How can you fix the “server connection timed out” error in Minecraft?

Make sure you are connecting to the correct server

“Connection timed out” Minecraft error is quite common. If you get it, the first thing you should do is double check which server you’re logging into. Maybe you misclicked and now you’re trying to connect to an outdated server you used to play on. While it may sound obvious, mistakes like these happen all the time.

Check your Minecraft server status

If you’re sure you’re connecting to the right server, the next thing to check is whether the server is even online. An update could have started or the server is under maintenance. Here’s how to check the status of the Minecraft server.

How to check Minecraft server status:

1. Go to mcsrvstat.us, a free website you can use to check the status of a Minecraft server.
2. Enter the server’s IP or its address.
3. Click the “Get server status” button. If you’re using a bedrock version of Minecraft, click the checkbox first.
4. Check if there are any Minecraft players on the server or if the server is online.

The page should tell you about any issues with the server. Even if the server is online and working fine, don’t worry. This isn’t bad news. It just means that you should check your connection to the server next because that’s the likely reason for seeing the “Server connection timed out” error.

Use a VPN

Numerous issues can result in a “server timed out” error. Maybe it’s a problem with your ISP, the restrictive regulations in your country, or your IP — it might be difficult to know the exact reason causing the issue. A quick way to solve a lot of them is by connecting to your Minecraft server using a VPN service.

Using a VPN reroutes your internet connection through a VPN server and gives you a new IP, thus bypassing any restrictions that may have been imposed on your network.

Reset the network configuration of your OS

If using a VPN didn’t solve the problem, you could try resetting the network configuration, because it could be blocking the connection to the server. On Windows, you can reset your network configuration in a few steps:

1. Press the Windows key + S on your keyboard and type “Command prompt” in the search bar.
2. Click on “Run as administrator” option under “Command prompt.”
3. Type “ipconfig/release” and press “Enter.”
4. Type “ipconfig/flushdns” and press “Enter.”
5. Type ”ipconfig/renew” and press “Enter.”
6. Type “netsh int ip” and press “Enter.”
7. Type ”netsh int ip set dns” and press “Enter.”
8. Type “netsh winsock reset” and press “Enter.”

After you’re done with the commands, restart your computer, and check whether you’re finally able to connect to a Minecraft server.

Make sure you are running the correct version of Minecraft

Servers are updated all the time. Perhaps, the server was updated recently and now your Minecraft version is older than the one the server allows to join. Or vice versa. If you keep getting Minecraft server connection issues, they may be caused by your Minecraft version being different from the server version. To check if your Minecraft version is different from the server, open your Minecraft launcher. If the versions are not the same, you can revert to an older version by following these steps:

1. In the Minecraft launcher, go to “Installations.”
2. Click on “New.”
3. Click on “Versions.”
4. Check if there is a Minecraft version that’s the same as the one that the server uses.

If you’re having trouble with your Minecraft installation, you can also download and install a fresh version of the game.

Allowlist the Minecraft application in your firewall

Another reason why you get an error message could be because the Windows Defender firewall may be interfering with your Minecraft connection. Allowlisting the app in your firewall could fix the problem. Here’s how to ensure that your Windows firewall doesn’t block your game from reaching the server: A residential IP is a type of IP address assigned to internet users by their internet service provider to be used in a residential area. For example, if you search for “What’s my IP,” the search engine should give you your residential IP.

1. Press the Windows key + R, type “control” and click “OK.”
2. Click on “System and security”, and then “Windows Defender Firewall.”
3. Click on the “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.”
4. Click on the “Change settings.”
5. In the list, make sure both “Private” and “Public” checkboxes under Minecraft are checked.
6. Click “OK” and restart your computer.

Pause your antivirus software

Antivirus and anti-malware software monitors your system and prevents malicious programs from damaging your device without you even noticing. But the problem with security apps that work in the background is exactly this — they may be interfering with some programs or blocking access to Minecraft server’s dedicated IP without you even knowing about it.

That’s why if you keep getting Minecraft server connection issues, it’s worth trying to pause your antivirus and see if it helps. As a safety precaution, your antivirus may be blocking Minecraft’s internet access.

If your antivirus or anti-malware software also has a cache cleaning feature, using it may also solve your Minecraft issue.

Use port forwarding

Ports are like little doorways to software applications and Minecraft uses one of them to connect to the server. To be specific, Minecraft uses port 25565. Another program using this port may be the reason why you keep getting the “Minecraft server connection timed out” error message. Port forwarding should solve this issue. While it may sound complicated, all you need to do is enter a few commands. However, tinkering with network configurations may leave your system vulnerable. If you have no experience configuring your network, feel free to skip this step.

In Windows, you can open the right port through the Windows Firewall. If you’ve followed the steps above, you’ll already know how to open Windows Defender Firewall. Here’s what to do next:

1. On the left side panel, click on “Advanced settings.”
2. Click on “Inbound rules” and “New rule.”
3. The “New inbound rule wizard” will start. Under “Rule type” select “Ports.”
4. Then, under “Protocols and ports”, choose “TCP,” and enter “25565” in the field for “Specific local ports.” Click “Next.”
5. You can select a network type or simply click “Next.”
6. Enter a name for this rule and save it.
7. Go back to “Advanced settings,” select “Outbound rules,” and repeat the steps above.

Now, restart your computer and check if you still get the “server connection timed out” error.

Your other option is to set up a private Minecraft server using Meshnet. Meshnet is a feature that allows you to connect to remote servers and devices just as if they were on the same local area network (LAN). It also uses an encrypted tunnel to secure your traffic traveling between connected devices. Solving server connection issues with Meshnet means you don’t need to meddle with manual port opening and, by doing so, risk jeopardizing your network configuration and other valuable device data.

But what should you do if nothing helped? Since you’ve checked the network settings, made sure you’re using the correct Minecraft version, and even tried a VPN service to bypass possible restrictions, the next step is to contact the support team of your server and explain the problem. If nothing worked so far, the error is likely related to a broader issue affecting more players.