NapNodes
Free tool

Why won't my Minecraft server start?

Paste the server log (or a crash report) and we'll tell you, in plain English, what failed and what to do. It works for Paper, Spigot, Fabric, Forge and NeoForge.

Paste the server log

It's read in your browser: the log isn't uploaded anywhere (it contains IPs and player names).

Paste the log (or drop the file) and here you'll see what's wrong with your server, in plain English.

On NapNodes the log is in the “Console” and in “Files” → logs, and if you can't sort it out, open a ticket in “Help” with those lines.

Create your free Minecraft server

What it recognises

  • The wrong Java version (“UnsupportedClassVersionError”).
  • Running out of memory (“OutOfMemoryError”) and a badly set -Xmx.
  • The port already in use (“FAILED TO BIND TO PORT”) and the EULA not accepted.
  • Mods missing another mod, mods that clash and mods that are only for the player.
  • Plugins that won't load, badly written .yml files and worlds from a newer version.
  • The server freezing and lag (“Can't keep up”).

Frequently asked questions

Where is my Minecraft server's log?

In the server's logs folder: latest.log is the console from the last time it started, and older days are compressed as .log.gz. If it closed suddenly, the crash-reports folder has one report per crash.

Which error should I look at?

The first one, not the last. Scroll up to the first line with ERROR, Exception or “Caused by”: what comes after is usually a consequence of it.

Is my log uploaded anywhere?

No. It's read in your browser and never leaves it. That's better: a log contains the IPs and names of whoever joined.

What if it finds nothing?

It recognises the errors that come up most (Java, memory, port, mods, plugins, config files, world version). If none shows, search for the exact wording of the first error in quotes: someone has nearly always had it before.

Going deeper: my Minecraft server won't start, how to add mods and server lag.

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