The Minecraft error io.netty.channel.AbstractChannel$AnnotatedConnectException: Connection refused: no further information means the Java client could not establish a connection to the destination address and port shown in the message. It usually points to a stopped server, wrong address or port, or a network rule—not a broken Minecraft installation. Start by checking the exact address, then test the server locally, over the LAN, and finally from outside the network.
Start with the address and the fastest connection test
Read the address after the error, including its port. For example, 192.168.1.25:25565 means Minecraft tried to contact that address on port 25565. The address helps identify whether you are connecting to the host computer, another device on the same home network, or a public server.
- Confirm the complete address. Ask the server owner for the current address and port. Do not substitute a router address such as
192.168.1.1, use a private address for an internet connection, or use a public address for LAN play. A Java server commonly uses port25565, but its configured port takes precedence. - Check that the server is running. The owner should wait until the server console reports that startup is complete. If the server window closes or shows an error, fix that before investigating port forwarding.
- If you own the server, connect on its host computer. Try
localhostor127.0.0.1:25565, replacing the port if the server uses a different one. - Test from another device on the same network. Use the host computer’s private IPv4 address, such as
192.168.1.25:25565. - If LAN works but outside players cannot connect, investigate the router’s port-forwarding rule, public address, and possible double NAT or CGNAT.
These tests narrow down the failing layer: if localhost fails, focus on the server process and host computer; if localhost works but LAN fails, focus on local networking and firewall rules; if LAN works but outside access fails, focus on the internet-facing network path.
What “connection refused” means
The exception comes from Java’s networking stack. It indicates that the client’s attempt to connect to the destination was rejected or that no usable service accepted it on that port. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis: a server that is stopped or listening on another port can produce it, as can an active network rejection. The exception also appears in Java connection attempts outside Minecraft; Mojang’s historical issue tracker contains a Minecraft report with the same message (Mojang issue MC-237608).
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- Connection refused: the destination was reached, but the requested connection was not accepted.
- Connection timed out: no response arrived in time. Filtering, routing, closed forwarding, CGNAT, or an offline destination are common possibilities.
- Unknown host: the hostname could not be resolved.
- Incompatible version or mod-list message: the connection reached Minecraft far enough for the game to reject the client during a later check.
Do not infer that the firewall is always responsible. If the server owner cannot connect to their own server through localhost, fixing the public router rule will not solve the underlying problem.
Fix a self-hosted Java server
Make sure the server starts and stays running
For a dedicated Java server, the owner should start the downloaded server JAR and wait for its ready message. Mojang documents a command in this form; the JAR filename must match the file that was downloaded:
java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar minecraft_server.<version>.jar nogui
Java must be available to the command line. If the server exits during startup, read the console output and logs/latest.log; check any crash report as well. Common clues include a Java-version problem, an unaccepted EULA, a port already in use, or a plugin or mod failure. See Mojang’s Java server download and setup page.
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Check the configured port and bind address
In the server’s server.properties, check these entries:
server-port=25565
server-ip=
The value shown for server-port must match the port players enter and the port forwarded by the router. The default is commonly 25565, not a requirement. In most setups, leave server-ip blank; setting it to an outdated or unavailable local address can prevent the server from binding to the intended interface. Restart the server after editing the file. The property names are documented in the Minecraft server.properties reference.
Verify that a process is listening
On Windows, run this in Command Prompt to look for a listener on the configured port:
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netstat -ano | findstr :25565
If a PID appears, identify it with:
tasklist /FI "PID eq <PID>"
On Linux, use:
ss -ltnp | grep 25565
Replace 25565 with the configured port. A listening entry shows that a local process has opened the port; it does not prove that another computer or an internet player can reach it. Firewall rules, router forwarding, upstream routing, and ISP NAT can still block access.
Check the firewall without leaving protection off
On Windows, the Minecraft Launcher is not necessarily the process that needs network access. The client or server may use a bundled or separately installed Java runtime, often running as java.exe or javaw.exe. Runtime paths vary, so do not assume every installation uses the same file location.
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- Open Windows Security, then go to Firewall & network protection.
- Select Allow an app through firewall and allow the Java executable actually in use on the appropriate network profile.
- If you host a server, add an inbound rule for its configured port. For a typical Java dedicated server, the connection uses TCP; do not assume that opening UDP is a general Java fix.
- Keep public-network access limited to what the setup requires, then test again.
Check antivirus and VPN settings too. Mojang advises examining firewall, antivirus, and VPN interference rather than treating permanent deactivation as the answer (Mojang’s Java multiplayer guidance). Briefly disabling a firewall can help isolate a cause, but if that changes the result, turn it back on and create a narrow application or port rule. A historical community case also describes allowing the correct javaw.exe as the fix (Minecraft forum case).
Fix LAN and Open to LAN connections
For a Java server on the same home network, join using the host computer’s private IPv4 address, not its public IP. On the host, run ipconfig in Windows Command Prompt and find IPv4 Address under the active network adapter. Use that address with the server’s configured port.
If the host can connect through localhost but another LAN device cannot, check that both devices are on the same network, then investigate the host firewall, VPN, and router or access-point settings. Guest Wi-Fi, AP isolation, client isolation, or wireless isolation can prevent devices from talking to one another. A Windows network profile can also affect firewall behavior.
For Java’s Open to LAN feature, the host must keep the world open. If automatic discovery does not work, join using the host’s private IP and the port Minecraft displays, such as 192.168.1.25:<displayed-port>. Do not assume this temporary port is 25565. Mojang’s Bedrock guidance likewise notes that a host must be online for LAN or personally hosted play, though Bedrock has separate networking details (Bedrock connectivity guidance).
Fix internet access to a home-hosted server
Forward the actual server port to the current host address
Port forwarding is relevant only after the server works locally and the host has a working LAN connection. Create a router rule that sends the server’s configured port to the host computer’s current private IP. A typical rule for a default-port Java server looks like this:
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- External port:
25565 - Internal port:
25565 - Protocol:
TCP - Destination: the host’s private address, for example
192.168.1.25
Use the actual configured port if it differs. Reserve the host’s address in the router’s DHCP settings, or set an appropriate private address outside the automatic DHCP range, so the forwarding rule does not point to a different device after an address change. Java and Bedrock use different multiplayer paths; Mojang lists Bedrock connectivity separately, so do not apply Bedrock port conventions to a Java server.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTest the public address from a genuinely external network, such as a friend’s connection or a phone hotspot with Wi-Fi disconnected. Some routers do not support NAT loopback (also called hairpin NAT), so the public address can fail from inside the same home even when outside players can connect. A port test is not conclusive if the server is stopped, the wrong port is checked, or the test comes from an unsuitable network.
Check for double NAT or CGNAT
Port forwarding on your home router cannot, by itself, direct incoming traffic through an upstream router or an ISP’s carrier-grade NAT. Check the router’s WAN address: private ranges include 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x through 172.31.x.x, and 192.168.x.x. If the WAN address does not match the public address seen externally, another network layer may be in the way.
Depending on the setup, options include asking the ISP for a public IPv4 address, bridging an upstream modem/router, forwarding through both routers, or using a game-server tunnel or managed host. A campus, apartment, mobile, or otherwise managed network may not allow inbound connections at all. Mojang’s Java multiplayer guidance also recommends checking router NAT configuration and, where practical, trying Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi (Java multiplayer troubleshooting).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the Minecraft edition, version, Java, and mods
Java and Bedrock are separate multiplayer editions; a Java player cannot normally join a Bedrock server with the same address and vice versa. Mojang explains the edition distinction at Java or Bedrock Edition, and its Realms page describes separate Java and Bedrock services (Minecraft Realms).
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- Match the Minecraft version selected in the launcher to the server’s version.
- For modded servers, check that the client and server use compatible Minecraft versions, loaders such as Forge or Fabric, and required mod versions.
- If the server crashes during startup, inspect its log for loader, plugin, mod, or Java errors. A later handshake mismatch is different from a raw connection refusal, but a crash can leave players seeing only the initial network symptom.
- If the cause is unclear, test a clean vanilla server or known-good configuration as a temporary isolation test.
Reinstalling Minecraft or Java is a low-priority response to a wrong address, stopped server, bad forwarding rule, or CGNAT. Consider Java installation repair when Java itself will not launch the server or the runtime is incompatible; otherwise establish which network test fails first.
Use the right fix for a Realm or hosted server
Minecraft Realm
Do not configure home-router port forwarding for a Realm. Check that the owner’s subscription is active, the Realm is open, your account is invited and signed in, and your client version is supported. If the connection problem persists, follow Mojang’s Realm troubleshooting steps, including checking service or sign-in issues and reopening the Realm where applicable (Mojang Realm connection troubleshooting). For Java Realms setup, see Mojang’s Java Realm guide. Realms cross-play is within an edition, not between Java and Bedrock (Realms edition information).
Third-party server
Confirm the exact hostname and port with the provider, check whether its status page or server panel reports an outage, and make sure the server is started. If the host is online but you still cannot connect, send support the full error and destination address, along with your Minecraft edition and version and the approximate failure time. The provider can check its server process and network configuration; reinstalling your client will not correct a stopped remote server.
When to ask for help or choose another setup
Give the server owner, administrator, ISP, or host provider evidence that identifies the failing layer. Include:
- The complete error text, including destination address and port.
- Your Minecraft edition and version, plus loader and mod details if applicable.
- Whether the server is self-hosted, a LAN world, a Realm, or a third-party server.
- Whether localhost works on the host, whether a second LAN device connects, and whether an external-network test succeeds.
- Whether the server console says it is ready, and any relevant error from
latest.log. - Recent VPN, firewall, router, address, Java, or server-version changes.
If the obstacle is lack of router control or an ISP network that blocks inbound access, choose an option that avoids home port forwarding rather than repeatedly changing client settings. Self-hosting offers control and avoids a hosting subscription, but requires maintaining the computer, network, backups, and server. Realms is a simpler managed choice for a small private Java world without extensive server-side customization. A managed server host suits users who need persistent uptime or more control over mods and plugins, but still has recurring cost and can have its own configuration or outage problems. Hosting is an alternative to self-hosting, not a remedy for entering the wrong address or a client firewall rule.
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