Bridging the Version Gap
One of the biggest challenges for a public server is version fragmentation. If you run a 1.21 server, but your players are still using 1.8.8 for PvP or 1.16.5 for their favorite modpacks, they won’t be able to join. ViaVersion solves this by translating packets in real-time.
| Reading Time | Difficulty | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | Intermediate | January 2026 |
The Via Suite: Which do you need?
To handle multiple versions, you may need a combination of these three plugins:- ViaVersion: Allows NEWER clients to join an OLDER server.
- Example: Your server is 1.8.8; you want 1.21 players to join.
- ViaBackwards: Allows OLDER clients to join a NEWER server.
- Example: Your server is 1.21; you want 1.19 players to join.
- ViaRewind: Extension for ViaBackwards that allows EXTREMELY OLD clients (1.7.x and 1.8.x) to join much newer servers.
Installation Guide
- Download: Get the JAR files from the ViaVersion Hangar Page.
- Upload: Place the Jars in your
/plugins/directory. - Restart: Start the server. No complex configuration is required for basic functionality.
- Verification: Try joining your server with a different version in your launcher.
Support Channels
If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact our support team:- Live Chat: Available on our website
- Website Ticket: Submit a Ticket
- Discord: Join our Community
- Email: [email protected]
Last Updated: January 2026 | Minecraft: Infinite compatibility.