🌍 ViaVersion Plugin for Minecraft

Owning a Minecraft server offers a wide range of versions to choose from, which can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you can easily adjust the version to suit the mods or plugins you need, but players may become frustrated when they have to constantly switch between different versions for various servers.

This issue is completely mitigated through the ViaVersion plugin, which allows players on newer versions to join an older server. Additionally, matching add-on plugins can also be used to let players on older versions connect to the server at the same time. With all of them together, server players will be able to join using any version from 1.8 and up without any additional work. At PixelHost, installing plugins is as simple as using our FTP File Access, so we’ve created this guide to walk you through the installation steps.

🛠️ Overview

ViaVersion is a Minecraft plugin created by FormallyMyles on CurseForge. Available for any version above 1.8 and with over 1.72 million downloads, this hugely popular plugin is used on many servers. By using ViaVersion and its additional plugins, players can join a server whether they’re on a newer or older version.

📚 Understanding ViaVersion Plugins

While ViaVersion can be used on its own, it’s also available for use with two additional sub-plugins that have their own functionalities:

• ViaVersion: Allows players to connect while running a newer version.

• ViaBackwards: Allows players to connect with an older version of Minecraft (post-1.8).

• ViaRewind: Similar to ViaBackwards but allows 1.7 and 1.8 players to connect to a newer server.

For example, if a server is running version 1.16 and you want a player on 1.18 to join, ViaVersion is needed on the server. In the same example, if a player on 1.10 wants to join, ViaBackwards might be required. A visual guide of this can be found in the accompanying chart.

📥 Downloading ViaVersion

1. Go to the ViaVersion page on Spigot.

2. In the top right corner, click on the blue "Download" button.

3. Save the file in a secure place for later.

4. If needed, repeat the process with ViaBackwards or ViaRewind.

Once this is complete, you’re ready to add the .jar files to your Minecraft server!

🛠️ Installation on the Server

1. Go to your PixelHost Server Panel, then stop the server.

2. Scroll down to the "Game File" section and note the server version.

3. Make sure the version is plugin-compatible, such as PaperMC or Spigot.

4. Next, go to "FTP File Access" in the left-hand menu and log in.

5. Find or create the "plugins" folder and enter it.

6. Press "Upload" in the top left menu and drag and drop the .jar file(s).

7. Once it reaches 100%, return to the main page and restart the server.

🚀 Usage

Once installed, a simple server restart will automatically activate ViaVersion and its add-ons. The plugin will work without any configuration and can be tested immediately. If you’re using version 1.7, it may be necessary to install the ProtocolSupport plugin. Otherwise, as mentioned earlier, everything will function automatically.

This can be extremely beneficial if you’re running other plugins like Geyser, as Bedrock and Java version updates can be inconsistent. ViaVersion completely removes this issue, as long as the plugin is kept updated when new versions are released.

❗ Common Issues

1. I’m Having Trouble Joining with Version 1.7:

   If you’re using ViaRewind and having trouble joining with version 1.7, there might be some potential issues. First, try installing the latest version of ProtocolSupport on your server. If problems persist or you experience game crashes, try reducing the render distance in-game, as version 1.7 can crash if the distance is too high.

2. Outdated Server! Still on X.X.X:

   If you encounter this error at any point, it’s likely due to a player trying to join from the latest Minecraft version and the ViaVersion plugin not yet being updated. To fix this, revisit the ViaVersion Spigot page and download the latest version. Once complete, go to FTP File Access and the plugins folder as before while the server is off. Delete the old .jar file and replace it with the newest one. Then, restart the server to try again.

3. My Blocks Look Weird:

   This is a possible side effect of the process the plugin uses to send data to older game versions. To fix this, go to the ViaVersion configuration file and change "serverside-blockconnections" to "true". The configuration file can be found under the "Config Files" tab in the control panel, or in FTP File Access under the plugins folder.

Best Regards,

João @PixelHost.