ViaVersion: one server for many client versions
ViaVersion is the standard plugin when your Minecraft server needs to serve players on different client versions. ViaVersion lets newer clients join your server; its sibling plugin ViaBackwards additionally opens it up to older clients. Both cover the version range up to Minecraft 26.2 and run on Paper, Folia, Velocity and Fabric.
The practical benefit: you do not have to force your community into a version update, and a version jump on your server locks nobody out. For you as an operator, Via is a tool against the single most common point of friction — "which version do I need in order to join?".
Current version
Most recently recorded: ViaVersion 5.11.0, released on 12 July 2026 together with ViaBackwards 5.11.0. That release was considerably more than routine maintenance.
Version history
<!-- VERSIONSVERLAUF:START -->| Version | Erfasst | Quelle |
|---|---|---|
| 5.11.0 | 21.07.2026 | — |
The performance highlight of 5.11.0
According to the official changelog, reading and writing chunks — the lion's share of Via's packet processing — was sped up by up to 90 %, flanked by many smaller memory and performance optimisations.
Important for context: this gain affects exactly the path Via only enters when clients on a differing version are connected. The more players with mixed versions are online, the more packets Via translates — and the bigger the effect. On a server where everyone joins on the server's own version, you will barely notice anything.
On top of that comes a long list of fixes across the version transitions, among them: corrected item hashing for damage_resistant (26.1+), the missing arm swing animation when placing sugar cane (1.21.11→26.1), ambient light in custom dimensions, door sounds from level events (1.19.1→1.19.3), looms under 1.18.2→1.19, the wrong Pigstep music disc (1.17.1→1.18) as well as client crashes on very old servers (below 1.14) with 26.2 clients. Also new is the option multi-reddust-color-fix, disabled by default, for redstone particle colour conversion in 1.12→1.13.
What ViaBackwards 5.11.0 brings
The ViaBackwards changelog contains a structural change: the names of new items and entities are now shown to older clients as translatable components instead of rigid text — and can therefore be adjusted via a resource pack.
A second point is operationally relevant: on servers running 1.21.5 or newer, item handling now skips the expensive conversion path from 1.20.4 to 1.21.5. The Via team therefore explicitly recommends that servers on 1.20.5 to 1.21.4 jump to 1.21.5 or higher. Added to this are fixes such as multi-line text displays, disconnects caused by new environment attributes in custom dimensions, and invisible beds in the 26.2→26.1 transition.
Server compatibility
| Plugin | Job | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| ViaVersion | Newer clients on your server | Paper, Folia, Velocity, Fabric |
| ViaBackwards | Additionally allow older clients (requires ViaVersion) | Paper, Folia, Velocity, Fabric |
Bedrock crossplay runs independently of this via Geyser and Floodgate — preinstalled on supported Paper server stacks at game-serverhosting. Via translates Java versions, Geyser serves Bedrock clients; the two work side by side.
How to update your server
- Create a backup via the Backups tab in the server panel.
- Download both new jars from the Modrinth version pages.
- In the file manager, swap the old files in the
plugins/folder for the new ones — always update both together so the version levels match. - Restart. Your existing configuration stays valid. A quick look at the startup log confirms that both plugins loaded in the new version.
FAQ
Do I need both plugins? ViaVersion works on its own and serves newer clients. ViaBackwards requires ViaVersion and adds the opposite direction for older clients. If you want maximum version freedom, install both.
Will I really notice the performance improvement? That depends on your server: the more players with differing versions are online, the more packets Via translates — and that is exactly the path that was optimised. The effect is largest on mixed servers.
I am on 1.21.2 — does the 1.21.5 recommendation apply to me? Yes. The Via team recommends that servers between 1.20.5 and 1.21.4 move to 1.21.5 or higher, because item handling runs more efficiently there. You can change versions via the version switch in the panel.
Do I have to adjust my config?
No. The changes are backwards compatible, and the only new option (multi-reddust-color-fix) is disabled by default.
Why should I update both plugins together? Because ViaBackwards builds on the ViaVersion version. Diverging levels are an avoidable source of errors — so always swap them as a pair.
Your server with us
A server that serves clients across versions: at game-serverhosting you install Via plugins via the file manager, back up with one click beforehand, and change Minecraft versions in the panel. Rent a Minecraft server.