Game updates broke my server — what to do on update day
Version mismatch errors, broken mods and plugins, and how to get playing again.
Game updates are the most common reason a working server suddenly isn't. The game client updates, the server doesn't (or the mods don't), and nobody can join.
What it looks like
- Valheim: "Incompatible version" when joining
- Minecraft: "Outdated server" or "Outdated client"
- Server starts, then crashes with errors naming a plugin or mod
Step 1: back up first
Before you change anything, make a backup in the panel (Backups → Create backup). Updates change world files, and you can't always go back without a backup.
Step 2: update the server
- Valheim: restart the server from the panel. That usually pulls the latest dedicated server build; if it doesn't, tell us and we'll update it. If players still see a mismatch, make sure their game updated too (restart Steam or the console).
- Minecraft Vanilla: change the server version to the new release and restart.
- Paper: Paper builds for a new version can show up days after Mojang's release. Until then, stay on the old version.
- Fabric: the loader usually updates quickly. Your mods might not.
Step 3: check mods and plugins
Mods and plugins break more often than the game does. If the server crashes after an update, the console usually names the culprit. Update it, or remove it until its author catches up.
The easy fix for Minecraft: don't update yet
Minecraft lets players pick an older version in the launcher (Installations → New installation → choose the version). If your mods aren't ready, keep everyone on the old version for a week. Nothing forces you to update on day one.
When it's still broken
Open a ticket or post on Discord. Update day is when bot-first support is at its worst, and it's exactly when you get a real engineer here. If the update broke something on our side, we fix it.