Minecraft's required Java version changes across releases, and running the wrong one is a common cause of a server that refuses to start or performs worse than it should. On Tick Hosting, switching Java versions is a dropdown, not a manual install.
Which Java version for which Minecraft version
- Minecraft 1.8 - 1.16 → Java 8 or 11
- Minecraft 1.17 - 1.20 → Java 17
- Minecraft 1.21 and later → Java 21 or newer
Tick Hosting's server images currently offer Java 8, 11, 16, 17, 21, 24, and 25, along with lower-memory-usage variants of several of these, so you are not limited to only the version your Minecraft release strictly requires.
Step 1: open Startup settings
Stop your server first. Then, in your server dashboard's sidebar, open the Startup tab.
Step 2: find Docker Image
On the Startup page, locate the Docker Image setting. This is what actually controls which Java runtime your server executes on, think of it as choosing the engine underneath the server software.
Step 3: pick your version
Select the Docker image matching the Java version you need from the dropdown. For most modern servers (1.17-1.20), Java 17 is the right choice, it is the best balance of performance and broad plugin/mod compatibility. For 1.21 and newer, go with 21 or later.
Step 4: save and restart
Save the change, then start your server and watch the console. A successful switch shows the new Java version in the startup log lines, with no Java-related errors, and the server should reach "Done!" and accept connections normally.
If it doesn't go smoothly
Server won't start after the change: check the console for the specific error, if your Minecraft version genuinely is not compatible with the Java version you picked, revert to the previous image. Plugins stop working: some plugins lag behind on Java compatibility, check for an updated build before assuming the Java change itself is the problem. Not sure which to pick: check your server software's own documentation, but Java 17 covers the large majority of currently active servers correctly.
Before making the change
Back up your world first, this is a low-risk change but not a zero-risk one, and give the first startup on a new Java version a little extra patience, it can take longer than a normal restart. Full details are in our help center, and Discord is there if you hit anything unexpected.