By default, a Minecraft Java server only admits players with a purchased (premium) account. Cracked / offline mode lets you deliberately open your game-serverhosting server to non-premium players as well – without leaving it unprotected.
What the mode does
Enabling it does two things at once:
- The server switches to
online-mode=false. This drops the check against Mojang's servers, so non-premium Java clients can join. - The server automatically installs a login plugin. It stops anyone from simply logging in under someone else's name – players register a password once and log in with it afterwards.
Point 2 is the important one: plain offline mode without a login plugin would be open to name abuse. That's why game-serverhosting enables both together and refuses to turn the mode on at all if the protection does not come up cleanly.
Who needs a password – and who doesn't?
| Player type | Login |
|---|---|
| Bedrock (mobile, console, Windows) | Automatic – no password |
| Premium Java (purchased account) | Automatic – no password |
| Cracked / non-premium Java | Once /register <password> <password>, then /login |
So for most of your players nothing changes. Only genuine cracked Java players go through registration once.
Enabling it
- In your server list open the server and go to its Minecraft settings.
- Switch to the "Allow cracked / non-premium players" tab.
- Type your server name to confirm and click Enable.
- The server installs the login plugin, flips
online-modeand restarts. This takes one to two minutes.
You don't have to touch any configuration files – installation, protection and restart all run automatically.
Supported versions
This is the main limitation, so plainly:
- Paper/Bukkit: Cracked mode runs on Minecraft 1.21.1 and older.
- Newer versions: The panel shows a notice with a link to switch versions before you enable it, rather than letting you run into an error.
- Modern versions (up to 26.2): Via a Fabric server, cracked mode is available there too.
Background: the login plugin that handles Bedrock and premium auto-login properly currently supports only versions up to 1.21.1 on Paper. As soon as that changes, we will raise the limit.
Note for Fabric: With /register, passwords may only use the characters 0-9 A-Z a-z _ . + - – the chat command rejects other special characters.
Switching it back off
You can disable the mode at any time from the same panel tab. The server removes the auth protection, restores online-mode=true and restarts. After that only premium accounts get in again. Registered player accounts are kept in case you re-enable the mode later.
Legal context
Offering an offline mode is common in the industry and legitimate for the host. Whether a player uses a non-purchased Minecraft client is their own responsibility.
FAQ
What exactly does cracked / offline mode mean?
Your server skips the Mojang account check (online-mode=false) so non-premium Java players can join. An automatically installed login plugin protects player names with a password.
Which versions does it work on?
On Paper/Bukkit up to Minecraft 1.21.1. For modern versions (up to 26.2) use a Fabric server. If your version is too new, the panel tells you before enabling.
Do Bedrock and premium players still join without a password?
Yes. The login plugin recognises both groups and logs them in automatically. Only genuine cracked Java players register a password once.
Does this make my server insecure?
No – that is exactly why the login plugin is installed alongside it. Without working protection, offline mode is never enabled in the first place.
How do I switch it off again?
From the same tab in the server panel. The server rolls back the protection, restores online-mode=true and restarts.
Is this legal?
Offering an offline mode is common and permissible in the industry. Using non-purchased clients is the responsibility of the players.