Join your Minecraft Java server

How to find your server's address in the panel and add it in the Minecraft Java client, and why matching your client version is usually the fix when you cannot connect.

How to find your server's address in the panel and add it in the Minecraft Java client, and why matching your client version is usually the fix when you cannot connect.

The panel is the web control panel for your server, based on Pterodactyl. It is where you find the details you need to connect.

Find your IP and port

  • Log in to the panel and open your server.
  • Look at the top of the server view. Your server address is shown there as an IP and a port, for example 123.45.67.89:25565.
  • The number before the colon is the IP. The number after the colon is the port. On GuavaHost each server is given its own port, and it is often not the Minecraft Java default of 25565, so use exactly what the panel shows.

Add the server in Minecraft

  • Open Minecraft Java Edition.
  • On the main menu, click Multiplayer.
  • Click Add Server.
  • In Server Name, type anything you like, for example your server's name.
  • In Server Address, paste the full address from the panel in the form IP:port, for example 123.45.67.89:25565.
  • Click Done, then select your server from the list and click Join Server.

Match your client version

This is the single most common reason a Java server will not let you in. Your Minecraft client version must match the version the server is running.

  • In the panel, open the Startup tab. This tab holds the server variables, including the game version.
  • Note the version shown there, for example 1.21.1.
  • In the Minecraft launcher, create or pick an installation set to that same version and launch it.
  • Try joining again.

If the versions do not match, the game usually shows an "Outdated client" or "Outdated server" message on the multiplayer screen.

Troubleshooting

  • "Outdated client" or "Outdated server": your version does not match the server. Set your launcher to the exact version from the Startup tab.
  • "Connection refused" or "Can't connect": the server may not be fully started yet. Open the Console tab and wait for the ready line before trying again.
  • "Server not found" or a timeout: double check the IP and port. It is easy to copy the wrong port or miss the colon. Copy it straight from the top of the server view again.
  • Still nothing: restart the server from the Console tab, wait for it to finish starting, then retry.

Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.