Can't connect to server: Connection timed out, Connection refused or Unknown host
Most connection errors come from a wrong address or port, a server that is offline or still starting, or Bedrock players using the wrong port. Check these first.
- Difficulty:
- Beginner
- Time:
- 5 minutes
Errors like Connection timed out: no further information, Connection refused: no further information, Unknown host or Bedrock's "Unable to connect to world" mean the game could not reach your server. In almost every case it is the address, the port, or the server not being online. Go through these checks in order.
What each error usually means
Error | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
Connection refused | The address is right but nothing is answering on that port: server offline, still starting, or wrong port. |
Connection timed out | No reply at all: wrong IP or port, or the player's network blocks the connection. |
Unknown host / Can't resolve hostname | The domain or subdomain is misspelt or doesn't exist (yet). |
How to fix it
Is the server online? The panel header must say Online and the Console should show the server has finished loading (a line starting with
Done). Big modpacks can take a few minutes. If it keeps crashing, see Server won't start.Copy the exact address with the port. Use the address from the panel header, for example
in6.endercloud.in:45568. The:45568part is required unless you have a domain with an SRV record or a dedicated IP. Don't use the panel website address or the SFTP port (2022).Check for typos. A missing letter, an extra space, or a full stop at the end causes "Unknown host".
Bedrock players: enter address and port separately. In Bedrock, put the address in Server Address and the number in Port. Bedrock uses UDP and does not read SRV records, so a subdomain without a port won't work. For a Java server with Geyser, Bedrock players use the Geyser port, not the Java port. See Bedrock server guide and Use a domain with a Bedrock server.
Subdomain or domain not working? Try joining with the address from the panel. If that works, the problem is DNS: new records can take some time to work, the SRV record may point to the wrong port, or a free subdomain may have been removed after the server was offline for a long time. See Free subdomain and dedicated IP and Connect your own domain.
Can others join? If friends can join but one player can't, the problem is that player's network. Some school, college, office and public Wi-Fi networks and some ISPs block game ports. Ask them to try mobile data or a hotspot, and to turn off any VPN, antivirus "web shield" or firewall that may block Java.
Is the server's port correct? If someone changed
server-portin server.properties, the server is listening on the wrong port. Put it back to the port shown in the panel. See Failed to bind to port.
Remove the server from your list and add it again with the copied address. Old entries sometimes keep a mistyped address.
Frequently asked questions
It worked yesterday and now it times out
Check that your service isn't suspended for an unpaid invoice, that the server is running, and look at our status page. If everything is green, open a ticket with the exact error.
Players see "Failed to verify username" instead
That is a login problem, not a connection problem. See Failed to verify username.
Players are kicked with "You are not whitelisted on this server"
The connection works; the whitelist is blocking them. New servers have the whitelist on by default. Add players with whitelist add PlayerName in the Console or in the Players tab. See Whitelist, OP and ban players.
Can players join without typing a port?
Java players can, with a domain or free subdomain that has an SRV record. For a fully port-free address for both Java and Bedrock, ask for a dedicated IP in a ticket. See How to join a Minecraft server.
Still stuck? Open a ticket with the exact error, the address you used, and whether others can join.
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