Can I change my name with this version?

Not yet. Name changing will be enabled once enough players upgrade to 1.8 or later. This gives servers time to update their systems.

Will bans and whitelists still work if someone changes their name?

Yes. The UUID system means bans, whitelists, and operator status follow the player's account, not their name. They stay locked to that UUID forever.

Can two players have the same name?

No. Names are still unique. If you want a specific name, the other player has to change theirs first.

Is 1.7.6 compatible with 1.7.5 servers?

No. The protocol changed to support UUIDs, so 1.7.6 clients cannot join 1.7.5 servers and vice versa.

Do I need to do anything special to run this on my server?

Just update and start it. The server handles the player data conversion automatically. It will let you know if there are any issues.

Minecraft 1.7.6 Pre-Release | UUID & Name Changes

Minecraft 1.7.6 Pre-Release

Minecraft 1.7.6 pre-release is now available for testing, and it brings one of the biggest features since the game started: the ability for players to change their names. This works because the update switches to a UUID (unique identifier) system instead of relying on player names alone.

What this means: if a player gets banned under the name “Foo,” they stay banned even if they change to “Bar.” Same goes for whitelisted players and server operators. Your inventory, pets, statistics, and everything else stays tied to your account, not your name.

How It Works

The old system tracked players by their names. If you changed your name, the server had no way to know you were the same person. The new UUID system gives every player a permanent unique ID behind the scenes. Your name can change. Your UUID never does.

This is a protocol change, so there’s no backwards compatibility with 1.7.5. If you’re running a server, it will update the player data automatically when you switch versions. Might need some attention if there are issues, but mostly it just works.

Installation

To test the pre-release:

Open the Minecraft launcher
Click “New Profile”
Name it “pre-releases” or whatever you want
Check the box for “Enable experimental development snapshots”
Select 1.7.6 from the version dropdown
Save and launch

Important: Pre-releases can corrupt your worlds. Either back them up first or run the pre-release in a completely separate folder. Use the “New Profile” dialog to set a different game directory if you want.

Server Setup

If you’re running a server, the transition is pretty straightforward. The server updates itself when you install 1.7.6. Most of the time it just works. Check your log if it doesn’t start. If there are corrupted player files, the server will tell you.

Mods

Mod compatibility depends on the mod. Ask the mod developer or your server admin. Most mods should work fine with the new system, but we can’t guarantee it.

Download

Client: Download Client

Server (Jar): Download Server

Server (Windows Exe): Download Windows Server