How to Switch Protocol Versions Without Restarting Minecraft

Use the In-Game Version Selector

ViaFabricPlus adds a version selector you can reach from the mod menu or a keybind. Open it while Minecraft is running and choose the protocol version you want. The change applies to your next server connection, so you do not need to relaunch the game. This is handy when you hop between a modern survival server and an old beta server in the same session.

Force a Version or Let It Auto-Detect

You can either force a specific protocol version or leave it on automatic detection. Forcing is useful when the server reports a misleading version in its ping. Auto-detect is convenient when you join many servers and do not want to change settings each time. If a forced version causes crashes or disconnects, switch back to auto-detect and reconnect.

Reset When Something Breaks

If the game behaves strangely after switching — for example, blocks not breaking or entities glitching — reset the protocol selection to the default for your client version. Some servers also require you to rejoin after a version change rather than reconnecting to the same session. Keep a note of which version each of your favorite servers uses so you can switch quickly without guessing.