Are you or your players getting the message "Outdated server!" or "Outdated client!" when connecting to your Minecraft server? In this article, we explain what this means.

What does this message mean?

This message appears when the Minecraft version of the player does not match the Minecraft version of the server.

• "Outdated server!" means the player is using a newer version than the server.
• "Outdated client!" means the player is using an older version than the server.

How do you fix this?

As a player

1. Open the Minecraft Launcher.
2. Go to Installations.
3. Create or edit an installation with exactly the Minecraft version the server uses.
4. Launch the game with that installation and reconnect.

As a server owner

Want players with a newer or older client version to still be able to connect? Consider a version translation plugin such as ViaVersion (newer clients on an older server) or ViaBackwards (older clients on a newer server).

Installing via the Plugin Manager

The easiest way to install plugins is through our built-in Plugin Manager. You don't have to download anything yourself.

1. Log in to the Game Panel and select your server.
2. Click More at the bottom of the menu, then Plugins.
3. Search for ViaVersion and/or ViaBackwards. Use the filters at the top to filter by name, plugin loader, and Minecraft version.
4. Click the download icon on the plugin's tile to install it.
5. Restart the server.

Can't find the plugin? Download the .jar file yourself from a trusted source and upload it via Files → plugins. See our article How Do I Add a Plugin to My Server? for the full manual steps.

Note: ViaVersion/ViaBackwards only work on Spigot/Paper servers, not on Vanilla or mod servers.

Troubleshooting

• Message persists despite ViaVersion: check whether the plugin loaded correctly in the startup log, and whether your server version is supported.
• Older clients still cannot connect: also install ViaBackwards alongside ViaVersion.

Still stuck? Feel free to reach out via Discord or create a support ticket.