How to Use the Server Status Checker

Deep dive into the status checker tool: pinging Java vs Bedrock servers, interpreting latency, MOTD, and player count, and troubleshooting connection issues.

What Is the Status Checker?

The status checker is a free tool that pings any Minecraft server in real time and shows you whether it’s online, how many players are connected, the server’s latency, its version, and its message of the day (MOTD). No login is required.

How to Use It

Step 1: Choose the Edition

At the top of the checker, select one of three edition buttons:

Java - for servers running Minecraft Java Edition (TCP protocol, default port 25565).
Bedrock - for servers running Minecraft Bedrock Edition (UDP/RakNet protocol, default port 19132).
Crossplay - for servers that support both Java and Bedrock. This pings both editions simultaneously.

Step 2: Enter the Server Address

Type the server’s address (IP or domain name) in the Server address field. For example: play.example.net or 192.168.0.42.

Step 3: Enter the Port (Optional)

The port field is pre-filled with the default for your selected edition:

Java: 25565
Bedrock: 19132
Crossplay: 25565 (Java) / 19132 (Bedrock)

If your server runs on a non-default port, enter it here. If you leave it blank or set it to the default, the default is used.

Crossplay: Bedrock Address

If you selected Crossplay, an additional set of fields appears for the Bedrock address and port. If your Bedrock address is the same as the Java address, leave the Bedrock address field blank - it will use the same hostname. Enter the Bedrock port only if it differs from the default 19132.

Step 4: Select a Region (Optional)

Choose a specific region to ping from, or leave it on Auto to automatically ping the server from all regions to determine the lowest latency.

Step 5: Click Check

Complete the captcha (if prompted) and click Check. Results appear within a few seconds.

Interpreting the Results

Online / Offline Badge

Green “Online” badge - the server responded to the ping and is currently running.
Red “Offline” badge - the server did not respond. See the troubleshooting section below.

Players

Shows the current online player count and the maximum player capacity, formatted as online / max (e.g. 42 / 100). Large numbers are abbreviated (e.g. 1.2k).

Latency

The round-trip time in milliseconds for a ping packet sent after the status response. This gives you an idea of how responsive the server is from the ping region. Lower is better:

Under 50 ms - excellent
50-150 ms - good
150-300 ms - moderate
Over 300 ms - high latency, may cause noticeable lag

Version

The Minecraft version the server is running (e.g. 1.20.4). This helps you confirm your client version is compatible.

MOTD (Message of the Day)

The server’s MOTD as configured by the owner. This is the text players see in the multiplayer server list. It often contains server rules, features, or announcements.

Multiple Results (Crossplay)

When you check a Crossplay server, you’ll see two result cards - one for the Java ping and one for the Bedrock ping. Each has its own status, player count, latency, version, and MOTD.

Troubleshooting

The server shows as offline

Common causes:

Wrong address or port - double-check the address and port. For Java servers, try omitting the port if it’s 25565. For Bedrock, make sure you’re using port 19132 (or the correct custom port).
Server is down - the server process may have crashed or been stopped. Contact the server owner if it’s not yours.
Firewall blocking connections - the server may be behind a firewall that blocks incoming connections on the game port. Ensure the port is open for inbound traffic.
Bedrock uses UDP - Bedrock servers use the UDP protocol (via RakNet), not TCP. If the server is behind a network that only allows TCP, Bedrock pings will fail even if the server is running.
Non-standard port - if the server runs on a port other than the default, you must enter it explicitly.

The captcha keeps failing

The status checker is rate-limited pretty strictly to prevent abuse. If you’ve made many requests in a short time, wait a minute and try again.

The player count doesn’t match what I see in-game

The checker reads the count from the server-list ping response, which is the same data shown in Minecraft’s multiplayer server list. If it differs from in-game, the server may be using a plugin that modifies the reported count (e.g. fake player slots). The checker shows what the server reports.

Tips

Check before joining - use the status checker to verify a server is online before launching Minecraft and connecting.
Compare regions - if you have high latency from one region, try selecting a different region to see if it’s better.
Use it for your own server - if you’re a server owner, use the checker to confirm your server is reachable from the outside internet. If it shows offline but the server is running locally, check your firewall and port forwarding.