Minecraft Launcher Guide

Switch Minecraft Java to the version Paper is currently using

If Mojang has already released a newer Minecraft version, Paper can take a little longer to publish a stable build for it. This page shows you how to create the matching Minecraft Launcher profile so your game lines up with the stable Paper version right now.

Open Paper Downloads Download Free Server

Use this when

Minecraft Launcher shows a newer release, but the Paper downloads page is still stable on an older one.

What to copy

Note the stable Minecraft version and build number shown on the Paper downloads page.

Important

The screenshots below use example version numbers. Always use whatever stable version Paper shows on the day you do this.

Step-by-step

This only changes which Java Edition version the launcher starts. You can move up later once Paper publishes a stable build for the newer Minecraft release.

Check the Paper downloads page first

Open the official Paper downloads page in a new tab and look at the stable Paper download shown at the top. Write down the Minecraft version and the build number it shows.

The version is the part you need for Minecraft Launcher. The build number is just a helpful double-check that you were looking at the current stable Paper page.

Current stable Paper version

Paper 26.3 build 200

This comes from the live release manifest used by the TT Interactive download page. Use this as the number to check against the official Paper downloads page.

Paper downloads page showing the current stable Paper Minecraft version and build number — Example only: the screenshot shows where to look on the Paper downloads page. Use the current stable version shown above when you do this.

Close Minecraft, then open Launcher → Installations

If Minecraft is already running, close it first. Then open Minecraft Launcher, make sure you are on Minecraft: Java Edition, and click the Installations tab at the top.

Minecraft Launcher with the Installations tab highlighted — Your launcher may show a newer latest release than Paper supports right now. That is exactly why you are creating a separate installation.

Create a new installation

On the Installations page, click New installation. This creates a separate launcher profile so you can keep your normal latest-release setup and your Paper-matching setup side by side.

Minecraft Launcher Installations page with the New installation button highlighted — Click **New installation** instead of editing your normal profile. That keeps everything simple and easy to switch back later.

Name it after the Paper version and choose the matching release

In the Name box, give it a clear name based on the Paper version you wrote down, for example Paper 26.1.2.

Then open the Version dropdown and choose the matching release entry, for example release 26.1.2.

Create new installation screen with a matching release selected in the Version dropdown — Example only: the screenshot uses **Paper 26.1.2** and **release 26.1.2**. Use the matching release for the stable Paper version you saw in step 1.

Leave the rest alone, untick Launch after Install, then click Install

Do not change anything else unless you already know you need to. Leave the other options alone, untick Launch after Install, then click Install.

Create new installation screen ready to install with Launch after Install unticked — This is the finished setup screen. The key parts are the matching release version and the unticked **Launch after Install** box.

Go back to Play and choose that installation from the dropdown

Return to the Play tab. Use the installation dropdown beside the Play button and choose the new Paper-matching installation you just made.

Start Minecraft from that profile whenever you are joining a Paper server that has not moved up to the newest Mojang release yet.

Minecraft Launcher Play tab with the Paper version installation selected in the dropdown — Example only: this dropdown shows a profile named **Paper 26.1.2**. Your profile name should match whatever stable Paper version you used.

When Paper catches up

You can move up later

Once Paper publishes a stable build for the newer Minecraft version, repeat the same process with the new stable version shown on the Paper downloads page.

Until then, keep using the matching installation you created here. That is the simple fix when Mojang updates first and Paper stability comes a little later.

Back to the Minecraft server page Check Paper stable version

Paper version questions

Why does my Minecraft version not match the server?

Mojang can release a new Minecraft version before Paper publishes a stable build for it.

How do I fix it?

Check the stable version on the Paper downloads page, then create a Minecraft Launcher profile for that version.

Can I move up to the newer version later?

Yes. This only changes which Java Edition version the launcher starts. Move up once Paper publishes a stable build.