Direct answer

Try Direct Connect. If joining also hangs, treat it as a network path problem; if joining works, focus on status ping, DNS, proxy, or firewall behavior.

What it means

A stuck server-list ping usually means the client cannot complete the status request quickly.

If you are a player

  • Use Direct Connect with the exact Java address and port, and report whether joining works despite the spinning server-list icon.
  • Compare whether the problem occurs in one launcher/client version or from multiple networks.
  • Do not post your home public IP or proxy credentials in screenshots.

If you run the server

  1. Check whether enable-status=true in server.properties if you intend Java status pings to work.
  2. Test the advertised DNS/SRV record and backend port separately; login and server-list status can fail independently.
  3. For Velocity or a DDoS proxy, check whether the proxy answers status requests and forwards valid pings.
  4. If joins work but ping does not, investigate status packet handlers or ping-modifying plugins in staging.

Verify the result: Validate both the server-list MOTD/ping and an actual login from outside the host network; do not count a green listing alone as a connection test.

References

Use the documentation for the exact software and release you run. These sources support the settings or diagnostic behavior used in this fix.

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