In this article, we explain how to safely upgrade the Minecraft version of your server, without losing your world, plugins, or data.

Note: A version upgrade cannot be undone. Once your world has been opened on a newer Minecraft version, it cannot go back to the older version. Always make a backup first before upgrading.

What do you need?

• Access to the Game Panel
• A Minecraft server with Etheron
• A few minutes to create a backup

Step 1. Check your current version

Before changing anything, it is important to know which version and which server software you are currently running (for example Paper, Spigot or Vanilla).

1. Log in to the Game Panel and select your server.
2. Check the overview to see which server software and Minecraft version are currently active.
3. Note this version down. You will need it later if you want to go back to the old situation.

Step 2. Make a backup first

This is the most important step. Without a proper backup, you cannot go back to the old version if something goes wrong.

1. In the Game Panel, go to your server and click Backups on the left.
2. Click Create Backup in the top right.
3. Give the backup a clear name, for example before-upgrade-1.20-to-1.21, and click Start Backup.
4. Wait until the backup has fully completed before continuing.

Note: Check that the backup actually succeeded. An incomplete backup is useless the moment you need it.

Step 3. Check whether the new version is already available for your server software

Not every new Minecraft version is immediately available for every server software. Especially with Paper, Spigot, and many modded platforms, it often takes some time after a Minecraft update before a stable build is available.

Check this before you upgrade:

• Paper: check the official PaperMC downloads page. Look up your desired Minecraft version. If there is no stable build (or only a build with a warning/experimental label), the version is not ready for production use yet.
• Spigot/Bukkit: check on SpigotMC whether the relevant build is already marked as stable.
• Modded servers (Forge/Fabric/NeoForge): check whether the modloader itself already has a stable release for the new Minecraft version, this usually takes longer than with Paper/Spigot.

Note: If there is no stable build yet for your server software on the new version, we recommend waiting. Upgrading to a build that is still experimental can cause crashes, corrupted worlds, or strange bugs.

Step 4. Check your plugins/mods for compatibility

This is the step that prevents the most problems. Plugins and mods are built for a specific Minecraft version and do not always automatically work with a newer version.

1. Make a list of all plugins/mods running on your server.
2. For each plugin/mod, check the developer's page (for example SpigotMC, Modrinth, or CurseForge) to see whether a version is already available that supports your new Minecraft version.
3. Divide your plugins/mods into three groups:
   • Already supported: you can download the latest version of the plugin/mod.
   • Not yet updated, but actively maintained: consider waiting until the developer releases an update.
   • No longer maintained: find an alternative, or accept that this functionality will be (temporarily) unavailable.

Note: A plugin that is not compatible with the new version can prevent your server from starting, or cause certain features to stop working. Never blindly upgrade all plugins/mods together with the server version without checking this first.

Step 5. Perform the upgrade

Once you have a successful backup and have confirmed that both the server software and your plugins/mods are ready for the new version, you can perform the upgrade.

1. Log in to the Game Panel and select your server.
2. Click More > Version Changer in the menu.
3. Choose the desired new Minecraft version and server software.
4. Click View, and then click Install next to the desired version.

Note: Do not check WIPE SERVER FILES unless you deliberately want a completely clean server. This will delete everything on your Minecraft server.

1. Wait until the installation has fully completed.
2. Start your server and follow the startup log. Error messages about plugins usually appear right after startup in the log.

Step 6. Update your plugins/mods to the new version

1. Replace the old plugin files with the new, compatible versions.
2. Remove old, incompatible plugin files from the plugins folder to prevent startup errors.
3. Restart the server and check the log for error messages such as NoSuchMethodError or Plugin failed to load. This almost always points to an outdated or unsupported plugin.

Step 7. Test thoroughly before letting players back in

• Log in yourself and walk around the world for a bit.
• Check that important plugins (such as permissions, economy, or protection plugins) work correctly.
• Check that old settings (such as permissions, claims, or economy data) carried over correctly.
• Keep a close eye on the server for the first few hours, some issues only surface once players are active again.

Troubleshooting

• Server no longer starts: check the last lines of the startup log. This usually directly shows which plugin or component is causing the problem.
• Plugin shows error messages: check whether a newer version of the plugin is available for your Minecraft version.
• Players can no longer connect: check whether their Minecraft launcher/client matches the new server version.
• Something went wrong and you want to go back: restore the backup you made in step 2 via Backups in the Game Panel.

Can't figure it out, or would you rather have help upgrading your Minecraft server? Feel free to reach out via Discord or create a support ticket.