use a standard called Votifier. When a player votes on a list, the list opens a connection to a port on your Minecraft server and hands over a small message: the site name and the player's name. The plugin receives it and triggers your rewards.

You need two plugins on your server:

1. A Votifier plugin, usually NuVotifier. It listens on a port, which is 8192 by default, and receives the votes.
2. A rewards plugin, such as VotingPlugin. It decides what players get, such as money, items, crate keys or ranks.

TopRealms talks to the first one. The second one does the rest.

Step 1: Install the plugins

Download NuVotifier and VotingPlugin from their official pages (SpigotMC or the plugin's own site) and put the files in your server's plugins folder. Restart the server once. Each plugin creates its own folder with settings files.

Always check that a plugin supports your Minecraft version, and only download from the official page.

Step 2: Find your Votifier token

Open plugins/Votifier/config.yml (the folder can also be called NuVotifier). You will find:

• The port, usually 8192
• A tokens section with a long random string for the default token

Copy the token. Keep it private, because anyone with the token can send fake votes to your server. You can also use the older public key from plugins/Votifier/rsa/public.key if your server uses Votifier version 1, but most servers only need the token.

Step 3: Open the port

The port has to be reachable from the internet:

• On a hosting panel, look for network or port settings and add an extra port, or ask support for one. Some hosts include it and some do not.
• On your own VPS, open the port in the firewall for TCP traffic.
• At home, forward the port in your router.

If your host cannot open an extra port, you cannot use Votifier. In that case use the vote callback or the vote check described in our guide on rewarding players for voting.

Step 4: Add the settings in TopRealms

1. Log in and open your server in the dashboard.
2. Scroll to Voting plugin (Votifier).
3. Enter your server address, the port and the token. Paste the public key only if you use Votifier v1.
4. Press Save, then Send test vote.

The test sends a real vote message for the name you type. If it works you will see "Test vote delivered and accepted by your server", and the server console should show a vote from TopRealms.

Step 5: Add TopRealms as a vote site in VotingPlugin

Open VoteSites.yml in the VotingPlugin folder and add a site. The names can change between versions, so check VotingPlugin's wiki, but it looks like this:

VoteSites:
  TopRealms:
    ServiceSite: TopRealms
    VoteURL: https://toprealms.com/vote/your-server
    VoteDelay: 6
    Enabled: true

• ServiceSite must be exactly TopRealms. It is the name we send with every vote.
• VoteURL is your vote page. Players find it with the in-game /vote command.
• VoteDelay is 6, because players can vote every 6 hours on TopRealms.

Reload the plugin or restart the server, then add rewards for the site.

Step 6: Choose rewards that players want

Good vote rewards are small, useful and frequent:

• A little in-game money or experience
• A crate key or a random loot box
• A cosmetic or a short boost
• A milestone bonus for voting many days in a row

Do not give rewards that break your economy. A small reward every 6 hours is better than a huge one that players only claim once. Our guide to getting more votes has more ideas.

Fix common problems

Connection refused. Nothing is listening on that port. Check the port in config.yml, make sure the plugin loaded without errors and that your host or firewall allows the port.

The server did not answer in time. The port is probably blocked by a firewall. Check the firewall and ask your host to open the port.

The server did not accept our signature. The token saved on TopRealms does not match the one in config.yml. Copy it again, with no spaces.

It says delivered, but no reward. The vote reached Votifier, but VotingPlugin did not match the site. Check that ServiceSite is TopRealms and that the reward is set for the site.

The player was offline. VotingPlugin can keep the reward until the player logs in. Check its settings.

Votes stopped arriving. If your server is offline we try again for several hours. After many votes in a row fail, we pause sending and email you. Fix the problem, send a test vote and save to turn it back on.

Keep it safe

• Keep your token private and change it if you think it leaked.
• Use a recent version of NuVotifier, and keep your plugins updated.
• Ignore any vote that does not come from a site you trust.

When your rewards work, tell your players. Add the vote link to your Discord, your website and a join message, and list your server on TopRealms if you have not yet. If you are still setting up, start with how to start a Minecraft server.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need VotingPlugin to use Votifier?

No. Votifier only receives the vote. You need a rewards plugin such as VotingPlugin, or your own plugin, to turn it into a reward.

What is the default Votifier port?

The default is 8192, but you can change it in the plugin's config file. Use the same port in TopRealms.

What is the difference between a token and a public key?

The token belongs to Votifier version 2 and is the simple, modern way. The public key belongs to the older version 1. Most servers only need the token.

Is it safe to give TopRealms my token?

The token is only used to sign votes we send to your server. It is not shown to others. If you think it leaked, change it in your plugin and update it on TopRealms.

Does it work on Bedrock?

Votifier plugins are for Java servers. Bedrock players who join through a bridge such as Floodgate can vote with their name, including the leading dot.