How to Allow Any Minecraft Version to Join Your Server (ViaVersion, ViaBackwards & ViaRewind)

By default, Minecraft servers only allow players using the exact same game version to connect (e.g., a 1.20.4 server only allows 1.20.4 clients). This splits your player base whenever Mojang releases a new update.

By installing the ViaVersion suite, you can eliminate version barriers and allow players using newer or older Minecraft client versions to join your server seamlessly.

This guide explains what each ViaVersion plugin does and how to install them on your Cubes Hosting server.

The ViaVersion Ecosystem Explained

To support every Minecraft version, you need to understand the three core plugins in the ViaVersion suite:

1. ViaVersion (Newer Clients -> Older Server)

• What it does: Allows players using newer client versions to join an older server version.
• Example: If your server is running Minecraft 1.20.1, installing ViaVersion allows players using 1.20.4, 1.21, and beyond to connect without needing to downgrade their launcher.

2. ViaBackwards (Older Clients -> Newer Server)

• What it does: Allows players using older client versions to join a newer server version. (Requires ViaVersion to be installed alongside it).
• Example: If your server runs Minecraft 1.21, installing ViaBackwards allows players running 1.16.5, 1.18.2, or 1.19 to connect.

3. ViaRewind (Legacy 1.7 / 1.8 Clients -> Modern Server)

• What it does: An extension for ViaBackwards that enables ancient legacy versions (1.7.x and 1.8.x) to connect to modern 1.9+ servers.
• Example: Perfect for PvP networks that run modern 1.20+ servers but want to allow competitive 1.8.9 combat players to join.

Step-by-Step Installation

You can install all three plugins directly from your Cubes Hosting Game Panel in under two minutes!

1. Log in to your Cubes Hosting Game Panel and select your Minecraft server.
2. Navigate to Tools > Plugin & Mod Installer on the left sidebar.
3. Search for and click Install on the following plugins:
   • ViaVersion (Mandatory base plugin)
   • ViaBackwards (Required for older version support)
   • ViaRewind (Optional: Required only if supporting 1.7/1.8 clients)
4. Once installed, go to your server Console and click Restart.

Verifying Cross-Version Support

After your server restarts, you can verify that ViaVersion is working:

1. Join your server in-game as an Operator (OP) or use the console.
2. Type the following command:

   /viaversion list
   

3. The server will output a detailed list showing every connected player and the exact Minecraft client version they are using to play!

Important Performance Tips

• Always Keep ViaVersion Updated: Whenever Mojang releases a new Minecraft update (e.g. 1.21.1 to 1.21.2), update your ViaVersion .jar file via Tools > Plugin & Mod Installer so new clients can connect on day one.
• Block Mismatches: When older clients join newer servers (via ViaBackwards), blocks introduced in newer versions (like Cherry Wood or Armadillos) will be converted to similar older blocks on their screen so their game doesn't crash.
• BungeeCord / Velocity Networks: If you run a proxy network, you can install ViaVersion on your proxy server (BungeeCord/Velocity) to handle version translation for your entire network at once!

Conclusion

Using ViaVersion, ViaBackwards, and ViaRewind ensures no player is ever turned away because their launcher is on the wrong version. Install all three via Tools > Plugin Installer, restart, and open your server to the entire Minecraft community!