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How to fix "Failed to verify username" in Minecraft?

When setting up a Minecraft server, you might encounter the following error:

Failed to verify username

This error appears when a player tries to connect to the server and means the server was unable to verify the player's Minecraft account license.

Why This Error Occurs​

By default, Minecraft servers only allow players with an official, paid version of the game. This setup:

  • Enables use of the official skin system
  • Protects accounts from being used by unauthorized third parties

However, if you want to allow non-premium (cracked) players to join, you will need to disable license verification.

Important Before Disabling License Verification​

Warning

Disabling online-mode may affect server security and core systems. Please read the consequences carefully.

  • Microsoft authentication will be disabled.
  • Players’ UUIDs will change, which means existing data (like inventories) will not work.
  • Default whitelisting and ban systems will no longer function.
  • Skins won’t appear unless players use third-party launchers or plugins.
Recommendation

We strongly recommend installing the following plugins:

  • For authentication: AuthMeReloaded
  • For skins: SkinsRestorer
  • For whitelist and bans: LuckPerms, FastLogin

Disabling License Verification​

To allow cracked players to join your server, you need to change a single setting in the server.properties file:

  1. Go to the root folder of your server (where server.jar is located).
  2. Locate and open the server.properties file.
  3. Find the line: 
    online-mode=true
  4. Change true to false: 
    online-mode=false
  5. Save the file.
  6. Restart the server.
  1. Open the "Files" section in your hosting panel.
  2. Navigate to the root directory of the server.
  3. Click on server.properties.
  4. Find and change the line: 
    online-mode=true
    to: 
    online-mode=false
  5. Click Save.
  6. Restart the server from the hosting panel.