How to Enable Offline Mode on Your Minecraft Server

Learn how to allow players without Mojang authentication to join your Minecraft server.

Offline mode disables Mojang's account verification, allowing players to join your server without a premium Minecraft account. While this opens your server to more players, it comes with significant security risks.

⚠️ Warning: With offline mode enabled, anyone can join using any username — including impersonating admins or other players. Your server becomes vulnerable to griefers and unauthorized access. Only enable this if you understand the risks.

Enabling Offline Mode

Open the panel and stop your server

Access the XGamingServer panel and stop your Minecraft server.

Open Files

Go to Files.

Edit server.properties

Open server.properties and set online-mode= to false.

Save and start your server

Click Save and start your server.

Security Recommendations

If you're running in offline mode, take these precautions to protect your server:

Install an authentication plugin — Plugins like AuthMe require players to register and log in with a password, preventing impersonation. Install through Files or our Plugin Manager.
Back up your world regularly — Griefing risk is higher in offline mode. Use the XGamingServer backup feature to protect your builds.
Use a whitelist — Combine offline mode with a whitelist to limit who can join.

📝 Note: Some older Minecraft versions (1.16.5 and earlier) may require offline mode to work around authentication server issues. See our Troubleshooting guide for details.