Questions and answers (FAQ)

How is the server ranking formed?

The ranking is calculated automatically based on several measurable signals:

• average players online;
• server stability and uptime;
• player activity over time;
• server availability history;
• online dynamics without short-term spikes;
• votes from visitors in the last 24 hours: a fresher vote counts more, votes can add up to 30% to a server's score, and a server that is offline gets nothing from them.

Ranking is not a manual recommendation or a paid placement. It is recalculated about every 10 minutes from monitoring data and votes. Votes are given by visitors and checked with a security check: every vote is confirmed by the server's own plugin, and a visitor can vote for a server once every 24 hours with the same nickname.

Where does the server data come from?

Data is collected automatically by regularly polling Minecraft servers through standard technical responses.

During polling we determine:

• server status (online / offline);
• player count;
• version and platform;
• basic technical parameters;
• plugins and player lists, if the server exposes this data through query.

We do not use manual input for online or uptime statistics.

How do you know whether a server supports Java or Bedrock?

We show a platform only when our own checks found it:

• Java or Bedrock: the server answered our ping for that edition or answers on its default port (25565 for Java, 19132 for Bedrock);
• Java + Bedrock: a Java server lists the Geyser or Floodgate plugin, which lets Bedrock players join.

If our checks don't show the edition, the server is marked Platform unknown. We never show Java + Bedrock without proof, so the Java + Bedrock filter lists only confirmed servers. The platform badge of every server shows how and when it was checked.

Why is a server shown as offline?

A server can be shown as offline for several reasons:

• the server is temporarily unavailable or restarting;
• ping or external requests are restricted;
• a non-standard configuration or proxy is used;
• the server blocks automated requests.

Offline status does not always mean the server is actually unavailable to players.

If you own the server and see an incorrect status, check external ping/query availability and firewall settings.

How often are stats updated?

Core server statistics are updated every 10 minutes.

This allows:

• current data without overloading servers;
• activity dynamics;
• change history over time.

Some live indicators on pages may update more or less often depending on the type of data and current load.

Why are plugins or player lists missing?

Usually this means the server does not expose this data through query or blocks external requests.

To show more technical information, a server owner can check:

• the enable-query = true setting in server.properties;
• the open query port;
• firewall or proxy rules;
• whether the server core hides the plugin or player list.

Can I correct or remove server information?

Yes. Server owners can do most of it themselves:

• confirm ownership with a code in the MOTD (open the server page and use the Claim tab), then edit the name, description, tags, links and screenshots, change the address or deactivate the server;
• add a missing server on the add server page.

Write to support for everything else: incorrect data that you cannot change, removal requests, or a hidden server. In your request, include the server address, page URL, and a short description of what needs to be changed.

Can I add my server?

Yes. If the server is reachable externally and responds to ping, you can add it through the add server page. After that, the system will try to collect basic data during the next monitoring cycle.

How do I confirm that I own a server?

Sign in, open your server's page and go to the Claim tab. MSHQ gives you a code. Put it into the server's MOTD (motd= in server.properties for Java, server-name= for Bedrock) and press the check button. We ping the server, and if we see the code, your account becomes the owner. After that you can remove the code from the MOTD.

If the server is behind BungeeCord or Velocity, put the code in the proxy settings for the address listed on MSHQ. If someone else already owns the page, confirming with your code makes you the owner; the previous owner can take it back with their own code.

What is a player's tracked time?

Tracked time is how long MSHQ's checks saw a nickname online, counted in 10-minute intervals. It is not exact play time: a player who joins and leaves between two checks is missed, and one interval seen on several servers counts once. Older totals from before this rule can be higher and are not exact.

What are userbars?

Userbars are small images with the live status of a server or a player. Choose the colors and options in the userbar configurator, copy the code and paste it into a forum signature or a website. MSHQ generates the image from its own checks, so it stays up to date.

What are health, EXP and levels?

They keep the community tidy. Posting, commenting, reacting and requesting a chat cost health, and health comes back by itself, about one point every 10 minutes, up to a maximum. New accounts (younger than 24 hours or without a confirmed email) have a lower maximum. You earn EXP for taking part, and EXP raises your level. Links in posts and images in comments unlock at level 3. With zero health you can still read and use favorites.

Why was my post or comment hidden?

Posts and comments are checked automatically after they are published. Serious violations (such as threats) and obvious spam can be hidden at once: others then see a note that the content was hidden by moderation, and you see the reason group. You can ask for a review once. An administrator decides, and that decision is final. Private chats are not checked.

Is this an official website?

No. The site is not affiliated with Mojang Studios or Microsoft and is not an official Minecraft resource. Minecraft is a trademark of Mojang Studios.