Cracked (Non-Premium) Minecraft servers

Cracked Minecraft servers, also called non-premium servers, run with online-mode turned off. In this setting the server does not check with the official authentication service whether a player owns a paid Minecraft account, so anyone can join with any username. Server owners choose this setup for various reasons, for example to let friends without an account try the game together or to allow access in places where purchasing is difficult.

Because the official login check is skipped, these servers protect accounts on their own side. Usually a login plugin such as AuthMe or a similar tool asks you to register a password the first time you join and to log in with it on every later visit. Some servers detect premium players and let them skip this step. Keep in mind that buying Minecraft supports the developers who create the game and gives you access to all official servers, Realms and skins.

Staying safe on non-premium servers

Since anyone can pick any username, the password you set with the server's login plugin is the only thing that protects your progress. A few simple habits go a long way:

• Use a unique password that you do not use anywhere else, especially not for email or your Microsoft account.
• Register as soon as you join, before someone else claims your nickname on that server.
• Be careful with download links shared in chat; unofficial launchers and mods from unknown sources can contain malware.
• Never type your password in public chat; the login command should always start with a slash.

Premium players on cracked servers

Players with a paid account can join most non-premium servers without issues. On servers that do not recognise premium accounts, your official skin may not appear and you will still need to register a password like everyone else.