How to Fix the Outdated Server Error in Minecraft

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You try to join a server and immediately get kicked with an “Outdated Server” message. This happens when your Minecraft client version does not match the server’s version. If the server runs 1.20.1 and your launcher is on 1.21, the connection fails. Every player must use the exact version the server is running.

There are two ways to solve this. If you are a player on someone else’s server, you update your launcher to match. If you own the server, you can change the server version to match your players, or use the ViaVersion plugin to accept connections from multiple versions at once.

How to Fix the Outdated Server Error

Fix the Error as a Player (Launcher Method)

Changing your launcher version creates a new installation profile without removing your existing setup. You can switch between versions any time.

Open the Minecraft launcher and go to the Installations section.

Click New Installation to open the profile creation screen.

Enter a name in the Name field so you can identify this profile later.
Open the Version dropdown and select the game version you need.

Click Create in the bottom right corner, then find your new profile in the list.
Click Play to launch the game on that version.

Note: The new profile may appear at the bottom of your installation list, though it can appear at the top in some cases.

Once in the game, join the server to confirm the version change worked.

Fix the Error as a Server Owner (Panel Method)

If you own the server, changing the server version means all players can join without touching their own launchers. Use this method to upgrade or downgrade the server to whatever version your players need.

Head to your Apex server panel and find the Game File section.
Click the currently selected version to open the dropdown menu.

Use the search box to find your target version, or scroll through the list.
Select the version and click Change Version when prompted to confirm.

In the next prompt, choose either Create New World or Use Existing World.

Click the Restart Now button to apply the changes.

Wait for the server to finish loading, then join using the selected version to confirm it works.

Note: Choose Create New World when downgrading to an older version, as worlds cannot be downgraded. When upgrading, you can keep your existing world.

For a full walkthrough of the panel controls, see how to change your server version on Apex.

Accept Multiple Versions with ViaVersion

If your server runs plugins, the ViaVersion plugin lets players on newer client versions connect to an older server without changing their launcher. This is not required to fix the outdated server error, but it removes the version-matching requirement for players on newer releases.

Common Problems After Changing Versions

Players Still Cannot Join

Make sure every player is using the same version as the server. If that checks out and joining still fails, have affected players use the Direct Connection option instead of the server browser. If the server has mods, all players need to update those to the matching version as well. Some plugins can also block connections depending on their configuration, so check any recently added plugins if the problem only appeared after a change.

Server Not Starting After a Version Change

If the server fails to start, the most common cause is a world or mod mismatch. Update all mods to match the new version. Also check that the existing world was not created on a newer version than the one you switched to. Worlds can only move forward in versions, not backward. If the world is incompatible, you may need to create a new world or restore a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does Minecraft Show “Outdated Server” Instead of a Version Number?

The error appears when the client protocol version does not match the server’s. The message is a generic indicator of a version mismatch rather than a specific version warning.

Can I Connect to an Older Server Without Changing My Launcher?

Only if the server has ViaVersion installed. Without it, you must match the server’s exact version in your launcher.

Does Changing the Server Version Delete My World?

Upgrading to a newer version does not delete your world. Downgrading may make an existing world incompatible, so creating a new world is recommended when moving to an older version.