Setting up a Minecraft server is a fantastic way to build a gaming community. However, by default, Minecraft servers enforce authentication against Mojang/Microsoft servers. This means only players with a paid, premium account can join. If your friends use alternative launcher clients (like TLauncher, Prism Launcher, or Legacy Launcher), you need to change your server setup to allow "cracked" or offline-mode connections. In this guide, we will show you how to enable cracked mode on your Minecraft server hosted on a Pterodactyl-based panel in just a few clicks.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enable Cracked Mode
Pterodactyl is a state-of-the-art server management panel used by top game hosting providers like SkyRainCloud. Enabling offline-mode (cracked) takes under two minutes. Follow these simple steps:
Log in and Stop Your Server
Open your Pterodactyl game panel. Click on your Minecraft server card, and click the red Stop button to shut down the server safely. Editing files while the server is running can corrupt configs.
Navigate to File Manager
On the left sidebar, click on File Manager. This lists all the files inside your Minecraft server directory.
Edit server.properties
Find the file named server.properties in the root folder. Click on it to open Pterodactyl's built-in text editor.
Change online-mode to false
Scroll down or use search (Ctrl + F) to find the line:
online-mode=true
Change true to false so it reads:
online-mode=false
Save and Restart Your Server
Click the Save Content button at the bottom-right. Go back to the server console dashboard and click Start. Your server is now online in cracked mode!
Security Warning: Protect Your Server!
Disabling online-mode means that anyone can connect to your server using any username. They do not have to prove they own the account. This poses a major security vulnerability: someone can log in using your admin/owner username and take full control of your server.
To prevent this, you must install an in-game login/authentication plugin. This forces every player to register with a password the first time they join, and log in on subsequent visits.
Top Authentication Plugins to Install:
- AuthMe Reloaded: The gold standard for Paper/Spigot servers. Easy to configure, customizable messages, and database integration.
- OxiAuth: A modern, lightweight authentication plugin that works great for Velocity proxies and Geyser (bedrock join) setups.
- SkinsRestorer: Since cracked servers don't query Mojang for skins, everyone will look like Steve/Alex. Installing
SkinsRestorerallows players to set custom skins in-game using the/skin [name]command.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can premium players still join my cracked server?
Yes! Premium players with official paid accounts can still join the server without any issues. They will just need to register a password in-game if you have installed an authentication plugin.
Will my server performance lag in cracked mode?
No, offline-mode does not impact server performance, memory usage, or tick rate. Your server will run just as fast as before.
Why did my inventory and player location reset?
When you toggle online-mode, Minecraft changes how it calculates player UUIDs (from official Mojang UUIDs to offline-generated UUIDs). As a result, the server treats existing premium players as new players. We recommend enabling offline-mode on fresh worlds or backing up your players' inventories before switching.
Is DDoS protection still active on cracked servers?
Yes, if you are hosted with a premium provider like SkyRainCloud, our enterprise-grade DDoS filtering remains fully active on your server's IP address and port, keeping you safe from downtime regardless of the online-mode setting.