Minecraft
Can I whitelist while still allowing a cracked/non-premium friend?
Yes — you can run a whitelist and still let a cracked (non-premium) friend join, but how well it works depends on whether your server is in online or offline mode.
How it works on each mode
- Offline-mode server: The normal whitelist checks names, not accounts, so a cracked friend using an allowed name gets in — but so could anyone else using that name. For real security here, combine the whitelist with an auth plugin (AuthMe) so players must register a password.
- Premium (online-mode) server: Cracked friends can't join at all unless you switch to offline-mode.
The recommended setup
- Switch the server to offline-mode if you need cracked players (
online-mode=false). - Turn on the whitelist and add your players.
- Install an auth plugin like AuthMe so each player registers a password.
Warning: On offline-mode, a whitelist alone only checks names — anyone using an allowed name could get in. Pair it with an auth plugin for genuine protection.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep online-mode and still let one cracked friend in? No. Online-mode verifies Mojang accounts, so cracked clients can't connect until you switch to offline-mode.
Is a whitelist enough security on a cracked server? Not by itself — it only checks names. Add AuthMe so players authenticate with a password.
Where can I read more? See our cracked/non-premium guides for the full AuthMe setup.