Change your Minecraft version

Use the Minecraft Version page in the left menu (under Utilities) to change your Minecraft version or switch to different server software.

New Minecraft servers start on Vanilla. This page is how you move to Paper for plugins, or to a mod loader such as Forge, NeoForge, Fabric, or Quilt for mods. If you want a modpack, you can also install one directly. See Install a modpack.

Caution

Minecraft worlds cannot go back to an older version once a newer one has loaded them. Always create a backup first. The switch dialog also has a cleanup option that deletes files, so read the section below before you press Apply.

Switch to another version

1. Open Minecraft Version in the left menu. The top card shows what you run now, for example Paper, latest.
2. Under Forks, pick the software you want and press Browse.
3. In the dialog, choose the Minecraft version from the dropdown. Below it is a list of builds. Each build shows the Java version it needs, a Stable or Experimental tag, and a date.
4. Choose a build and press Switch Version.

Stable or experimental?

• Stable builds are the safe choice for a server people rely on.
• Experimental builds are newer and can break plugins and mods. The newest Minecraft version is often only available as experimental at first.

If a plugin stops working after an update, switch to the latest Stable build of an earlier version.

Choose what happens to your files

After you press Switch Version, a second dialog asks how to treat your files. The default is Smart Cleanup.

Option	What it does
Keep Existing Files	Only updates the panel software and startup settings. Your world, plugins, and files stay.
Smart Cleanup (default)	Deletes common generated files, server jars, worlds, logs, plugin folders, and loader folders before switching.
Full Cleanup	Deletes everything in the server root before applying the new version.

There is also a checkbox, Automatically accept the EULA, which writes eula=true before the server starts again.

Danger

Smart Cleanup and Full Cleanup delete your world. To keep your world and plugins, choose Keep Existing Files before you press Apply Switch.

Press Apply Switch. A progress bar runs and ends with Starting server.

Which software can I pick?

Software	Type
Vanilla	Server software: the official Mojang server.
Paper	Server software: fast, runs plugins.
Purpur	Server software: Paper-compatible with more options.
Spigot	Server software (limited direct build support).
Folia	Server software: multithreaded Paper fork.
Forge, NeoForge, Fabric, Quilt	Mod loaders.

Plugins and mods are specific to the type of software, so check that yours still work after you switch. See Minecraft server software.

Java version

Each build lists the Java version it needs. For example, the Minecraft 26 builds we saw need Java 25. The panel picks a matching Java image for you. If a version will not start, you can change the Java version on the Startup page under Docker Image. See Startup settings.

The Startup page also has a version setting

On Startup, under Server Variables, Minecraft Version is set to latest by default. latest follows the newest build, including experimental ones. Use the Minecraft Version page above if you want to pin a specific stable version.

Switch software from Settings

Settings, then Change Egg, also lets you switch between Minecraft server types, but it does not offer the build list or the cleanup choices. Use the Minecraft Version page when you can.