How do I use custom skins, or clear my profile info on the server?

Custom skins come from your account authentication, so how they behave depends mostly on whether your server runs in online or offline mode. This is largely Minecraft-specific — here's the short version.

How skins work

On an online-mode server, your skin is pulled automatically from your authenticated account — nothing to configure. On offline (cracked) servers, there's no authentication to pull from, so skins need a skin-restorer style plugin to display. That single distinction explains almost every skin question.

How to get skins working

1. On an online-mode server, your skin comes from your authenticated account automatically.
2. On offline/cracked servers, install a skin-restorer style plugin so skins display.
3. See the Minecraft KB for specific skin plugins and per-player identity details.

Tip: If skins show for some players but not others, you're almost certainly on offline mode — a skin plugin fixes it across the board.

Frequently asked questions

No skins are showing on my cracked server — why? Offline mode has no account to pull skins from. Add a skin plugin and they'll display.