What is a Minecraft UUID?

A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit number used to uniquely identify a Minecraft player account. Every Minecraft Java Edition account has exactly one UUID assigned to it by Mojang when the account is created, and this identifier never changes - even when the player changes their username.

What Does a UUID Look Like?

A UUID is a 32-character hexadecimal string, typically displayed with hyphens in a 8-4-4-4-12 format. For example, the UUID for Notch (Minecraft's creator) is:

You may also encounter a "trimmed" UUID, which is the same value without hyphens:

Both formats represent the same account. Different tools, APIs, and Minecraft servers may use one format or the other, which is why our lookup tool shows both.

Why Does Minecraft Use UUIDs?

Before Minecraft version 1.7.6 (released in 2014), players were identified solely by their usernames. This caused a significant problem: if a player changed their name, servers would lose track of all their data - inventories, permissions, ban lists, and progress would all be lost.

Mojang introduced UUIDs to solve this. Since a UUID is permanent and tied to the account (not the username), servers can now:

• Preserve player data across username changes
• Maintain accurate ban lists (a banned player can't evade by changing their name)
• Keep plugin data, permissions, and economy balances intact
• Reliably link player data across multiple servers in a network

UUID Versions in Minecraft

Minecraft uses two types of UUIDs depending on the context:

• Version 4 (random) UUIDs: These are assigned to premium (paid) Minecraft Java Edition accounts. They are generated randomly by Mojang and are globally unique. You can identify a v4 UUID because the third group starts with a "4" (e.g., 069a79f4-44e9-4726-a5be-fca90e38aaf5).
• Version 3 (name-based) UUIDs: These are generated for offline-mode (cracked) servers. They're derived from the player's username using an MD5 hash, meaning the same username always produces the same offline UUID. These are not issued by Mojang and have no official account backing.

Java Edition vs. Bedrock Edition

It's important to note that Minecraft Java Edition and Bedrock Edition use different identification systems:

• Java Edition uses Mojang-assigned UUIDs (the kind this tool looks up). Accounts are managed through Mojang/Microsoft.
• Bedrock Edition (Windows 10, mobile, consoles) uses Xbox Live gamertags and XUIDs (Xbox User IDs). These are completely separate from Mojang UUIDs.

If you play on Bedrock Edition, you won't find your account through this tool. This service specifically queries Mojang's API for Java Edition accounts.

Common Uses for Minecraft UUIDs

UUIDs are used extensively in the Minecraft ecosystem:

• Server administration: Whitelisting, banning, and managing player permissions by UUID ensures accuracy regardless of name changes.
• Plugin development: Plugins store player data indexed by UUID so it persists across username changes.
• Player data files: Minecraft stores world-specific player data in files named by UUID (found in the world/playerdata/ folder).
• API integrations: Third-party services like skin renderers, stats trackers, and server lists use UUIDs to identify players.
• Cross-server networks: BungeeCord and Velocity proxy networks use UUIDs to track players moving between servers.

Can a UUID Be Changed or Transferred?

No. A UUID is permanently bound to a Minecraft account. It cannot be changed, transferred to another account, or reused. If an account is deleted, that UUID is effectively retired - it will never be assigned to a new account.

This permanence is what makes UUIDs so valuable for player identification. You can always trust that a given UUID refers to one specific account, forever.