Minecraft plugin ViaVersion
Information about ViaVersion and servers where it was found
🔌 About ViaVersion
ViaVersion is a Minecraft plugin that enables client/server protocol translation so players using different Minecraft client versions can join a single server. It provides multi-version compatibility by translating network packets between client and server protocol versions.
🎯 Purpose
ViaVersion addresses the problem of client-version fragmentation: when a server runs a specific Minecraft release, players on newer or older clients normally cannot connect. ViaVersion translates protocols so operators can keep a chosen server version while allowing a wider range of client versions to connect.
⚙️ Features
- Runs as a platform plugin (Paper/Spigot/CraftBukkit) or on proxy platforms (Velocity) as appropriate.
- Translates network protocols to allow newer clients to join older servers and vice versa (compatibility ranges depend on installed ViaVersion build and optional addons).
- Optional companion projects/addons exist to extend support: ViaBackwards and ViaRewind for older client support.
- Configuration options and a packet limiter are available to tune behavior and mitigate exploit attempts.
- Provides diagnostic commands and a dump command to collect runtime information for troubleshooting.
🧩 Who It Is For
- Server owners who want to support multiple Java Edition client versions without upgrading the server immediately.
- Network operators using proxies (e.g., Velocity) who need cross-version connectivity across backend servers.
- Plugin developers and integrators who need a protocol-translation layer or access to the ViaVersion API.
🏗️ Example Use Cases
- A Survival/PvP server stays on a stable Paper build while allowing players on newer clients to connect.
- A proxy network uses ViaVersion on the proxy or backend servers so players on different client versions can join the network.
- A developer uses the ViaVersion API artifact to integrate protocol translation into a custom platform implementation.
⌨️ Commands
| Command | Description | Permission | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
/viaversion | Displays plugin version and available commands. | viaversion.admin | Admin |
/viaversion autoteam | Toggles autoteam (a 1.8 collision feature). | viaversion.admin | Admin |
/viaversion debug | Enables debug mode (for troubleshooting). | viaversion.admin | Admin |
/viaversion displayleaks | Enables Netty ResourceLeakDetector (diagnostic). | viaversion.admin | Admin |
/viaversion dontbugme | Toggles update-notification messages on login/console. | viaversion.admin | Admin |
/viaversion dump | Produces a diagnostic dump to help support teams. | viaversion.admin | Admin |
🔐 Permissions
| Permission | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
viaversion.admin | Grants access to ViaVersion administrative commands and diagnostics. | op |
viaversion.command.<subcommand> | (Used by newer versions) Grants access to individual viaversion subcommands. | not specified |
⚙️ Installation
📥 Setup
- Download the official ViaVersion plugin jar for your platform and place it in the server or proxy
plugins/directory. - Start the server; check the server console to confirm the plugin loaded successfully.
- If you use a proxy (e.g., Velocity), install ViaVersion on either the proxy or the backend servers (not necessarily both) depending on your desired translation point.
📦 Dependencies
- No mandatory external plugin dependencies are required for core operation. Optional companion projects (ViaBackwards, ViaRewind) extend version support and are distributed separately.
🧾 Configuration
- ViaVersion provides configuration options (referenced as a config.yml in the official documentation) to adjust packet limits, debugging and other behaviors.
🧠 Technical Notes
- Confirmed server platforms: Paper (and CraftBukkit/Spigot-compatible servers) and Velocity; integration projects exist for Fabric, Forge, Bungee and Sponge.
- Java 17+ is required for official builds.
- Compatibility ranges vary by build; ViaBackwards and ViaRewind are available to expand support for older client versions.
- The project exposes an API artifact for developers and publishes releases on Hangar, Modrinth (for mods), and GitHub.
🤝 When This Plugin Is Useful
If you need to allow players on different Minecraft Java client versions to connect to a single server or network without forcing an immediate server upgrade, ViaVersion provides a maintained protocol translation layer and related tooling to do so while offering diagnostics and extension points for developers.
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The ViaVersion plugin page shows which servers monitoring found this plugin on, and which platforms and versions it appears with.
Plugins may add commands, economy, protection, permissions, mini-games, integrations, or other mechanics. The actual role of ViaVersion depends on each server's configuration.
Data is generated automatically from technical server responses. If a server hides its plugin list, it may not appear in this section even if it uses ViaVersion.
Use the server list with ViaVersion to compare projects, check compatible versions, or find examples of how the plugin is used on public servers.