How to Change Your Minecraft Server Version

Upgrade, downgrade, or switch your Minecraft Java server to a different version. Includes Java compatibility table and warnings about world corruption.

You can switch your Minecraft server to any supported version through the panel. The most common reasons:

Upgrade to a newer version after a major Minecraft update
Downgrade to match a modpack or plugin's required version
Switch loaders between Vanilla, Paper, Forge, Fabric, etc.

Change the Version

Create a backup

In the XGamingServer Panel, go to Backups and save your current world. Always back up before changing versions — downgrades and major upgrades can corrupt worlds.

Stop the server

Go to Console and stop your server.

Open Startup

Click Startup in the sidebar.

Set the new version

Find the Minecraft Version (or Server Version) variable and enter the version you want, e.g.:

1.21.4
1.20.1
1.19.4

Update the Java version (if needed)

Different Minecraft versions require specific Java versions. Check the table below and update the Java Version variable if needed. See Java Version for the full guide.

Reinstall (if changing major versions)

For major version changes, click Reinstall Server on the Dashboard to ensure the correct binaries are downloaded.

Start the server

Start from Console and watch the startup log to confirm the new version loaded.

Java Version Compatibility

Minecraft Version	Required Java
1.7.10 – 1.16.5	Java 8
1.17 – 1.17.1	Java 16
1.18 – 1.20.4	Java 17
1.20.5 – 1.21.x	Java 21
1.21.5+	Java 21+

If you change the Minecraft version and the server fails to start, check Java version compatibility first. The error usually mentions UnsupportedClassVersionError.

Upgrading vs Downgrading

Direction	Safety	Notes
Upgrading (1.20 → 1.21)	✅ Generally safe	Minecraft auto-upgrades the world data format
Downgrading (1.21 → 1.20)	⚠️ Risky	Newer blocks/items may corrupt the world. Always test on a backup
Same major version (1.21.1 → 1.21.4)	✅ Safe	Patch updates don't change world format

Warning: Always back up before downgrading. Restoring from a backup is the only reliable way to recover from a botched downgrade.

All Players Must Match

Every connecting player needs the same Minecraft version as the server. If you switch from 1.20 to 1.21:

Tell your players the new version
They install/select the matching version in their Minecraft launcher
They reconnect

To allow players on multiple versions to connect to a single server, install ViaVersion — it lets older clients join newer servers and vice versa.

Mod & Plugin Compatibility

Mods and plugins are version-specific. After changing the Minecraft version:

Plugins: check each plugin's Spigot/Modrinth page for a compatible build
Mods: download the correct version from CurseForge/Modrinth
Remove incompatible mods/plugins before starting — leaving them in mods/ or plugins/ may crash the server

Switch Server Type (Vanilla → Paper, Forge → Fabric, etc.)

To switch the type of server (not just the version), see Install Custom JAR for detailed steps.

Common Issues

Problem	Fix
Server won't start after version change	Check Java version compatibility
World won't load	You downgraded — restore from backup
Players see "Outdated server"	Server is on a newer version. Players must update their client
Players see "Outdated client"	Server is on an older version. Players must select matching version in launcher
Plugins/mods crash	Remove or update incompatible plugins/mods to match the new version

How to Change Your Minecraft Server Version

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