Offline Mode

This page explains how to allow players to join your server in Offline Mode.

What is Offline Mode?

Offline mode is a feature of Minecraft Vanilla that allows players to join a server without needing an Internet connection to authenticate their Minecraft account. This is useful for LAN parties or for players who don't own a Minecraft account. There are also many public offline-mode servers that allow players to join without a paid Minecraft account.

Offline mode servers and unauthenticated players are often referred to as cracked servers and players.

Java only

Connect offline mode applies to Java Edition. It does not create an unauthenticated Bedrock path. Connect-managed Bedrock always requires a valid Microsoft/Xbox session.

This is different from Connect-managed Bedrock identity. Bedrock players who join through Connect can be authenticated with official Microsoft/Xbox Bedrock auth and still travel through a Java connector. That trusted Bedrock/XUID path does not require allowing arbitrary offline-mode Java players.

Joining the Connect Browser Hub

Offline Java players use either canonical cracked entry point:

• cracked.minekube.net
• cracked.minekube.com

Use cracked.*, not offline.*. From the Browser Hub, select an endpoint or run /browser join <your-server-name>. The target endpoint must explicitly allow offline Java players.

Allowing Offline Java on an Endpoint

It is possible to join the Connect Network without a valid Minecraft account. By default, Connect ensures that only Mojang authenticated players can join your online mode server.

To allow unauthenticated Java players, enable the option on the connector that owns the endpoint:

plugins/connect/config.yml

allow-offline-mode-players: true

Gate config.yml

connect:
  enabled: true
  allowOfflineModePlayers: true

The default is false. You do not need to make the backend publicly reachable or create a second direct connection path. Keep the rest of the topology's normal forwarding and online-mode settings unless you intentionally operate a fully offline network.

Offline identities are not verified

An offline Java name is self-asserted and can be impersonated. Do not grant administrative permissions by name alone. Use an authentication plugin if your offline community needs persistent accounts.

Offline-mode player connections are not encrypted between the player and the Connect Network edge. Player connections are always encrypted between the Connect edge and Connect Endpoints - thanks to Connect Tunnels.

Connect also marks its own authenticated player connections offline mode at pre-login, because those players were already authenticated at the Connect edge. That is an internal detail of the login flow and is unrelated to this option. It does matter for login plugins - see Login and Auth Plugins.

Do not enable either offline-mode option just because a Bedrock player is joining through Connect. Use the Bedrock support guide to decide whether the player is on the Connect-managed Bedrock path, a direct self-hosted Gate Bedrock path, or a real offline-mode Java path.