How to Join an Old Minecraft Server (Beta, Alpha, Classic) with ViaFabricPlus

Pick the Right Protocol Version

Open the ViaFabricPlus settings screen from the mod menu or by pressing its keybind. You will see a list of protocol versions grouped by era — Release, Beta, Alpha, Classic, and snapshots. Select the version that matches the server you want to join. If you do not know the exact version, ask the server owner or check the server's MOTD, since the mod needs the correct protocol to translate packets properly.

Connect to the Server

Once the version is selected, add the server to your multiplayer list as usual and join. ViaFabricPlus will translate your modern client's packets into the older protocol on the fly. Expect some features to behave differently — for example, older combat, missing blocks, or simplified inventory handling — because the server itself is running old code. If the connection fails, double-check that the protocol version matches the server's actual version rather than the client version you normally play on.

Handle Common Issues

If chunks look wrong or you get kicked, try toggling the specific version fixes in the settings, such as the classic or beta movement fixes. Some servers also require you to disable certain modern client features. Switching back to "auto-detect" is useful when you want the mod to guess the version from the server's ping response instead of forcing one manually.