Minecraft Crossplay Between Java and Bedrock

Nov 14, 2026

Minecraft has crossplay, but only within one edition. All Bedrock devices, from phones to Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, play together out of the box. Java and Bedrock players can only meet on a server that runs a bridge, almost always the Geyser plugin. This guide explains both kinds of crossplay and how to join or set up a server that accepts everyone.

Crossplay between Bedrock devices

Bedrock Edition is the same game on Windows, Android, iPhone, Xbox, PlayStation and Switch. Players on any of them can play together in several ways:

• Friends list. Add each other with a Microsoft account and join each other's worlds from the Friends tab.
• Realms. A Bedrock Realm is a small paid server from Mojang that every Bedrock device can join.
• Featured servers. Large networks such as The Hive, CubeCraft and Lifeboat appear in the Servers tab on every Bedrock device.
• Bedrock servers by address. On Windows, phones and tablets you can add any Bedrock server with its address and port.

Why Java and Bedrock cannot meet by default

The two editions speak different network languages. A Java server does not understand a Bedrock client and the other way round. Mojang offers no official bridge, so a Java world, a Java Realm or a Java server is closed to Bedrock players unless the server owner adds one. If you are not sure which edition you have, read Minecraft Java vs Bedrock.

How Geyser makes crossplay possible

Geyser is a free, open source project that runs next to a Java server. It translates everything a Bedrock player does into the Java format and back. To the Bedrock player it looks like a normal Bedrock server, and to the Java server it looks like a Java player.

Many servers also add Floodgate. With Floodgate, Bedrock players can join without owning a Java account. Their names get a prefix so they cannot clash with Java names, by default a dot, so the Bedrock player Big Steve appears as .Big_Steve.

How to join a crossplay server

From Java Edition, nothing changes. Add the server address in the Multiplayer menu and join.

From Bedrock on Windows, a phone or a tablet:

1. Open Play and switch to the Servers tab.
2. Scroll down and tap Add Server.
3. Enter the same address the Java players use.
4. Enter the Bedrock port, usually 19132. Some servers use a different one, and the server page shows which.
5. Save and join.

From Xbox, PlayStation or Switch, the game only lets you join featured servers. Players use workarounds to reach other servers, and they are described in our guide how to join a Minecraft server.

Finding crossplay servers

Servers that accept both editions are in the cross-play category. The Bedrock list shows every server a Bedrock player can join, including Bedrock-only networks. Each server page shows the Java address, the Bedrock address and the port, so you can copy the right one.

Setting up crossplay on your own server

If you run a Java server and some of your friends play on phones or consoles, Geyser is the usual answer.

1. Install Geyser. It is available as a plugin for Paper, as a mod for Fabric and NeoForge, and as a standalone program for proxies.
2. Optionally install Floodgate, so Bedrock players do not need a Java account.
3. Start the server once, so Geyser creates its config file.
4. Open UDP port 19132 on your router or in your hosting panel. Java uses TCP 25565, Bedrock needs this extra UDP port.
5. Update Geyser whenever a new Bedrock version comes out, because Bedrock players update automatically and an old Geyser will reject them.

A hosted server spares you the router setup. Check that your host lets you open an extra UDP port for Bedrock before you buy.

Limits of crossplay

• Mods. Bedrock players cannot see content from Java mods. Crossplay works best on plugin servers with vanilla blocks and items.
• Combat and controls. The combat systems differ, so PvP between the editions is not perfectly fair.
• Resource packs. Java resource packs have to be converted before Bedrock players see them.
• Skins and names. Skins mostly work, and names carry the Floodgate prefix.

Common problems

• Bedrock players cannot connect. The UDP port is closed or the wrong port was entered. Check the port on the server page.
• Outdated Geyser. After a Bedrock update the server needs a new Geyser build.
• Vote rewards do not arrive. On MineList, a Bedrock player votes with their Xbox gamertag. The server prefix is added automatically. Details are on the how to vote page.

Frequently asked questions

Can Xbox players join a Java server?

Yes, if the Java server runs Geyser. Consoles do not have an Add Server button, so console players use one of the workarounds described in our joining guide.

Is crossplay free?

Yes. Bedrock crossplay is part of the game, and Geyser and Floodgate are free. You only need a server that supports it.

Do Bedrock players need a Java account?

Not on servers with Floodgate. Without Floodgate they have to log in with a Java account.

Can Java players join a Bedrock Realm?

No. Realms are separate for each edition, and Geyser cannot be installed on a Realm.