Minecraft Server Status live online check (Java & Bedrock)

Check in seconds whether a Minecraft server is online. See player count, version, MOTD, server icon and SRV record for both Java and Bedrock Edition. Free, no signup, no tracking.

Server address

What does a server status check do?

A status check for Minecraft servers sends a very short request to the server, exactly the same one the game client sends when displaying the server list. The server replies with a JSON-like dataset containing version, MOTD, player count, max slots and protocol version. No login takes place, no slot is occupied, and ongoing gameplay is not affected.

Java Edition: TCP on port 25565 (default), Server List Ping protocol
Bedrock Edition: UDP on port 19132 (default), Unconnected Pong over RakNet
SRV records are resolved automatically; you can enter the hostname without a port
IPv4 and IPv6 are supported, provided the server is reachable accordingly

MOTD, SRV and protocol versions explained

MOTD stands for Message of the Day. It's the text shown beneath the server name in the in-game server list. Server operators use this area for slogans, IPs, Discord links or colored status messages. Color and formatting codes (section sign codes) are shown here in cleaned plain text form so the result stays readable.

SRV-Records are special DNS entries that map a service (here: Minecraft) to an actual hostname plus port. Example: a player types play.example.com into the client. The client queries _minecraft._tcp.play.example.com, gets back mc01.hoster.net:25577 and connects there. This lets servers move internally without players having to update the address.

The protocol version (e.g. 765 for Java 1.20.4) decides which client versions a server can talk to. Plugins like ViaVersion widen the range so a server can accept multiple client versions at once.

Why my server shows as offline

If your server is actually running but shows up as offline here, these are the typical causes you can check in this order:

Firewall: Port 25565 (Java) or 19132 (Bedrock) is blocked from outside. Check UFW, iptables, Hetzner firewall, Windows Firewall as applicable.
Bind address: the server binds to 127.0.0.1 instead of 0.0.0.0, so it's only reachable locally.
Wrong DNS record: the A or AAAA record points to a different IP than the server's.
SRV record broken: if you're using a non-default port, you must set an SRV record, otherwise the client looks for the default port.
Server properties: enable-status=true must be set, otherwise the server doesn't respond to pings.
Bedrock and UDP: in home network setups people often forget the UDP port forward (not TCP).
CGNAT at the ISP: connections behind Carrier-Grade NAT often aren't reachable from outside; you'll need a VPS or tunnel.

Privacy and limits

The status check runs through the public API of mcstatus.io. We only forward the server address you entered. No cookies are set, there is no tracking, and requests are not stored long-term. Web server logs (for security and rate limiting) are deleted after a short period.

30 requests per minute per IP address
hCaptcha protects the form against automated abuse
Private and reserved IP ranges are blocked server-side (anti-SSRF)
No tracking, no analytics script, no third-party cookies

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the status check work technically?

The server is contacted via Server List Ping (Java) or Unconnected Pong (Bedrock). That's exactly the same protocol the Minecraft client uses to display a server in the server list. No login is performed, no slot is occupied, and no in-game connection is created.

What's the difference between Java and Bedrock Edition?

Java Edition runs on PC (Windows, macOS, Linux), uses default port 25565 and the Java protocol. Bedrock Edition runs on consoles, mobile, Windows 10/11 and uses default port 19132 with RakNet (UDP). The protocols are not compatible, so the tool offers a separate mode per edition.

What do MOTD, SRV and protocol version mean?

MOTD (Message of the Day) is the welcome text the server displays in the list, often with color codes. SRV is a DNS record that maps a hostname (e.g. play.example.com) to the actual server hostname plus port, so players don't need to know the port. The protocol version is a number (Java) or a name (Bedrock) that indicates which client versions the server can talk to.

Why does my server show as offline even though it's running?

Common causes: the port is blocked in the firewall, the server binds only to localhost instead of 0.0.0.0, the DNS record points to a different IP, the SRV record is missing or wrong, or a whitelist is blocking external pings. For Bedrock you need UDP open, not TCP. Also check that the address matches exactly what you'd enter in the client.

Are my inputs stored?

The server address you enter is forwarded to the mcstatus.io API and briefly stored in the web server log (for security and rate limiting). No tracking takes place, no cookies are set, and requests are not stored long-term.

Which server versions are supported?

Java Edition is supported from 1.7 onwards (modern Server List Ping protocol). Bedrock Edition from version 1.16 is reliably detected. Forge, Fabric, Paper and Spigot servers all show up correctly. Very old Java versions (before 1.7) return only limited information.

Can I check Minecraft Realms?

No. Minecraft Realms are only reachable via Mojang/Microsoft authentication and don't respond to public Server List Pings. The status check only works for self-hosted servers (your own root server, hosting provider, or home network with port forwarding).

Is there a rate limit?

Yes. 30 requests per minute are allowed per IP. If you go over, you'll get HTTP status 429 for a short while. The mcstatus.io API itself can also apply rate limits if a server is queried too frequently.

All KernelHost Products

Need more than just tools? Take a look at our commercial hosting lineup.

KVM-Rootserver from 4,99 €/mo Dedicated-Server from 69,99 €/mo Minecraft-Server from 4,00 €/mo Webhosting from 3,99 €/mo Private VPN-Server Dedicated IP DDoS Protection 3.2 Tbps Arbor