This guide will show you how to fix the Minecraft connection timed-out error. Several Minecraft players encounter the Minecraft “connection timed out” error message. They cannot connect to any server in the game and therefore cannot interact with their friends online. We are here to help you with a list of possible fixes.
How to fix the “connection timed out error” in Minecraft
Listed below are seven fixes players have used to fix the problem. Work your way through the list to identify which fix works for you, as it is unclear where the Connection timed-out error may originate. Most of the fixes are very simple to test:
- Check the Minecraft server status.
- Reboot your modem or router
- Allow Minecraft on your firewall
- Allow port 25565 in Windows Defender Firewall
- Temporarily disable your Antivirus program
- Try a different version of Minecraft
- Use a VPN to bypass blocks
Minecraft connection timed out error – List of possible fixes
Fix 1: Check Minecraft server status
The most common issue you may encounter is trying to connect to a server that is down or under maintenance. If you know the server IP address or domain name, you can check its status on https://mcsrvstat.us/.?
You can also check whether there are Minecraft connectivity issues on https://downdetector.com/status/minecraft/.
You also check MojangStatus' Twitter account as they provide PSAs when Minecraft realms are down, or players are experiencing issues connecting to them.
If the server you're connecting to is having issues, there is not much you can do except wait for the Minecraft developers to resolve the issue.
Fix 2: Reboot your modem and/or router
Your home internet connection may be too slow for Minecraft to connect to the server. You can restart your modem and/or router to see if that fixes the problem.
This simple fix is sometimes enough to resolve connection issues.
Here is how to reboot your network:
- Unplug your modem (and your wireless router, if it's a separate device) from the power outlet.
- Wait 60 seconds for your modem (and/or router) to reset.
- Reconnect the network devices and wait until the indicator lights are back to normal.
- Restart your computer.
- Launch Minecraft to check if the error is fixed.
Fix 3: Allow Minecraft through your Firewall
Minecraft may be unable to access the internet due to your firewall, resulting in the timeout error. Make sure that Minecraft is allowed by Windows Defender Firewall.
To do so, follow these steps:
- Type Defender Firewall on your keyboard, then click Windows Defender Firewall when it appears as a match.
- Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
- Make sure Minecraft is checked from the list of programs that can communicate through the Windows Defender Firewall.
- Try connecting to a server after restarting your computer and restarting again.
Fix 4: Allow port 25565 in Windows Defender Firewall
Ensure the 25565 port used by Minecraft is allowed by your firewall. You can follow the steps below:
- Press the Windows logo key and type Defender Firewall on your keyboard, then click Windows Defender Firewall as it appears as a match.
- Click Advanced settings.
- In the Window Defender Firewall with Advanced Security window, click Inbound Rules > New Rule.
- In the pop-up window, select Port and click Next to proceed.
- Select TCP > Specific local ports and type 25565. Then click the Next > button to continue.
- Click on Allow the connection and Next >. Then follow the on-screen instructions to save your changes.
- You will need to repeat the steps above to set the Outbound Rules similarly. Port 25565 must be able to connect to the outside world.
- For the firewall changes to take effect, you must restart your computer.
- Finally, check if the Minecraft Server Connection Timed Out error has been fixed.
Fix 5: Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus program.
You can try disabling your antivirus program temporarily to see if that's the problem. Players have reported that some antivirus software can be overprotective and flag legitimate programs as malicious even when they aren't.
Recheck Minecraft to see if it can connect to the servers without any problems after you have disabled the antivirus software. If you don't see an error message, then your Antivirus program was indeed the issue.?
For a permanent fix, you will have to re-enable the Antivirus to allow Minecraft to connect to the outside world through the antivirus firewall, which bypasses Windows Defender.
Fix 6: Try a different version of Minecraft.
Minecraft receives regular updates that fix bugs and glitches in previous versions. Ensure that you will always have Minecraft up-to-date.
However, occasionally the newest version may introduce server connection issues. You can try a different game version to see if it fixes the problem.
This is what you need to switch to an older Minecraft version:
- On the Minecraft Launcher, click Installations > New,
- Select any other game version except the current one from the VERSIONS drop-down menu and click Create.
- The new version will start downloading and then be added to the installations menu.
- Run the new version and check if you can connect to the server.
Fix 7: Use a VPN to bypass blocks
This is a rare occasion, but it can still happen. You may be trying to connect from a regionally blocked location. Or your network may not allow connections to Minecraft servers.
In such a case, you can bypass any block using a VPN service.
VPN (Virtual Private Network) services encrypt your data and reroute it through a dedicated server. This way, they can hide your IP address, and your ISP and network won't be able to access your Internet traffic. Meanwhile, Minecraft will think you are trying to connect from a different location.?
This method bypasses both geoblocking and network or ISP restrictions. I recommend using NordVPN for such a task, a VPN provider I also use for Pokemon Go location spoofing.
You can also read my full review of NordVPN.
How to use NordVPN:
- Start by downloading NordVPN and installing it.
- Launch NordVPN, then select the location you want to connect to.
- Set up a VPN connection on your PC and relaunch Minecraft to see if the problem is resolved.
NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee which you can take advantage of to find out whether you want to commit to the VPN long-term.