Use the server’s official joining instructions. Match the edition and supported version, then add its address through Multiplayer.
Check these things first
Use your normal Minecraft launcher and account. A server does not need your Microsoft password, recovery codes or browser cookies. If a “verification” page asks for those, stop and confirm the process with the community through an independent official link.
- Edition: a Java server expects a Java client unless its operators explicitly provide cross-edition support.
- Version: use a release supported by the server. The newest release is not necessarily the one a community is running.
- Address: copy it from the community’s official website or announcement, not an unsolicited message.
- Access: check for a whitelist, launch restriction or required modpack before troubleshooting your internet.
Add the server in Java Edition
If the address includes a port, preserve the host:port format provided by the operator. Do not paste a website’s https:// prefix or a Discord invite into the Minecraft address field. Server resource-pack prompts and mod requirements should be explained by the community; ask if an unexpected download appears.
- Launch Minecraft Java Edition in a supported version.
- Open Multiplayer. Read any safety notice shown by the game.
- Choose Add Server. Enter a name you will recognize and paste the server address into Server Address.
- Save the entry, select it in the list and choose Join Server.
- Read the community’s welcome message and rules before using shared areas or trading.
When the connection does not work
Do not disable your firewall or security software as a first troubleshooting step. Save the exact error text and the time it happened. A specific report is much easier for staff to investigate than repeated connection attempts with different random settings.
| What you see | What to check next |
|---|---|
| Incompatible or outdated version | Compare your launched version with the server’s supported versions. |
| Unknown host or unresolved address | Check spelling, pasted spaces and the official hostname. |
| Not whitelisted | Ask about access approval; changing graphics settings will not fix a whitelist. |
| Timed out or cannot connect | Check the community’s status messages, then compare another trusted server. |
| Multiplayer unavailable | Review the Microsoft/Xbox account’s multiplayer permissions with the account owner or family organizer. |
Joining Aetheria when it launches
Aetheria is being developed for Minecraft Java Edition. Public joining details and the launch date have not been announced. Follow our official Discord for the confirmed address and supported client version; this guide does not mean the server is open to the public yet.
References & further reading
These are general guides, not a claim that every server uses vanilla mechanics. Check your server’s own rules and supported version.