Applies to: All servers · All plans
If players can’t join your Minecraft server, work through this checklist to find out why.
Check if your server is running
Sign in to your Syrup dashboard, and on the My Servers page, check if your server displays a green Online indicator.
If it’s red, your server is Offline. You need to start your server before players can join. See Start, stop, or restart your server.
Check if they’re using the correct IP address
- Sign in to your Syrup dashboard and select your server.
- Go to System > Server Details.
- In the Server Info section, find your IP and port.
- Make sure your players are entering it correctly:
- Java: Enter as ip:port in the Server Address field. If port is 25565, you can omit it.
- Bedrock: Enter IP and port in separate fields.
- Double-check for typos. One wrong digit is the most common cause.
Check if their Minecraft version is correct
Your players’ Minecraft client version must match the server version exactly. A mismatch shows as “Outdated client” or “Outdated server.” See Fix Minecraft version mismatch errors.
Check if they’re on the whitelist
If whitelist is enabled, the player must be on it. In the console, run whitelist list. If their name is missing, run whitelist add <player> to add them to the whitelist. Then tell them to try joining the server again.
Check if they’re banned
Run banlist in the console. If their name appears, run pardon <player> to unban them. Then tell them to try joining the server again.
Check for connection errors in the console
When the player tries to join, the console logs the connection attempt. Look for their IP or username and any associated error. Common errors:
| Console error | Meaning |
| LoginException: null | Authentication servers are down. |
| User attempted to join with an invalid session | Player needs to fully quit Minecraft and relaunch. |
| Connection throttled | Too many connections from the same IP in a short time. Wait a few minutes. |
Player-side checks
Ask the player to try:
- Restarting Minecraft completely.
- Checking their internet connection.
- Temporarily disabling their firewall or antivirus.
- Connecting from a different network (to rule out ISP blocks).
Still stuck?
Contact support with: your server IP and port, the Minecraft version, the exact error message the player sees, and any relevant console output.