Few things are as frustrating as preparing for a good Minecraft session only to be greeted by the frustrated “Cannot connect to server” message. To play with friends, host your own server, or join a public world, server issues can happen in Minecraft and it’s a common issue. So, if your game won’t connect, your server is lagging, or you’re getting weird error messages, this guide tells you the best possible fixes to get you back in the blocky world.
Why Is Your Minecraft Server Not Working?
Before we move to the solutions, let’s talk about what can be the culprit for this problem. Here are the most common reasons:
- Outdated Game or Server Version – If your game or server is outdated, you can’t connect.
- Internet Issues – A slow or unstable connection won’t let you join the server.
- Firewall or Antivirus Blocking the Connection – Sometimes, security software blocks Minecraft from connecting.
- Corrupt or Outdated Network Drivers – Your PC’s network drivers can be causing the connection issue.
- Server-Side Issues – If the server is down, there’s nothing you can do except wait for it to come back online.
Fix 1: Check Minecraft’s System Requirements
Minimum and recommended system requirements play a big role while playing any game. Your computer must meet the minimum system requirements to run a game. But for the best level of gameplay experience, your PC should match the recommended system requirements. Not matching the system requirements also can result in a Minecraft won’t launch error. Below are the minimum and recommended system requirements needed by Minecraft to get better connectivity with the servers.
Minimum Requirements:
- Download Speed: 3 Mbps
- Upload Speed: 500 Kbps
- Latency: 150 Milliseconds or less
- RAM: 4GB
- Processor: AMD A8-7600 APU or Intel Core i3 3rd Gen
- Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 7000 series, NVIDIA GeForce 400 Series, AMD Radeon R5 Series, or Intel HD Graphics 4000
- OS: Windows 7 or up
Recommended Requirements:
- Download Speed: 5 to 12 Mbps
- Upload Speed: 2 to 5 Mbps
- Latency: 70 milliseconds or less
- RAM: 8GB
- Processor: AMD A10 7800 or Intel Core i5 4th Gen
- Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Rx 200 Series or NVIDIA GeForce 700 Series
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10
Fix 2: Check If Minecraft’s Servers Are Down
Before you start blaming your Wi-Fi, let’s rule out the most obvious problem—Minecraft’s servers might be having a bad day. Even Mojang’s top-tier servers can have outages, and if that’s the case, there’s nothing you can do but wait it out.
To check If Minecraft servers are down:
- Head over to Mojang’s official server status page.
- Look for any alerts about server downtime or maintenance.
- If it says everything is running fine but you still can’t connect, check sites like Downdetector to see if other players are reporting issues.
If the servers are down, grab a snack, watch some YouTube, and try again later.
Fix 3: Update Minecraft and Server
One of the most common problems behind Minecraft servers not working or connecting properly is the outdated Minecraft servers. Even though you downloaded the game a few days or weeks ago, you still need to check for any new updates.
Here’s how to update Minecraft Java Edition:
- Open the Minecraft Launcher.
- Click on Installations and select the latest version.
- Hit Play, and it should update automatically.
Follow these steps to update Minecraft Server if you’re hosting:
- Visit the Minecraft Server Download page.
- Download the latest server .jar file.
- Replace the old one in your server folder (but back up your files first).
- Restart your server and see if that fixes the issue.
Once these are updated to the latest version and you’re still having problems, then next check your internet connection.
Fix 4: Check Your Internet Connection
You’d be surprised how many times server issues are only due to bad internet. If your Wi-Fi is not working right or your connection is too slow, Minecraft won’t be able to communicate with the server properly.
Quick Internet Fixes:
✔ Restart Your Router – Unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
✔ Check Your Speed – Go to Speedtest.net and check your internet speed. You should have at least 5 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload speed for Minecraft servers.
✔ Use a Wired Connection – If you have an Ethernet cable, plug your PC or console directly into your router – it’s way more stable than Wi-Fi.
✔ Disable VPNs or Proxies – Some Minecraft servers don’t play nice with VPNs, so turn them off and try again.
If your internet is working fine and you still can’t connect, your firewall might also be blocking Minecraft.
Fix 5: Allow Minecraft Through Your Firewall
The firewall in your PC can also block Minecraft from connecting to servers. Firewalls and antivirus programs can sometimes mistake online games for threats, which leads to connection errors.
Here’s how to fix Windows Firewall related issues:
- Open the Start Menu, type Windows Defender Firewall, and press Enter.
- Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
- Look for Java(TM) Platform SE Binary and Minecraft in the list.
- Make sure they’re both checked for Private and Public networks.
- Click OK and try connecting to the server again.
If you have third-party antivirus software, temporarily disable it and then check again the server issue. If the firewall wasn’t the problem, then reset your network settings.
Fix 6: Flush Your DNS & Reset Network Settings
If you’ve been playing Minecraft for a while, your computer will have old cached network data that’s interfering with your connection. Resetting your network settings can clear this up.
Follow this process to flush your DNS & reset network:
- Open Command Prompt (search CMD in the Start Menu and select Run as Administrator).
- Type these commands, pressing Enter after each one:
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
- Restart your computer after that.
This forces your PC to refresh its network settings, which usually fixes weird connection issues. Still not working? Time to check your drivers.
Fix 7: Update Your Network Drivers
If your network drivers are outdated or corrupted, they could be messing with Minecraft’s ability to connect. Let’s update them.
Here’s how to update network drivers manually:
- Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
- Find Network Adapters and expand the section.
- Right-click your active network adapter (usually Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and choose Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers.
If Windows says your drivers are already up to date, you can also check your network adapter’s manufacturer website (Intel, Realtek, or Qualcomm) for newer versions.
Fix 8: Double-Check the Server Address & Port
I know this sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many times people (including me) have mistyped an IP address or forgotten the right port number.
So, to make sure you’re using the right info, follow these steps:
- Ask the server owner (or check the server website) for the correct IP address and port.
- If you’re hosting the server, open the server.properties file in your server folder and double-check the settings.
- If you’re playing Bedrock Edition, remember to include the port (default is 19132).
Hopefully, one of these fixes got your Minecraft server working again. If none of them did, you should want to check with Minecraft Support or your server’s admin for further help.
