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Minecraft Java Edition: updates, settings and interface

The update history for Minecraft Java Edition has 760 entries, last updated on November 2, 2026. Each entry shows its type, date and origin.

Prices and features: Minecraft Java Edition Server Hosting

Recorded, available and installed are different states. Your actual installation status and suitable updates are shown in the server panel.

Change type

114 changes that affect all games (latest on November 1, 2026) are listed in the overview. View changes for all games

Notes on these entries

Announcement from the official source. The source describes the changes; your server installation status is shown separately in the update center.

No independent plugin compatibility test is documented for the game updates on this page unless a plugin says otherwise. Check affected plugins in the update center before changing game versions.

All settings shown here take effect after saving and restarting the server.

Server software / mod loader Published 03/24/2025

Fabric for Minecraft 1.21.5

Open original source Open plugin history

Game update Source entry dated 02/27/2025

Minecraft Java Edition - 1.16.3

Effects on plugins

Not checked yet: EssentialsX, Multiverse-Core, CoreProtect, Simple Voice Chat, LuckPerms, WorldEdit, WorldGuard, TAB, TabTPS, SkinsRestorer, VeinMiner, Chunky, Plasmo Voice, squaremap, BlueMap, Dynmap, Plan Player Analytics, Votifier

Open original source

Game update Source entry dated 02/27/2025

Minecraft Java Edition - 1.16.1

Effects on plugins

Open original source

Game update Source entry dated 02/27/2025

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.20.1

Effects on plugins

Open original source

Game update Source entry dated 02/27/2025

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.19.1

Effects on plugins

Open original source

Game update Source entry dated 12/03/2024

Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.4 - The Garden Awakens

Effects on plugins

Open original source

Server software / mod loader Published 12/02/2024

Fabric for Minecraft 1.21.4

Open original source Open plugin history

Game update Source entry dated 10/23/2024

Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.3

Effects on plugins

Open original source

Game update Source entry dated 10/22/2024

Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.2 - Bundles of Bravery

Effects on plugins

Open original source

Server software / mod loader Published 10/14/2024

Effects on plugins

Open original source

What the interface looks like

The image shows the interface on its capture date; earlier versions may differ.

Excerpt of the current interface with sample values. Values and prerequisites illustrate the controls; available tools depend on server software, plugins and permissions. · Captured on 2026-10-08

What the settings do

These values come from our guided editors. Defaults are the editor starting values; they do not show the contents of a customer server.

Message of the Day (MOTD)

Setting: motd
Default: A Minecraft Server

Server Port

The port is assigned automatically when the server starts and cannot be changed here.

Setting: server-port
Default: 25565
Range / options: 1024 – 65535

Max Players

Setting: max-players
Default: 20
Range / options: 1 – 200

Online Mode (Mojang Auth)

Java Edition: online authentication protects player names and UUIDs. Disabling it enables identity spoofing and is not recommended.

Setting: online-mode
Default: true

Enable Whitelist

Setting: white-list
Default: false

Enforce Whitelist

Setting: enforce-whitelist
Default: false

Enable Server List Status

Setting: enable-status
Default: true

Hide Online Players

Setting: hide-online-players
Default: false

Broadcast Console Messages to Operators

Setting: broadcast-console-to-ops
Default: true

Difficulty

Setting: difficulty
Default: easy
Range / options: peaceful, easy, normal, hard

Game Mode

Setting: gamemode
Default: survival
Range / options: survival, creative, adventure, spectator

Force Game Mode on Join

Setting: force-gamemode
Default: false

Enable PvP

Setting: pvp
Default: true
When it takes effect: Since Minecraft 1.21.9, this setting is no longer read from server.properties. Use this gamerule instead: pvp

Allow Flight

Setting: allow-flight
Default: false

Enable Nether

Setting: allow-nether
Default: true
When it takes effect: Since Minecraft 1.21.9, this setting is no longer read from server.properties. Use this gamerule instead: allowEnteringNetherUsingPortals

Spawn Protection (Radius)

Setting: spawn-protection
Default: 16
Range / options: 0 – 100

Enable Command Blocks

Setting: enable-command-block
Default: false
When it takes effect: Since Minecraft 1.21.9, this setting is no longer read from server.properties. Use this gamerule instead: commandBlocksEnabled

Hardcore Mode

Setting: hardcore
Default: false

Spawn Monsters

Setting: spawn-monsters
Default: true
When it takes effect: Since Minecraft 1.21.9, this setting is no longer read from server.properties. Use this gamerule instead: spawnMonsters

Spawn Animals

Setting: spawn-animals
Default: true
When it takes effect: Since Minecraft 1.21.2, this setting is no longer read from server.properties.

Spawn NPCs

Setting: spawn-npcs
Default: true
When it takes effect: Since Minecraft 1.21.2, this setting is no longer read from server.properties.

World Name

Determines which world folder is loaded. A new name loads a different (possibly empty) world — your existing world is not deleted and returns once you re-enter the old name and restart.

Setting: level-name
Default: world

World Seed

Setting: level-seed
Default

World Type

Setting: level-type
Default: normal
Range / options: normal, flat, largeBiomes, amplified

Generate Structures

Setting: generate-structures
Default: true

Max. World Size

Setting: max-world-size
Default: 29999984
Range / options: 1 – 29999984

View Distance

Java view distance in chunks. High values increase network, memory and CPU load.

Setting: view-distance
Default: 10
Range / options: 2 – 32

Simulation Distance

Java simulation distance for ticks, mobs and redstone. It is not Bedrock tick distance; high values increase CPU load.

Setting: simulation-distance
Default: 10
Range / options: 2 – 32

AFK Timeout (Minutes)

Setting: player-idle-timeout
Default: 0
Range / options: 0 – 999

Entity Broadcast Range (%)

Setting: entity-broadcast-range-percentage
Default: 100
Range / options: 10 – 1000

Compression Threshold (Bytes)

Setting: network-compression-threshold
Default: 256
Range / options: -1 – 65535

Require Resource Pack

Setting: require-resource-pack
Default: false

Resource Pack URL

Setting: resource-pack
Default

Resource Pack SHA-1

Setting: resource-pack-sha1
Default

Minecraft version

Minecraft version installed on the server.

Setting: MINECRAFT_VERSION
Default: latest

Server JAR file

Name of the JAR file the server starts with.

Setting: SERVER_JARFILE
Default: server.jar

Build number

Build of the server software for the selected Minecraft version. "latest" or an empty field means the newest build.

Setting: BUILD_NUMBER
Default: latest

Minecraft Java Edition: updates, settings and interface

Notes on these entries

Fabric for Minecraft 1.21.5

Minecraft Java Edition - 1.16.3

Minecraft Java Edition - 1.16.1

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.20.1

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.19.1

Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.4 - The Garden Awakens

Fabric for Minecraft 1.21.4

Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.3

Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.2 - Bundles of Bravery

Fabric for Minecraft 1.21.2 &amp; 1.21.3

Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.1

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.21 (Tricky Trials)

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.20.6

Minecraft: Java Edition 1.20.5 - Armored Paws

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.20.4

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.20.3

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.20.2

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.20 (Trails & Tales)

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.19.4

Minecraft: Java Edition - 1.19.3

What the interface looks like

What the settings do

Fabric for Minecraft 1.21.2 & 1.21.3