Paper & Velocity 1.20.6 Are Here – What Server Admins Need to Know

PaperMC has released stable builds for both Paper and Velocity supporting Minecraft 1.20.6. Here's what's changed and why you should care about upgrading.

The Latest Updates Are Live

PaperMC just dropped official support for Minecraft 1.20.6, rolling out fresh builds for both Paper and Velocity. If you're running a server on an older version, this is your signal that it's time to start thinking about an upgrade path. The team has been hard at work ensuring stability and compatibility, so you know these builds have been tested thoroughly.

What Changed Under the Hood

While Minecraft 1.20.6 itself is a relatively modest update from the 1.20.5 version, it brings the usual batch of bug fixes and tweaks from Mojang. More importantly for server admins, Paper's implementation includes performance improvements and plugin compatibility enhancements that make this release worth paying attention to. Velocity also gets its own refinements, which matters if you're running a network of servers with proxy load balancing.

What This Means for Server Owners

If you're hosting with PaperChunk or managing your own Paper server, here's your checklist: test these builds on a staging environment first (always good practice), make sure your plugins are compatible with 1.20.6, and plan your migration window during low-traffic hours. The sooner you update, the sooner you can take advantage of the performance gains and security patches baked into the latest code. Plus, staying current keeps your server compatible with the latest client versions your players are using.

Ready to Upgrade?

Heading to the PaperMC downloads page to grab the latest build? Make sure your plugins and configurations are ready before you flip the switch. As always, backups are your best friend during any major update.