> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://minekube.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connecting to Your Server

> How to add your Minekube AI server in Minecraft, understand server states, and troubleshoot connection issues

# Connecting to Your Server

## Requirements

* **Minecraft Java Edition** 1.21 or later
* A Minekube AI account ([sign up at minekube.com](https://minekube.com))

## Adding the Server

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find your server address">
    Log in to the [dashboard](https://minekube.com/dashboard). Your server address is displayed on your server's page. Copy it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Minecraft Multiplayer">
    Launch Minecraft Java Edition and click **Multiplayer**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the server">
    Click **Add Server**, paste your server address into the **Server Address** field, and click **Done**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Join">
    Your server appears in the list. Double-click it to connect.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Your server is accessible through the **Minekube Connect** network -- no port forwarding or public IP address is needed.
</Info>

***

## Server States

Your server can be in one of three states:

| Status         | What It Means                             | What You See in Server List                   |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| **Running**    | Server is online and ready                | Normal MOTD, player count, ping               |
| **Starting**   | Server is booting up (takes \~30 seconds) | "Server is starting..."                       |
| **Hibernated** | Server is sleeping to save resources      | "Server is sleeping - Connect to wake it up!" |

***

## Wake-on-Connect

When no players are online for a period of time, your server **hibernates** automatically to save resources. Waking it up is seamless -- you do not need to visit the dashboard.

<Steps>
  <Step title="View your server in the Minecraft server list">
    You will see **"Server is sleeping - Connect to wake it up!"** as the MOTD. Just by viewing the server in your list, the wake-up process has already started.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait about 30 seconds">
    The server boots up in the background. Refresh your server list (press the Refresh button or leave and re-enter the Multiplayer screen).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Join when ready">
    Once the server list shows the normal MOTD and a green ping bar, double-click to join.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  You can also wake your server manually from the [dashboard](https://minekube.com/dashboard) by clicking **Start**.
</Tip>

<Info>
  **Auto-hibernation saves resources for everyone.** Your worlds, plugins, scripts, and all server data are fully preserved during hibernation. Nothing is lost.
</Info>

***

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Server list shows 'Server is sleeping'">
    This is normal. Your server hibernated because no players were online. The wake-up process starts automatically when you view the server in your list.

    1. Wait about 30 seconds
    2. Refresh the server list
    3. When the MOTD returns to normal, join

    If the server is still sleeping after a minute, try starting it from the [dashboard](https://minekube.com/dashboard).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Cannot connect / connection timed out">
    * Confirm you are using **Minecraft Java Edition** 1.21 or later (not Bedrock)
    * Double-check the server address matches what is shown on your [dashboard](https://minekube.com/dashboard)
    * Check that your server status is **Running** on the dashboard
    * Try restarting Minecraft
    * If the problem persists, ask for help on [Discord](https://minekube.com/discord)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Disconnected while playing">
    This can occasionally happen if the AI sends a malformed chat message. It is a known issue being actively fixed.

    Simply reconnect -- all your progress is saved. Your world, inventory, and server state are persistent.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Server takes a long time to start">
    First boot after creation can take up to 60 seconds. Subsequent wake-ups from hibernation are usually around 30 seconds. If your server does not come online within 2 minutes, check the [dashboard](https://minekube.com/dashboard) or contact us on [Discord](https://minekube.com/discord).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Wrong Minecraft version">
    Minekube AI servers run **Paper 1.21**. Make sure your Minecraft client is version 1.21 or a compatible later version. Using an older client version will prevent you from connecting.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>