Are some of your friends on a phone (Bedrock) and others on PC (Java)? With Java + Bedrock cross-play both can meet on the same server. The server stays Java; Bedrock players connect through a bridge installed on the server and install nothing on their side.

Why can't the two editions connect directly?

Java and Bedrock are two separate games built by different teams on different technical foundations. They don't even speak the same language over the network. That's why typing a Java server address on a phone finds nothing — it isn't your mistake, the protocols simply differ.

How the bridge works

The bridge is two small system plugins that translate the Bedrock protocol into the Java protocol. A Bedrock client connects as if it were talking to a Bedrock server; the second plugin lets Bedrock players in without needing a separate Java account.

Working together, phone and PC players meet in the same world through the same address. Java-side security is unaffected: Java players still go through licence verification as before.

Three requirements

Cross-play is conditional. We'd rather say so up front, because finding out after buying is frustrating:

  • Plugin-family server software — Paper, Purpur, Spigot or CraftBukkit. Because the bridge runs as a plugin it cannot be used on mod loaders (Fabric, Quilt, Forge, NeoForge).
  • Minecraft 1.20.5 or newer.
  • At least 4 GB of RAM — the bridge adds load; it can't be enabled on the 2 GB Starter package.

Enabling it from the panel

On a server that qualifies, you switch it on from the Java + Bedrock card in the Settings section. The system installs the bridge at compatible versions and opens the network port; no downloads, version matching or config editing. The server restarts once when you enable it.

If your server doesn't qualify, the panel says so plainly and shows why — mod-based software, an older version or a small package leaves the switch disabled. That avoids the "I turned it on but nothing works" situation.

The bridge updates itself every time your server starts. So when the phone side gets a Minecraft update, your players keep getting in without you doing anything. You can still see the installed bridge version in Settings and update it manually if you want.

How Bedrock players connect

In the Bedrock client they go to Servers → Add Server and enter the server address and the port number. Both values sit side by side in the panel and copy with one click.

Note: this port is not Bedrock's well-known default. Make sure they use exactly what the panel shows; it's by far the most common cause of connection problems.

Java players change nothing; they still connect with just the address, no port required.

Who can join, and who can't?

Phone and Windows 10/11 (Bedrock) players can join — whether or not they bought the game, anyone signed in with a free Microsoft/Xbox account can connect.

Players not signed into any Microsoft/Xbox account cannot join; the game shows them a "sign in to Xbox" prompt. That's Minecraft's own security rule, not our setting, and it can't be turned off.

Consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch) are not supported. We say that plainly, because Bedrock brings consoles to mind. The supported side is the phone and Windows 10/11 client.

Bedrock players should keep Minecraft up to date; a very old version may fail to connect. Your server's Java version doesn't matter here.

Limits and things to know

  • There are small mechanical differences between Java and Bedrock (inventory behaviour, some redstone rules).
  • Bedrock usernames appear on the server with a leading dot (.Ahmet, for example). That's normal bridge behaviour and admin commands use the same name.
  • Some plugins built around heavily customised interfaces (custom menus, complex books, certain visual tricks) may look different on Bedrock or not appear at all.
  • Cross-play does not work on modded servers; mods and the Bedrock bridge cannot be combined on the same server.
  • If your server sleeps for a long time and wakes, the port can rarely change. You'll get a notification if it does; updating the saved server on the phone with the new number is all that's needed.

Common problems

  • A Bedrock player can't connect — check the port first. It must match the panel exactly.
  • The switch is disabled — your software is in the mod family, your version is older than 1.20.5, or your package is below 4 GB.
  • It worked yesterday, not today — the port may have changed on wake; put the current panel value into their saved server.
  • A "sign in to Xbox" prompt — the player needs to sign in with a free Microsoft/Xbox account.
  • Some commands don't work on Bedrock — the plugin's interface may not be supported there; use a text-based equivalent if one exists.

Cross-play is the easiest way to widen your player base — nobody has to change device. We cover the topic more broadly in the Java and Bedrock together guide.