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How to join a Minecraft server on Java and Bedrock

Step-by-step: adding a server on Java and Bedrock, ports, version errors, consoles, and what to do in your first minutes online.

Wojtazzzz 7 min read

Joining a Minecraft server takes a minute once you know where the menus are, but the steps differ between Java Edition (PC and Mac) and Bedrock Edition (phones, tablets, consoles and the Windows version from the Microsoft Store). Before you start, find out which edition you have, then copy the server address from the server's page. On our server list every entry shows the address, the versions the server accepts and whether it also lets Bedrock players in.

What you need before you start

  • The server address. It looks like play.example.net or a plain IP such as 203.0.113.20. Sometimes a port number is attached after a colon, for example play.example.net:25570.
  • The right edition. A Java-only server cannot be joined from Bedrock, and the other way round, unless the server is set up for both. Look for the Java + Bedrock badge if you play on a phone or console.
  • A compatible game version. The server's MOTD (the short message under its name in the server list) or its page tells you which versions it accepts.

Joining a server on Java Edition

Java Edition has a built-in server list that remembers every server you add, together with its icon, player count and ping.

  1. Start the game from the launcher and click Multiplayer on the title screen. The first time, the game shows a warning about online play from third-party servers; click Proceed.
  2. Click Add Server at the bottom of the screen.
  3. In Server Name type anything that helps you recognise it later. The name is only stored on your computer.
  4. In Server Address paste the address exactly as the server gives it. If there is a port, keep it after the colon. If there is no port, leave it out: the game uses the default Java port, 25565.
  5. Click Done. The server appears in the list and the game pings it. After a moment you should see its icon, MOTD, player count and a signal-strength indicator.
  6. Select it and click Join Server, or double-click it.

If you only want to try a server once, use Direct Connection instead of Add Server. It asks for the address and connects straight away without saving anything.

The Add Server screen also has a Server Resource Packs option with three settings: Enabled, Disabled and Prompt. Many servers send a resource pack with custom textures, menus or sounds. If you set it to Disabled, some servers will refuse the connection or show missing textures, so Prompt is a sensible choice.

Versions and the "outdated" messages

Java Edition is strict about versions. A server reports the version it runs, and if your game does not match, the server list shows a red version name instead of the player count and the connection fails with a message saying your client or the server is outdated.

Many servers run software that accepts several versions at once, for example everything from 1.21 up to the latest 26.x release. Others only accept one. To fix a mismatch:

  1. Check the versions listed on the server's page or in its MOTD.
  2. In the launcher, open Installations and click New installation.
  3. Pick a version the server accepts from the version dropdown and save it.
  4. Choose that installation next to the Play button and start the game.

If you need snapshots or old releases, turn them on in the launcher settings first. Your worlds and server list are shared between installations, but it is a good idea to back up single-player worlds before opening them in an older version.

Joining a server on Bedrock Edition

On phones, tablets and Windows, Bedrock lets you add any server by address. The menu is the same on all of them.

  1. Tap Play on the main screen.
  2. Go to the Servers tab. At the top you see the featured servers chosen by Mojang.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the list and tap Add Server.
  4. Fill in Server Name (your own label), Server Address (without any port) and Port.
  5. The default Bedrock port is 19132. Leave it unless the server tells you to use a different one. Note that a Java + Bedrock server often uses a different port for Bedrock than for Java, so read the server's page carefully.
  6. Tap Save to keep it in the list, or Play to connect immediately.

Bedrock requires you to be signed in with a Microsoft account to play on external servers. If the Servers tab is greyed out or tells you multiplayer is disabled, check that you are signed in and, on a child account, that the account's privacy settings allow joining multiplayer games and content from outside servers.

Bedrock is also picky about versions. Most servers that accept Bedrock players support only recent releases, so updating the game from your app store is usually the fix when a connection fails with an outdated message.

Consoles: the featured servers limitation

On Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch the Servers tab only shows the featured servers. There is no Add Server button, so you cannot type in an address the normal way. This is a platform decision, not something a server owner can change. Players use a few common workarounds:

  • Joining through a friend. If someone on your friends list is already playing on the server, you can often join their session from the friends menu. Some community tools create a helper account that sits on a server so console players can join it this way.
  • Local network broadcast. Some phone and PC apps announce a remote server on your home network as if it were a LAN game. The console then shows it in the Friends tab under LAN games, and joining it connects you to the real server.
  • Custom DNS. Some community-run DNS services redirect a featured server entry to a screen where you can enter any address. This means changing your console's network settings and sending your DNS lookups through a third party.

None of these are supported by Mojang or the console makers and they can stop working after an update. Use only tools you trust, and never enter your account password into anything other than the official sign-in screens.

When the connection fails

  • "Can't resolve hostname" or "Unable to connect to world": check the address for typos and extra spaces. On Bedrock, make sure the port is in the Port field and not in the address.
  • Connection timed out: the server may be offline or restarting. Its live player count on its page shows whether it is up right now.
  • Outdated client or server: switch versions on Java, or update the game on Bedrock.
  • "You are not whitelisted": the server is private. Its page or community explains how to apply.
  • Failed to verify username: on Java, restart the launcher so your login session refreshes.

What to do after joining

Most servers put you in a spawn area or a lobby first. Before you run off, spend a minute on the basics.

Register on non-premium servers

Servers marked as non-premium (often called cracked) let in players without a verified account. To stop others from using your nickname, they ask you to set a password in chat the first time:

  1. Type /register yourpassword yourpassword (some servers ask for it only once).
  2. Next time you join, type /login yourpassword.

Use a password you do not use anywhere else, and never your Microsoft account password. Server staff do not need it and should never ask for it. Premium servers verify your account automatically and skip this step.

Read the rules

Rules are usually available with /rules, on a sign at spawn or in the server's community channels. They cover things like griefing, allowed client mods, chat language and whether PvP is on. Breaking them out of ignorance still gets you banned.

Find your way from spawn

  • Try /help to see the commands the server offers, and /spawn to return to the start.
  • Lobby servers often give you a compass or menu item to pick a game mode.
  • On survival servers, travel away from spawn before building, since the area near it is often protected or crowded. Check whether the server uses land claims and how to create one.
  • Ask in chat. Regular players usually answer quickly.

Choosing a server to try

If you do not have a server in mind yet, browse by mode on pages like survival servers or minigames servers. Live player counts, votes and reviews from other players give a quick sense of how active a server is, and the version and badge information tells you before you copy the address whether your game can connect. For Bedrock players, the list of servers that also accept Bedrock filters out everything you cannot join.