How to Fix "Connection Timed Out" in Minecraft

Connection timed out means your game asked the server for a connection and never heard anything back. Nothing refused it; the request simply went unanswered, usually because a firewall or router dropped it on the way. Check the server below first: it shows straight away whether the server is down for everyone or only unreachable from your network.

What "Connection timed out" means

Joining a Java Edition server starts with one small packet to its address and port. A running server answers it at once, and a machine with nothing on that port answers with a refusal. When there is no answer at all, your computer sends the request again a few times and then gives up. Minecraft shows this as Failed to connect to the server, with one of these reasons:

Connection timed out: getsockopt
Connection timed out: no further information
connection timed out after 30000 ms
io.netty.channel.AbstractChannel$AnnotatedConnectException: Connection timed out: no further information

They all mean the same thing. Minecraft waits up to 30 seconds for a connection to open; if your operating system gives up first, you get its wording (getsockopt on newer Java, no further information on older Java), and if Minecraft's own limit runs out first, you get connection timed out after 30000 ms. Minecraft 1.16 and older also print the Java class name in front.

Why Minecraft says connection timed out

• A firewall is dropping the connection. Firewalls usually discard blocked traffic without replying, so the game is left waiting. It can be the firewall on the server computer, the hosting provider's network firewall, or security software on your own computer.
• The port is not forwarded. For a server hosted at home, connections arrive at the router, which has nowhere to send them without a forwarding rule. Most routers drop them silently.
• The address leads nowhere. An old IP, a mistyped number, or a local address such as 192.168.x.x used from outside that home network all send the request somewhere with no server to answer.
• The server's machine or connection is down. If the computer is off, asleep or offline, there is nothing to reply.
• Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT). Some internet providers share one public IP between many customers. Connections to that IP cannot be forwarded to one home, so they time out. The port forwarding guide shows how to tell.
• Your network blocks games. Many school, workplace, hotel and public Wi-Fi networks block traffic that is not web browsing. On those networks every server times out, while the same servers work over mobile data.
• A VPN or proxy. Some block or mishandle game connections. Turn it off to rule it out.
• Your internet provider blocks the port. A few providers block incoming connections on some ports, which stops players reaching a server at home.

Is it the server or your network?

• The check above says online: the server is up and reachable from the internet. The connection is being lost between you and the server, or you are using a different address from the one you checked.
• The check above times out too: it is not just you. The server is down, or its firewall or router is blocking everyone.
• Every server times out for you: the problem is your network. Try a phone hotspot; if that works, the network you were on is blocking Minecraft.
• Only this server times out: compare the address with the one the server publishes, then wait or contact its owner.

Fixes when you are joining someone else's server

1. Check the server first

   Enter the address in the check at the top of this page. If it times out for us too, the server is down or blocking everyone: wait, or let its owner know.

2. Copy the address again, port included

   Take it from the server's website, Discord or listing, with any port after the colon. Update old entries in your server list with Edit.

   Edit

3. Try another network

   Join over a phone hotspot or a different Wi-Fi. If that works, your usual network blocks the connection. That is common on school and work networks, and only whoever runs the network can change it.

4. Turn off VPNs and proxies

   Disconnect them and try again. If the server works without the VPN, use it without, or pick a different VPN location.

5. Check your security software

   Windows Firewall allows outgoing connections by default, but some third-party security suites block them. If you use one, check whether it blocks Java or Minecraft, or pause it briefly to test.

Fixes when it is your server

1. Check that it is running

   The console shows Done (12.345s)! For help, type "help" when the server is ready. Note the port in the earlier Starting Minecraft server on *:25565 line.

2. Test from outside your network

   Joining from the server computer always works, so it proves nothing about outside access. Put your public IP or domain into the check above, which connects from the internet like your players do. Testing your own public IP from inside your home can fail even when everything is right, because many routers cannot connect back to themselves.

3. Allow the port through the firewall

   On Windows, allow Java through Windows Defender Firewall for the network type the computer is on, or add an inbound rule for TCP port 25565. On Linux with ufw, run sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp. On a VPS or cloud server, also open the port in the provider's firewall or security group.

4. Forward the port on your router

   The rule must point at the server computer's current local IP, on port 25565 (or your server-port), with protocol TCP. Full steps: how to port forward a Minecraft server.

5. Rule out CGNAT

   If the WAN IP on your router's status page differs from the IP a "what is my IP" search shows, you are behind CGNAT and port forwarding cannot work. A tunnel service or the other options in playing without a server get round it.

6. Give players your public address

   Players use your public IP or domain, never localhost or a 192.168. address. If your public IP changes now and then, a dynamic DNS name saves sending a new one each time.

Friends timing out on an e4mc or tunnel address? See the e4mc troubleshooting list or the tunnel and private network fixes. For every other message, see Minecraft can't connect to server.