Fixing "outdated client" on a Minecraft server

A Minecraft server says "outdated client" when your game is older than the versions it accepts, and "outdated server" when your game is newer. Current Java servers usually word it as "Incompatible client! Please use 26.3" (or whatever version they run). On Java Edition, the fix is to create an installation for that version in the Minecraft Launcher. On Bedrock you update the game, or wait for the server to update.

2026 made this more confusing than usual, because Mojang changed how versions are numbered. So let's start there.

The 2026 version numbers, explained

In 2026 Mojang switched to year-based version numbers. The first number is the year, the second counts that year's drops. The old 1.x line ended at 1.21.11. There is no 1.22, so if a server list or a video mentions one, it's wrong.

The Java 25 requirement matters for server owners, not players: the official launcher ships its own Java runtime, so players don't install anything.

What each message actually means

Which version are you running?

Check before you change anything. It takes five seconds and often solves the mystery on its own.

• Java Edition: the version is printed in the bottom-left corner of the title screen. In game, press F3 and it's the first line of the debug screen. Modded packs add the loader name there too.
• Bedrock Edition: the version number sits in the bottom-right corner of the main menu. Compare it with the server's Bedrock version on its page here.

If the numbers already match and you still get an outdated message, the server is probably running a plugin that limits versions more tightly than the game does, or you're joining a modded server from a vanilla game. Read the full kick text; plugin messages usually list the versions they accept. And if you're on a very new release day, give it a little time: a server that updates the same evening will suddenly let you in without you doing anything.

How to fix outdated client on Java: switch versions in the launcher

The Minecraft Launcher keeps separate "installations," one per version. Your worlds stay where they are. Mojang's own walkthrough is on help.minecraft.net.

1. Open the launcher and pick Minecraft: Java Edition.
2. Go to the Installations tab and click New installation.
3. Choose the version from the Version dropdown. Use the exact number from the error, like 1.21.11 or 26.2. Give the installation a clear name.
4. Click Create.
5. Go back to the Play tab. Pick the new installation from the dropdown next to the Play button and click Play.
6. Join the server again. The server list shows the same saved servers in every installation.

Snapshot versions (like 26.4 snapshots) only show up in the version list after you tick the Snapshots box in the Installations tab. You only need them for snapshot test servers.

Bedrock: "your version is not supported"

Bedrock gives you much less control. Phones, Windows and consoles update through their app stores, and there's no official way to pick an older version. So:

• Outdated client: update Minecraft in the Microsoft Store, App Store, Google Play or your console's store. Consoles usually update automatically after a restart.
• Outdated server: the server hasn't caught up yet. Bedrock servers usually update within days of a release. Check the server's Discord.
• Joining a Java server through GeyserMC: Geyser supports a range of recent Bedrock versions and publishes updates soon after each release. If a brand-new Bedrock update locks you out, the server's Geyser needs updating.

How to find servers for your version

Every server page here shows the version range the server reports to our pinger. Look under the server name. You can also browse by version:

Looking for the newest updates? Our new servers list tends to run recent versions. Want the old combat system? Many PvP servers still run old versions on purpose because they prefer pre-1.9 combat. That's a design choice, not neglect.

Why servers lag behind new versions

A server can't update the moment Mojang ships. The server software (Paper, Purpur, Fabric) has to update first, then every plugin or mod the server uses. A network with 80 plugins might wait weeks for the last one. Meanwhile it will often let newer players in through ViaVersion, which is why "outdated server" errors are rarer than they used to be.

For owners: how to make a server support multiple versions

The standard tools are three plugins from the same project. Install them on your Paper or Velocity server:

• Players on older versions can't see new blocks or mobs. Via swaps them for the nearest older look, which can confuse people.
• Translation isn't perfect. Complex items and packets can break, showing up as io.netty decoder errors. Test your main gameplay on the oldest version you allow.
• Modded servers can't use this. Forge, NeoForge and Fabric modpacks need an exact version match.

ViaVersion usually releases updates a few days after a Minecraft release. Our pages show the whole range your server reports, so players can see your support before they try to join.

Quick questions