Released 2023-12-07
Minecraft 1.20.4 needs Java 17
As the last version before Minecraft moved to Java 21, 1.20.4 is the obvious place to stop if your hosting is stuck on Java 17.
Java version required
17or newer
An older Java will not start it. A much newer Java normally does, but that is up to the server software rather than Minecraft.
Availability
Paper is available for 1.20.4
It accepts Bukkit / Spigot / Paper plugins.
Will the file I downloaded work?
Mods and plugins are two different things that both come as a .jar. Use the wrong kind and there is usually no error: the server boots and the content is simply missing.
running on Paper
No. Forge is a mod platform and Paper runs plugins — two separate systems that just share a file extension. Nothing loads, and you get no warning.
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Things to know about this version
By this point most of the Forge ecosystem had moved over to NeoForge; actively maintained mods mostly ship NeoForge builds for 1.20.4 and treat Forge as legacy. Putting a pack together here, NeoForge will usually be the easy route.
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This version on the Java timeline
- Java 81.7 through 1.16.5
- Java 161.17 and 1.17.1
- Java 171.18 through 1.20.4
- Java 211.20.5 and everything after