How the Minecraft server status check works
The checker contacts the server from our own machine, exactly like the multiplayer screen does before you join. It does not log in or use a player account, so it works on any public server, whitelisted or not.
- Java Edition: we look up the
_minecraft._tcpSRV record first, connect over TCP (port 25565 by default) and send the status request the game uses for its server list. The reply carries the MOTD, version, player count and server icon. - Bedrock Edition: we send an “unconnected ping” over UDP (port 19132 by default). The reply carries the MOTD, version, player count and game mode. Bedrock servers do not send an icon.
- Auto runs both at once, so you do not need to know which edition a server runs.
Reading the results
- Players is the number the server reports, the same one shown in your server list. Servers decide what to report, so treat it as a claim rather than a head count.
- Version is the text the server sends, often a range such as “1.8–1.21” on networks that accept many clients, or a server software name. Protocol is the network version number behind it.
- MOTD is shown in colour, as the game draws it. To design your own, use the MOTD generator.
- Ping is measured from our checker to the server. Your own ping will differ with distance.
- Icon is the 64×64 picture next to the server in the list. No icon set? Make one with the server icon maker.
- SRV record shows where a Java domain really points. If players can join by IP but not by domain, check this first.
Why a Minecraft server shows as offline
When a check fails, the result says which step failed. Each one points to a different fix:
| Result | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Address not found | The domain is misspelled, expired, or has no A record. New DNS records can take a while to appear. |
| Connection refused | The machine answered but nothing listens on that port: the server is stopped, still starting, or uses another port. |
| No reply in time | A firewall is dropping the connection, the router port is not forwarded, or the machine is off. |
| Not a Minecraft server | Something else answered on that port, or you checked the Java port with Bedrock (or the other way round). |
| Private address | The name points to a home or local network address such as 192.168.x.x, which nobody outside your network can reach. |
If every server looks offline in your game, the problem may be Minecraft itself rather than the server. Check whether Minecraft is down for sign-in and service outages.
Testing your own server from outside
Joining from the computer that runs the server always works, even when nobody else can connect. This checker tests from the internet, which is what your players see.
Check your public IP
Enter your public IP address with the port. If it shows offline, the router or firewall is blocking players. Follow the port forwarding guide.
Then check your domain
If the IP works but the domain does not, fix the domain’s A record, or its SRV record if you use a custom port.
Leave server-ip empty
In
server.properties, a filled-inserver-ipmakes the server listen on that address only. Leave it blank unless you know you need it.
If the server answers but lags or crashes once players join, it may be short on memory. The server RAM calculator estimates how much it needs.
Want to see how busy public servers are overall? The live Minecraft player count adds up the players on every server we track.
Minecraft server status questions
How do I check if a Minecraft server is online?
Enter the server address, with the port if it has one, and choose Check status. The checker asks the server for its status the same way the game does for its server list, then shows whether it answered, how many players are online, its version, MOTD, icon and ping. Auto tries Java and Bedrock at the same time.
Why does the checker say my server is offline when it is running?
Usually the server cannot be reached from the internet: the port is not forwarded on the router, a firewall blocks it, the address or port is wrong, or you checked the wrong edition. The result explains what happened, for example connection refused (nothing listening on that port) or no reply in time (often a firewall). A server with enable-status=false in server.properties also looks offline in server lists.
What port does a Minecraft server use?
Java Edition uses TCP port 25565 by default and Bedrock Edition uses UDP port 19132 (19133 for IPv6). When a server uses the default port you can leave it out of the address; otherwise add it after a colon, like play.example.net:25566.
What is a Minecraft SRV record?
An SRV record is a DNS entry named _minecraft._tcp.yourdomain that tells Java Edition which host and port to connect to, so players can join with a plain domain name even when the server runs on another port. Bedrock Edition does not use SRV records. The checker follows SRV records for Java and shows where they point.
Can I check a Bedrock server?
Yes. Choose Bedrock, or leave it on Auto, and enter the address with its port if it is not 19132. Bedrock servers answer with their MOTD, version, player count and game mode, but they do not send a server icon.
Why is the player count different from what I see in game?
The number comes from the server itself, and servers choose what to report. Networks often report the total across all their game servers, some cap or hide the number, and the player list on hover is often a custom message rather than real names.
Do I need to turn on enable-query?
No. The checker uses the normal status ping that every server answers for the multiplayer server list. enable-query switches on a separate query protocol that this checker does not need.
What does the ping mean?
It is how long the server took to answer our status request, measured from our checker, not from your computer. Your own ping depends on how far you are from the server.