Why can't I connect to my Minecraft server?
Cannot connect to your Minecraft server? Go through the most common causes: server off, wrong address, different version, whitelist or mods.
By Hermie Updated
If you or your players cannot connect to your Minecraft server, it is usually one of the causes below. Go through them in this order; the ones at the top happen most often.
The server is off or still starting
Check: open your server in the game panel. Does Uptime say Offline, or is there no line with Done in the console yet?
Fix: click Start and wait until Done appears in the console. If the server does not start, read Why does my Minecraft server crash?
The address or port is wrong
Check: compare the address in Minecraft with the address at Address in the game panel console. The port after the colon must be included.
Fix: copy the address from the game panel again. If you use your own domain, check the settings in How do I set up a play. address for my Minecraft server?
Your Minecraft version differs from the server
Check: if you get Outdated client or Outdated server, your Minecraft uses a different version than the server.
Fix: in the Minecraft Launcher, choose the same version as your server at Installations, or change your server's version.
You are not on the whitelist
Check: the message is You are not white-listed on this server!
Fix: type whitelist add <playername> in the console. See What is a whitelist and how do I set it up?
Good to know
Since Minecraft 26.3 the whitelist is on by default on a new server. If nobody can join your new server, this is often the cause.
You are banned
Check: the message is You are banned from this server.
Fix: type pardon <playername> in the console.
The player is missing mods or the mod loader
Check: on a modded server you get a message about missing or wrong mods, or the connection drops while loading.
Fix: make sure the player has the same mod loader and the same mods as the server. See How do I install mods on my Minecraft server?
Bedrock players cannot join
Check: are you playing Bedrock (phone, console, Windows edition) on a Java server? Then you need Geyser and a separate port.
Fix: follow How do I let Bedrock players join my Java server?
Still not working?
Open a ticket and include:
- the name of your server in the game panel
- the exact error you see in Minecraft
- your Minecraft version and whether you play Java or Bedrock
- whether other players can join
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