Minecraft ‘Failed to Verify Username’ Error in Minecraft

Overview

You may have tried to join your Minecraft server and been rejected due to the error “Failed to verify username” or “Invalid Session“. This issue occurs because the client’s launcher failed to authenticate with Mojang’s session servers, especially if you recently changed your username. Luckily, you can fix this error with just a few steps.

You may also be running a non-premium version of Minecraft. If you did not pay for Minecraft, you will not be allowed to join most servers due to the server running in online mode. However, it can be changed to offline mode fairly easily to allow non-premium players to join.

Last Updated: July 2026
 

Validating Session

1. Close the Minecraft application.
2. Log off of your account from your Minecraft launcher
   

3. You’ll then be prompted to sign in with your Microsoft account through Microsoft’s own sign-in screen, rather than typing your email and password directly into the launcher.
4. Once logged back in, you can then start your game and join the server!

Allow Non-Premium Players

1. Navigate to your Apex Server Panel, then stop the server.
2. To the left of the panel click Config Files and then click Server Settings.
3. Locate Online Mode and set it to disabled, then click save.
   

4. Head back to the Game Panel dashboard and turn the server back on. It should now let you join.

Note: Non-premium players on third-party clients like TLauncher can join once online mode is disabled, since the server stops checking Mojang’s session servers entirely. Apex Support can help with the server-side setting, but can’t troubleshoot problems inside a third-party launcher itself.

Note: Disabling online mode means the server no longer verifies who’s connecting, so anyone can join using any username they type in. Only turn this off for a private or invite-only server where you trust the playerbase.
 

Common Issues

If you are using premium Minecraft and have already followed the steps above to resolve the error and still cannot join, try restarting the server.
 

Failed to Verify Username FAQ

What Causes the “Failed to Verify Username” Error in Minecraft?

It usually means your launcher couldn’t confirm your account with Microsoft’s authentication servers. A stale login session is the most common trigger, and it happens more often right after you’ve changed your in-game username.

How Do I Fix “Failed to Verify Username” on My Own Account?

Close Minecraft, log out of your launcher, then sign back in with your Microsoft account. That forces the launcher to request a fresh authentication token instead of reusing an expired one. The Validating Session steps above walk through the full process.

Is “Failed to Verify Username” the Same as “Invalid Session”?

Not quite. “Failed to Verify Username” points to a specific login state on your account, while an Invalid Session error covers a wider set of causes, including running two instances of Minecraft with different accounts at once. If restarting your login doesn’t resolve things, our guide on fixing an Invalid Session error covers broader troubleshooting steps.

Can Non-Premium Accounts Avoid This Error Entirely?

Yes. With online mode disabled on the server, Minecraft skips the Microsoft authentication check completely, so non-premium accounts, including those on launchers like TLauncher, can join without ever hitting this message. See Allow Non-Premium Players above for the exact steps.
 

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