diff --git a/.github/hangar-description.md b/.github/hangar-description.md
index 4665a0e56..432a0a740 100644
--- a/.github/hangar-description.md
+++ b/.github/hangar-description.md
@@ -19,6 +19,15 @@ the normal plugin setup does not require a backend Geyser installation.
 For more routing features and the connector that receives the most frequent
 updates, consider the [Gate connector](https://connect.minekube.com/guide/connectors/).
 
+## Requirements
+
+- **Minecraft 1.13+** on Paper/Spigot (and supported proxy versions on Velocity and
+  BungeeCord) — the declared `api-version` floor and the first version whose servers
+  ship the Netty 4.1+ the plugin's bundled Netty (4.2.x, unrelocated) requires.
+  Servers 1.8–1.11 ship Netty 4.0.x, where the packet listener injection fails with
+  `AbstractMethodError` (missing `newChild` implementation).
+- **Java 17+** to run the plugin.
+
 ## Quick start
 
 1. Download the jar for your platform and place it in the server or proxy
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ef708f29f..833775d46 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@ low latency edge proxies network nearest to you.
 
 Please refer to https://connect.minekube.com for more documentation.
 
+## Requirements
+
+- **Minecraft 1.13 or newer** — the declared `api-version` floor in `plugin.yml`, and
+  the version from which servers ship the Netty 4.1+ the plugin's bundled Netty (4.2.x,
+  unrelocated) requires. Servers 1.8–1.11 ship Netty 4.0.x, where the packet listener
+  injection fails with `AbstractMethodError` (missing `newChild` implementation) and the
+  plugin disables itself.
+- **Java 17 or newer** — the plugin is compiled for Java 17; older server JVMs
+  (Java 8/11, typical for Minecraft ≤1.12 servers) cannot load it.
+
 ## Integrating with login / auth plugins
 
 Connect authenticates players at the edge, so login plugins that force online mode on a