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Can't connect to Minecraft?

Minecraft won't load? Here's how to tell whether it's down for everyone — and how to fix it when it's just you.

First, check whether it's actually down. Our live status page checks Minecraft's authentication, session and skin services every minute.

Quick fixes, in order

  1. Restart Minecraft and log back in. This refreshes your session.
  2. Check your internet. Open any website to confirm you're online.
  3. Try a different Minecraft version. If you're on a snapshot, switch to the latest stable release.
  4. Flush your DNS. On Windows, run ipconfig /flushdns; on Mac, a restart clears it.
  5. Turn off any VPN or proxy.
  6. Check your firewall and antivirus. Allow Minecraft (javaw.exe) through.
  7. Disable mods temporarily. Try vanilla to rule it out.

Can't connect to a specific server?

If Minecraft's services are up but you can't join a particular server, use our server checker to test it directly.

What the common error messages mean

  • "Can't connect to server" — the server couldn't be reached. It may be down or restarting.
  • "Connection timed out" — no reply in time. Check your connection.
  • "Failed to login" / "Invalid session" — the auth servers may be down. Check our status page.
  • "Outdated client" or "Outdated server" — a version mismatch.
  • io.netty errors — the connection dropped. Retry, and rule out mods.

Still can't get in?

If the status page shows all services up and none of the above worked, wait a few minutes and try again. See the FAQ.