What ViaRewind works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | BungeeCord, Folia, Paper, Sponge, Velocity |
| Minecraft versions | 1.7.10, 1.8.9, 1.12.2, 1.16.5, 1.20.6, 1.21.8, 1.21.11, 26.1, 26.2 |
ViaRewind is a companion plugin to ViaVersion and ViaBackwards that lets Minecraft clients on 1.7.x and 1.8.x join a server running a current release. ViaVersion handles the protocol handshake for every supported client, ViaBackwards restores content for clients back to 1.9, and ViaRewind reaches further, covering the pre-1.9 combat and protocol quirks that ViaBackwards alone does not fix. It needs both of those plugins installed alongside it to do anything.
Letting old Minecraft clients join a newer server
This runs the opposite direction from downgrading a server: instead of holding the server back on an old version, ViaRewind upgrades what an old client is able to see. A player still on Minecraft 1.8.9 or 1.7.10 can connect to a server on the newest year.drop release, and the plugin translates blocks, items, and combat packets so the world reads correctly, instead of showing generic stand-in blocks for anything the client's own version predates.
Installing ViaRewind alongside ViaVersion and ViaBackwards
ViaRewind will not run on its own. Modrinth lists ViaVersion and ViaBackwards as required dependencies, so both jars need to sit in the same plugins folder before ViaRewind does anything useful. Drop all three jar files into the server's plugins directory and restart. There is no separate configuration step for the legacy-client behavior itself.
- ViaVersion (required), handles the protocol handshake for every supported client version.
- ViaBackwards (required), restores content for clients back to Minecraft 1.9.
- ViaFabric (optional), a Fabric-based client tool that can embed ViaRewind directly instead of running it as a server plugin.
Server software and proxy support
ViaRewind ships builds for Paper, Folia, Velocity, BungeeCord, and Sponge. Installing it on Paper or Folia scopes the legacy-client bridge to that one server. Installing it on a Velocity or BungeeCord proxy covers every backend server on the network from one place instead of needing the jar on each backend.
What ViaRewind does not cover
ViaRewind only reaches down to Minecraft 1.7.10, it does not add support for anything older. It also does not replace ViaBackwards for clients between 1.9 and the server's own version, that range stays ViaBackwards' job alone. It does not add anti-cheat protection or change the old combat system itself, players on 1.7 and 1.8 keep fighting on their own client's pre-1.9 attack cooldown even after joining a server running a current release.
Watch the plugin family installed on a server
Installing ViaVersion, ViaBackwards, and ViaRewind on a Minecraft server
Questions about ViaRewind.
5 questions
What does ViaRewind do?
ViaRewind is a companion plugin for ViaVersion that lets Minecraft clients on 1.7.10 through 1.8.9 join a server running a current release. It restores pre-1.9 combat and protocol behavior so those old clients see the world correctly, instead of unsupported content showing as generic stand-in blocks once the server has moved past what the client's own version understands.
Does ViaRewind work without ViaVersion and ViaBackwards?
No. ViaRewind lists both ViaVersion and ViaBackwards as required dependencies on Modrinth, and the project's README states the same requirement directly. All three jar files need to be installed together, ViaRewind does not translate anything on its own.
Which Minecraft versions can join through ViaRewind?
ViaRewind covers clients from 1.7.10 through 1.8.9. Anything newer than that, up to the server's own version, is ViaBackwards' job. Anything older than 1.7.10 is not supported by either plugin.
Does ViaRewind work on BungeeCord or Velocity?
Yes, but not on the same build. Paper, Folia, and Velocity run the current 4.1.4-SNAPSHOT build, which tracks server versions up to the current 26.2 drop. BungeeCord and Sponge are still on the 4.0.0-SNAPSHOT build from May 2024, which stops at Minecraft 1.20.6.
Is ViaRewind safe to use on a multiplayer server?
ViaRewind is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later, published by the ViaVersion team on Modrinth and GitHub. It only translates protocol and content data for old clients, it does not touch anti-cheat or account security. Download it from the official Modrinth page and keep it updated alongside ViaVersion.
