To install ViaVersion, stop your supported Paper, Spigot, CraftBukkit, or Velocity server, download the current ViaVersion JAR from the official Hangar release page, place it in the correct plugins directory, and perform a full restart. Then verify the plugin in the startup log and with /viaversion. Current documented builds require Java 17 or newer unless you deliberately use a special compatible build.
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On a proxy network, install ViaVersion either on the proxy or on the backend servers, not automatically on every machine. The official ViaSetup guidance recommends the backend Paper/Spigot arrangement for those networks. Your placement determines where protocol translation occurs and can affect anti-cheat behavior and visibility of some 1.8 protocol behavior.
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What ViaVersion does—and what it does not do
ViaVersion is a server-side protocol compatibility plugin. It translates differences between Minecraft network protocols so clients using supported versions can connect to a server running a different version. A successful installation lets more client versions join without requiring every player to run exactly the server’s version.
Protocol translation is not the same as upgrading the game. ViaVersion does not add newer blocks, mobs, dimensions, commands, mechanics, or other gameplay content to an older server. Its stated aim is compatibility and balanced gameplay, not implementing features from a newer release on an older server. A 1.20 server may accept a compatible 1.21 client, but that client cannot make the server behave like a native 1.21 world.
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Before you install
Supported server software
The documented targets are CraftBukkit, Spigot, Paper, and Velocity. Some forks make changes that are not officially supported, so check the behavior of your particular fork before treating a failure as a ViaVersion defect. If your network uses a proxy, keep that proxy current as well.
Access and Java requirements
- File-manager or shell access to the server files, including the relevant
pluginsdirectory. - Permission to stop and fully restart the server. A hot reload is not an equivalent substitute.
- Java 17 or newer for current ViaVersion builds, unless you select a special build intended for an older Java runtime.
- A backup or restorable copy of the server before changing plugin files.
Choose the machine that should translate traffic
For a single Paper, Spigot, or CraftBukkit server, the choice is straightforward: install on that server. For a proxy network, decide whether translation belongs at the proxy or on the backend before copying anything. The two arrangements are operationally different:
| Network design | Where the JAR goes | When it fits | Important considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone Paper, Spigot, or CraftBukkit | That server’s plugins folder |
One server accepts clients using supported alternate versions | You control the server files and can reboot it |
| Velocity proxy | Either the proxy or the backend servers, according to the network design | Proxy-based networks that need a deliberate translation point | Translation location can influence anti-cheat performance and what 1.8 behavior is visible |
| BungeeCord proxy | Use the proxy’s plugin directory for ViaBungee; place ViaVersion and its addons in /plugins/ViaVersion/ on the backend arrangement described by ViaSetup |
BungeeCord networks following the documented layout | Update the proxy and inspect both proxy and backend logs when diagnosing kicks |
The official installation guidance says a proxy setup needs ViaVersion on either the proxy or the servers behind it. ViaSetup presents backend Paper/Spigot installation as its recommended arrangement for Paper/Spigot networks. Do not mix placements casually: document which component performs translation and apply the matching addon layout.
Managed hosting and one-click installation
If you do not have shell or file-manager access, check whether your host offers a plugin template. The official ViaVersion installation page names Shockbyte as a sponsor with a one-click ViaVersion server template. That option can simplify copying the JAR, but hosting plans, pricing, supported server types, and template availability can change; verify the current details with the provider. A one-click template does not remove the need to select the correct Java runtime, restart fully, and inspect the logs.
How much does installation cost?
The installation workflow itself consists of downloading the release JAR and placing it in the server’s plugin directory. Any hosting charge, control-panel fee, or paid support plan is separate from the technical steps. If you use a managed host, compare whether you retain file access, can choose Java 17 or newer, can reboot without a plugin manager, and can install ViaBackwards or ViaRewind when needed.
Install ViaVersion on a Paper, Spigot, or CraftBukkit server
- Stop the server cleanly. Use the host control panel’s stop action or the console command your server provider supplies. Wait until the process has exited before editing plugin files. This avoids partial JAR writes and ensures the next start loads the new file.
- Open the official release page. Download the latest ViaVersion release from https://hangar.papermc.io/ViaVersion/ViaVersion. Download the release JAR itself, not a source archive or an unrelated addon.
- Find the server’s plugin directory. In a normal Paper, Spigot, or CraftBukkit layout it is the top-level
pluginsfolder beside the server JAR and world directories. If the folder does not exist, confirm that you are looking at the actual server root rather than a backup or a proxy directory. - Copy the JAR into
plugins. Keep the downloaded filename ending in.jar; the file should be directly insideplugins, not buried in a second folder. Do not unzip the JAR. - Start or reboot the server. ViaVersion’s documentation recommends a full restart. Do not rely on a plugin manager or the
/reloadcommand; reloading can leave old classes and protocol hooks active and may cause kicks or other faults. - Watch the startup log. Confirm that the plugin is discovered and enabled. Stop and investigate any Java-version, dependency, or initialization error before allowing players to test alternate clients.
- Check from the console or in game. Run
/viaversionto display the installed version and available commands. Then use the diagnostics below to verify actual client protocol handling.
Verify that the installation is working
Read the startup messages
A clean startup should show ViaVersion being loaded without an exception. A missing plugin entry usually means the JAR is in the wrong directory, the filename is not a usable JAR, or the server you started is not the server whose files you edited. A Java error points to the runtime used to launch the server, not necessarily the Java version installed elsewhere on the machine.
Use the built-in commands
/viaversiondisplays the installed version and lists available commands./viaversion listshows connected users and the protocol versions they are using. This is the quickest way to confirm that clients are being recognized as expected./viaversion dumpcreates diagnostic information for reporting a problem. Include the resulting information when asking for support rather than posting only a kick message./viaversion probeforces a scan of backend server protocol versions on proxy setups. Run it after the backends are online when the proxy’s view of their versions is uncertain.
Test in a controlled order
First join with a client matching the server’s native version. Then test one alternate client version that the compatibility documentation lists. If the native client fails, solve the server or proxy problem before attributing anything to protocol translation. If only an alternate version fails, record the client version, server version, proxy placement, and the relevant log lines.
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Installing on a proxy network
Proxy versus backend
The official guidance permits installation on the proxy or on the servers behind it. Backend installation is the recommended arrangement in ViaSetup for Paper/Spigot networks because each backend handles the translation in the environment where its plugins and gameplay state run. Proxy installation can be appropriate when the network is designed around centralized translation, but it changes which component sees the protocol and can alter interactions with anti-cheat systems.
There is no universal “copy it everywhere” rule. Installing competing translation layers on both proxy and backend can produce confusing protocol negotiation and makes logs harder to interpret. Select one supported design, apply it consistently, and test a native-version client plus each alternate version you intend to permit.
BungeeCord layout
For BungeeCord specifically, the ViaSetup instructions place ViaBungee in the BungeeCord plugins folder and ViaVersion plus its addons in /plugins/ViaVersion/ for the backend arrangement. Follow that directory distinction rather than dropping every JAR into the proxy’s folder. Keep BungeeCord updated when diagnosing an “Outdated Server” kick.
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Velocity layout
Velocity is a supported platform. Decide whether the proxy or each backend is the translation point, then install the build intended for that component and restart it fully. If the proxy cannot identify backend protocol versions, use /viaversion probe after all backends have started.
Proxy-placement comparison
| Factor | Install on proxy | Install on backend |
|---|---|---|
| Translation point | Centralized before traffic reaches a backend | At the Paper or Spigot server handling gameplay |
| Operational control | Requires access to proxy files and a proxy restart | Requires access to each selected backend and its restart cycle |
| Anti-cheat interaction | Anti-cheat may receive already-translated or differently staged packets | Gameplay plugins and anti-cheat see translation closer to the server |
| Legacy behavior | Some 1.8 protocol behavior may be less visible to a backend | Backend plugins can interact directly with translated legacy traffic |
| Best practice | Use when the network design calls for centralized handling | ViaSetup recommends this for Paper/Spigot networks |
Neither column is universally correct. The important requirement is a documented, supported layout rather than an accidental mixture. Restart every component whose plugin files changed and test each route a player can take through the proxy.
Which Minecraft versions can connect?
Base ViaVersion behavior
The official compatibility examples show that a 1.20.x server accepts 1.20.x and 1.21.x clients, while a 1.21.x server accepts 1.21.x clients. These examples are not a promise that every historical release combination works. Exact support changes with the current ViaVersion release and with the server platform, so use the official ViaSetup generator for your server version before advertising a client range.
When ViaBackwards is needed
ViaBackwards extends backward compatibility on the documented server platforms. The listed range covers clients from 1.9 through 1.21, subject to the current release and platform. Install it only when your server’s target client range requires versions older than the base ViaVersion compatibility provided. Adding it does not turn a server into an older-version server; it supplies protocol translation for those clients.
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When ViaRewind is needed
ViaRewind can extend support to 1.8 and 1.7 clients. This is the relevant addon when you must admit those legacy clients. Test legacy gameplay separately because older protocol behavior and packet expectations are more likely to interact with other plugins.
Plan the range instead of guessing
| Goal | Component to consider | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Current clients connecting across nearby releases | ViaVersion | The compatibility table for the exact server and client releases |
| Clients from 1.9 through 1.21 on a supported server | ViaBackwards with ViaVersion | Addon support for the exact platform and current release |
| 1.8 or 1.7 clients | ViaRewind, normally with the other required Via components | Legacy plugin compatibility and the current generated setup |
Do not promise a range merely because a client can pass the initial login. Test inventory screens, entities, commands, movement, and any gameplay features important to your server. Protocol support can allow a connection while individual features remain limited by the older server’s actual game implementation.
Troubleshoot common failures
“Outdated Server” still appears
- Check the startup log on the server the player actually reaches. A proxy may route the player to a backend that does not contain ViaVersion.
- Confirm that the plugin is enabled rather than merely present as a file.
- On BungeeCord, update the proxy and verify the documented proxy/backend placement.
- Run
/viaversion listafter a test connection to see the client’s protocol version. - If you used
/reload, stop and perform a complete reboot so the new plugin is loaded cleanly.
The plugin does not appear at startup
Verify the file is directly in the intended plugins directory, that it is a JAR rather than an archive renamed incorrectly, and that you started the same server instance whose files you edited. A proxy’s plugins directory and a backend’s plugins directory are different locations.
Java or dependency errors appear
Check the Java runtime reported when the server launches. Current documented builds require Java 17 or newer unless you intentionally chose a special compatible build. Also check the complete exception for a missing dependency or unsupported platform fork; do not assume that copying another JAR will fix an unsupported server implementation.
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Do not use a plugin manager or /reload for ViaVersion updates. Stop the server, replace or add the JAR while it is offline, and start it again. This clears old protocol handlers and avoids mixing classes from two plugin versions.
1.8 clients or gameplay behave strangely
Review interactions with plugins that alter packets, entities, skins, or server internals. The documentation specifically calls out ProtocolSupport, BKCommonLib, Orebfuscator, SkinRestorer, Citizens2, and other packet behavior as areas requiring review on 1.8 servers. Reproduce the issue with only the relevant components enabled, compare proxy and backend logs, and check the generated setup for your exact versions.
Anti-cheat performance changes after moving ViaVersion
Translation occurs at a different level when ViaVersion moves between a proxy and a backend. Because anti-cheat plugins may inspect packets before or after that translation, placement can affect what they see and how much work they perform. Test the placement with your real anti-cheat configuration instead of assuming the two locations are equivalent.
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Operational checklist for future updates
- Record the server platform, proxy software, Java runtime, and intended client-version range.
- Back up the server and note the current ViaVersion and addon files before replacing anything.
- Stop every component that will have its plugin files changed.
- Download the release from the official Hangar page and copy only the required JARs to their documented directories.
- Start the proxy and backends in your normal order, then inspect each startup log.
- Run
/viaversion,/viaversion list, and, on proxy networks,/viaversion probeas appropriate. - Test a native client, each supported newer or older client range you advertise, and a legacy client separately when ViaRewind is involved.
Following this workflow gives you a reproducible installation: the right Java runtime, a supported platform, a deliberate translation location, a full reboot, and command-level verification rather than relying on the presence of a file alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install ViaVersion on my Minecraft server?
Stop the supported Paper, Spigot, CraftBukkit, or Velocity server, download the current ViaVersion JAR from the official ViaVersion Hangar page, place it directly in the appropriate plugins directory, and perform a full restart. Confirm that it enabled in the startup log, then run /viaversion.
Where do I put the ViaVersion JAR?
Put the JAR directly inside the target server’s plugins folder. Do not unzip it or place it in a nested folder. On a proxy network, the target may be the proxy or a backend, depending on the documented network design.
Do I need ViaBackwards?
Only if you need clients older than the versions covered by base ViaVersion. ViaBackwards provides documented backward support for 1.9 through 1.21 on supported platforms. Check the current ViaSetup output for your exact server and client versions.
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Either placement can be supported, but choose deliberately. ViaSetup recommends the backend Paper/Spigot arrangement for those networks. Placement changes where translation occurs and can affect anti-cheat packet handling and some 1.8 behavior.
What Java version does ViaVersion need?
Current documented builds require Java 17 or newer. A special compatible build may support an older runtime, but verify that choice explicitly and check the Java version reported when the server launches.
Why am I still getting an “Outdated Server” error?
Make sure ViaVersion is enabled on the server the player actually reaches, not just on another backend or an unused proxy. On BungeeCord, update the proxy, verify the documented placement, inspect startup logs, run /viaversion list, and reboot fully if you used /reload.
Does ViaVersion add newer Minecraft content to an old server?
No. It translates network protocols so compatible clients can connect; it does not add newer blocks, mobs, dimensions, commands, mechanics, or other native gameplay content.
Can I install ViaVersion with a plugin manager or use /reload?
The installation guidance recommends neither. Stop the server, change the plugin files while it is offline, and perform a complete restart. Reloading can leave stale protocol hooks active and cause kicks or other errors.
How can I confirm which client versions are connecting?
Run /viaversion list to see connected users and their protocol versions. Use /viaversion dump for diagnostic information and /viaversion probe to scan backend protocol versions on proxy setups.
How do I support 1.8 or 1.7 clients?
Consider ViaRewind with the required Via components. Test legacy clients separately and review interactions with ProtocolSupport, BKCommonLib, Orebfuscator, SkinRestorer, Citizens2, and other plugins that alter packets or server internals.
Can I use ViaVersion on any Minecraft server fork?
The documented supported platforms are CraftBukkit, Spigot, Paper, and Velocity. Forks with substantial changes may not be officially supported, so verify the fork and its logs before assuming a failure is a ViaVersion bug.
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The official installation page names Shockbyte as a sponsor offering a one-click ViaVersion server template. Check the provider directly for current availability, pricing, Java choices, file access, and supported addons; a template still requires a full restart and log verification.
The Bottom Line
Install ViaVersion by downloading the current Hangar JAR, placing it in the correct plugins directory, and fully restarting a Java 17+ supported server. On proxy networks, choose one documented translation point—ViaSetup recommends backend Paper/Spigot installation—then verify startup logs, client protocols, and addon coverage with the /viaversion commands.
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