Java 8: Minecraft “Authentication Servers Are Currently Down” or "Encrypting"

And how to fix it in just a few minutes

Over the past few days, many Minecraft players have reported connection issues with messages like:

“Authentication servers are currently down” or "Encrypting"

The good news: Mojang’s servers are not actually down.
The bad news: the issue comes from outdated Java versions, specifically Java 8.

What’s Happening?

Mojang recently updated their TLS certificates (used for secure and encrypted connections).
Unfortunately, Java 8 is too old to recognize these new certificates, which causes your game to fail the authentication process. But don't worry, your servers are running normally.

This means your game can’t log in or connect, but it’s not a server issue! It’s a client-side problem.

The Recommended Fix

The easiest and most reliable solution is to update your game to use Java 17 or newer.

Modern launchers like MultiMC, GDLauncher, ATLauncher, or Prism let you select which Java version your instance should use.

We recommend:

• Download and install Java 17 or 21

• In your launcher, set the Java path to the new version

• Restart your game. You should now connect without issues!

Bonus: You’ll probably enjoy better performance and better compatibility with newer modpacks.

Alternative Solution (Advanced Users Only)

If you prefer to keep Java 8 for any reason, there’s a more complex workaround available.
You can find it here: Reddit Guide

Thanks for reading, and we hope this helps you get back into the game quickly.

💙 The HypeServ Team