How to Change Your Minecraft Server Version

Change your server version to access new features or maintain compatibility with players.

Changing the Version

Stop your server and create a backup
Go to the Startup tab and change the Version field
Go to the Settings tab and click Reinstall
Start your server and run /version to verify

Downgrading is difficult and can corrupt worlds. Always backup first and check for incompatible blocks.

Java Version Requirements

If you get a Java error, change the Java Version in the Settings tab:

Java 8: Minecraft 1.14 - 1.16.5
Java 16: Minecraft 1.17 - 1.17.1
Java 17: Minecraft 1.18+ (Recommended)
Java 18-21: Latest versions

Common Issues

Server won’t start

Java version incompatibility
Fix: Update Java version in Settings tab

World corruption after downgrading

Newer world data isn’t compatible with older versions
Fix: Restore from backup or use conversion tools

Plugins stop working

Plugin compatibility varies between versions
Fix: Update plugins to compatible versions

Players can’t connect

Client-server version mismatch
Fix: Have players update their Minecraft client

Server Backups - Backup before version changes
Updating Server - Keep server software current
Installing Modpacks - Version-specific setup

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