Minecraft: Java Edition ยท Patch release

Minecraft 1.20.2

1.20.2 fixed over 200 issues and reworked how the server sends chunks and negotiates joins. It added a configuration phase to the protocol, the random command and function macros.

Released
Server needs
Java 17
Protocol
764
Start a 1.20.2 serverStart a free server

Seven days free, no card. Pick 1.20.2 when you create the server, or switch an existing one from the panel.

A patch of

Minecraft 1.20 Trails & Tales

Trails & Tales added archaeology, armour trims, camels and sniffers, plus the cherry grove biome and two new wood sets.

Everything 1.20 added

What changed in Minecraft 1.20.2

The fixes and changes of this release.

  • Over 200 issues fixed
  • New /random command and function macros
  • New configuration phase in the network protocol
  • Chunks are now sent in smaller batches based on bandwidth
  • Villager trade rebalance available as an experiment
  • Not compatible with 1.20 or 1.20.1 servers

Blocks and items

  • Smithing table allows shift clicking upgrade materials

Mobs

  • Mob attack reach recalculated so attacks no longer hit through blocks
  • Villager cure discount no longer multiplies on reinfection

World and biomes

  • Diamond ore generation increased in the deepslate layer
  • New ore blob placement changes how ore veins are laid out

Gameplay

  • New game rule enderPearlsVanishOnDeath
  • New attribute generic.max_absorption
  • Chorus fruit now resets fall distance
  • Chat messages no longer appear after the player dies

Commands and technical

  • New /random command draws random values and controls random sequences
  • Function macros allow variable substitution inside functions
  • Display entity interpolation now matches armour stand behaviour
  • Sculk sensors detect additional vibration events
  • Data pack format 18

Running a Minecraft 1.20.2 server

What the release means for whoever runs the server.

  • Requires Java SE 17
  • Protocol version 764
  • Data pack format 18
  • Not compatible with 1.20 or 1.20.1 servers
  • Chunks are sent in smaller batches sized to available bandwidth
  • A new configuration phase lets clients stay in configuration indefinitely
  • Villager trade rebalance is an experiment, not on by default

Before you update a world: take a backup. A world opened in 1.20.2 cannot be opened in an older version again. How backups work here.

1.20.2 on FadeHost

The right Java, set for you
A 1.20.2 server needs Java 17, and the panel starts it with a Java that fits. Nothing to install, nothing to pick.
Server software for 1.20.2
PaperPurpurVanillaFabricForgeNeoForgeMohist
Who can join
Players on 1.20.2. Other versions need plugins such as ViaVersion on a Paper server.
Start a 1.20.2 server

Questions about 1.20.2

When was Minecraft 1.20.2 released?

Minecraft: Java Edition 1.20.2 was released on September 21, 2023.

What Java version does a Minecraft 1.20.2 server need?

Java 17. On FadeHost the server starts with the right Java for its Minecraft version on its own, so there is nothing to install or switch.

What did Minecraft 1.20.2 change?

1.20.2 fixed over 200 issues and reworked how the server sends chunks and negotiates joins. It added a configuration phase to the protocol, the random command and function macros.

Can players on another version join a 1.20.2 server?

Only players on 1.20.2 itself: its network protocol (764) is its own. A Paper server can let other versions in with plugins such as ViaVersion and ViaBackwards.

Can I update my world to Minecraft 1.20.2?

Yes. Take a backup, switch the server to 1.20.2 and start it: the world is converted on the first boot. A world opened in 1.20.2 cannot be opened in an older version again, so keep the backup until you are sure.

How do I start a Minecraft 1.20.2 server?

Create a server on FadeHost and pick 1.20.2 in the software list: Paper, Purpur, Vanilla, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Mohist are there for this version. It is online in about a minute. The free tier runs a 2 GB server at no cost, and a paid server is sized to the RAM you need.

The release before

Minecraft 1.20.1

June 12, 2023

The release after

Minecraft 1.20.3 Bats and Pots

December 5, 2023

Read on

Change a server's version

Version, software and loader build are one setting in the panel.

Java version errors

What the wrong Java looks like in the console, and why it does not happen here.

RAM calculator

How much memory a server needs, sized from servers measured on our nodes.

Every Minecraft version

All releases, what each one added and the Java it needs.

Release facts from the Minecraft Wiki:Java Edition 1.20.2. Minecraft is a trademark of Mojang; FadeHost is not affiliated with Mojang or Microsoft.