Minecraft Java
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Quick answer
- Consoles can only join Bedrock servers, and they have no Add Server button.
- Easiest for owners: run an Xbox friends-list broadcast (MCXboxBroadcast) so players join from their friends list.
- Alternative: BedrockConnect on the console's DNS, which adds a menu to type any address and port.
Why consoles are different#
On PC and phone you press Add Server and type an address. On Xbox, PlayStation and Switch that option isn't available, and the Servers tab only shows Mojang's Featured Servers. Joining your own server means either making it show up somewhere the console already looks, or using a helper that opens a menu for you.
Whatever you choose, the server itself has to be a Bedrock server, or a Java server with Geyser. Consoles can't join plain Java servers.
What changed with NetherNet#
Since Bedrock 26.60, every client connects with NetherNet instead of RakNet. Methods that rely on the console's friends list and Xbox network were built around NetherNet-style connections already. Methods that rely on typing an IP address through a helper menu depend on the helper being updated. Because the ecosystem is still catching up, test any method with a real console before you tell a whole community to use it.
The methods#
| Method | Owner effort | Player effort | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox friends-list broadcast (MCXboxBroadcast) | Medium: run a bot account | Very low: add a friend, join | Works on all consoles. Uses the same system as normal friend joins. |
| BedrockConnect (DNS) | None | Medium: change DNS once | Lets players type any address. Check it supports NetherNet before relying on it. |
| LAN helper apps | None | Medium: need a phone or PC on the same network | Fine for a single session at home. |
| Featured server | Not possible for most owners | Lowest | Only for servers Mojang partners with. |
Method 1: friends-list broadcast#
MCXboxBroadcast is a small program that signs in to a spare Microsoft account and advertises your server as a game that account is hosting. Players add that account as a friend, and your server appears in their Friends tab, just like a friend's world.
- Make a spare Microsoft account
Use a new account just for the bot, not your own. Give it a clear gamertag, for example your server's name.
- Run MCXboxBroadcast
Use the standalone version, or the Geyser extension if your server runs Geyser. On first start it shows a Microsoft login code for the spare account.
- Point it at your server
Put your server's address and Bedrock port in the config.
- Players add the bot as a friend
From a console, search the gamertag in the Xbox or PlayStation Minecraft friends menu, add it, and join from Friends.
Method 2: BedrockConnect#
BedrockConnect is a free project that hosts a DNS server. When a console uses it, the Featured Servers list gains an entry that opens a menu where the player can type any server address and port.
- Change the console's DNS
In the network settings, set manual DNS and enter the primary DNS address given in the BedrockConnect documentation. Set a second DNS as the backup, as the docs describe.
- Open Minecraft
Go to Play → Servers and open the top featured server (the BedrockConnect entry).
- Enter your server
Choose Connect to a server, type your address and Bedrock port, and join.
Since the 26.60 NetherNet change, hosts have reported that BedrockConnect may not work with NetherNet servers yet. Try it on a real console first. If it fails, use the friends-list method.
Method 3: LAN helper apps#
Apps such as BedrockTogether or MCCompanion run on a phone or PC on the same Wi-Fi as the console. They make a remote server appear as a LAN game. It works, but only while the app is running, so it is better for a one-off session than a community.
For server owners: what to set up#
- Use a Bedrock server or a Java server with Geyser and Floodgate. See how to make a Bedrock server.
- Share the address and the Bedrock port. Bedrock doesn't read SRV records, so a subdomain without the port won't work for Bedrock players.
- Keep the server on the newest Bedrock version so console players aren't blocked as "outdated".
- Pick one method and write it down on your Discord or website with screenshots. Most "can't join" tickets are console players missing one step.
Troubleshooting#
The custom server entry doesn't appear#
The DNS change didn't apply. Restart the console, check you typed both DNS fields correctly, and relaunch Minecraft.
"Unable to connect to world"#
The server is down, on the wrong port, or still on RakNet. Check the server first by joining from a phone with the same address and port.
The player can join from phone but not from console#
That points to the console method, not the server. Retry the method, or switch to the friends-list broadcast.
Players on a Java server can't be found by the bot#
Make sure Geyser is running and the Bedrock port is open for TCP and UDP. Test with a phone before testing a console.
Frequently asked questions#
Why can't I add a server on Xbox, PlayStation or Switch?
Mojang removed or never included the Add Server option on consoles. The Servers tab only lists official Featured Servers. Everything else needs a workaround.
Can console players join a Java Edition server?
Not directly. Console Minecraft is Bedrock Edition. A Java server needs Geyser installed so Bedrock players can join, and then consoles use the same workarounds as for any Bedrock server.
Is changing my console's DNS safe?
It is a normal setting and you can undo it any time by setting DNS back to automatic. Only use DNS addresses from the BedrockConnect project's own documentation, and only change DNS on your own console.
Do I need Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus?
Console online multiplayer requires the platform's online subscription on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Xbox requires Game Pass Core for most online play. Check your platform's current rules.
Will these methods keep working after NetherNet?
Joining by friends list is the most reliable, because Bedrock already uses NetherNet for friends. The DNS-based BedrockConnect method has been reported not to support NetherNet servers yet, so test it before you rely on it.
Which method is best for a small friend group?
An Xbox broadcast bot (MCXboxBroadcast): players add one account as a friend and join from their friends list, with nothing to change on their console.
