ChunkArc Free Beta is not an always-on or SLA-backed service. An empty server can sleep after 15 continuous minutes with no players, then a real Minecraft Java connection can wake it again. Before an event, start it early and verify one normal join instead of making every friend troubleshoot at once.
What “uptime” means on the Free Beta
Uptime is not only whether a process is running. For a small community, a useful server is one that has finished booting, accepts the exact address your friends received and uses a compatible Java Edition version. ChunkArc publishes platform health, but the Free Beta does not promise 24/7 availability or an SLA.
Sleep mode is deliberate capacity management, not a deleted world. Read the sleep mode guide for the full behaviour and the limits that remain in place.
Five minutes before a group session
- Check the public platform status first. If a platform issue is shown, avoid changing server files or restarting repeatedly.
- Open the panel and start the server, or make one real Minecraft Java join attempt with its custom address. A server that has slept needs a short boot window before it is ready.
- Watch the panel Console until Minecraft reports that startup has finished. A power button changing state is not the same as a world being ready for players.
- Join once yourself with the exact address you plan to share. This checks the address and the game version before the group arrives.
- Send friends one message containing the address, Minecraft Java Edition version and the required modpack, if the server uses one.
Share details that prevent avoidable join errors
Most first-session issues come from an incomplete invite, not from a failed world. Copy the full custom address from the panel, say that the server is for Minecraft Java Edition and name the server version. For modded servers, share the exact loader and modpack revision too. The invite friends guide gives a ready-to-use checklist for that message.
If the server still does not accept a join
Do not keep restarting it. First compare the address character by character, confirm that the player is using Minecraft Java Edition and the selected server version, then check the Console for a normal completed startup. If those checks do not explain the result, follow the connection troubleshooting guide in order; it separates address, version, mod and service-state problems without asking players to guess.
Keep your world and expectations safe
A sleeping server is stopped, not erased. It is still sensible to download a copy of any important world before a major update, mod experiment or file change: the Free Beta does not promise automatic per-customer backups. Planning one small pre-session check protects the group experience without treating the beta as guaranteed uptime.
Make the next session simpler
A memorable custom address, one tested join and a compatible version make the first group session much easier. The Free Beta hosting page lists the current Free Beta limits.
Before a group session, use the server address guide and the sleep mode guide so the first player knows what to expect.
Invite friends guide