Java and Bedrock crossplay on one server
Crossplay lets a friend on a phone or console play in the same world as a friend on PC. The server runs Java Edition, and Bedrock players come in through a translator.
When you order a server with the Crossplay edition, this is set up for you. This guide explains what is running, how each player connects, and the few things that stop it from working.
How crossplay works
Two plugins do the work, both on a Paper server.
- Geyser listens for Bedrock players and translates everything they send into Java, and everything the server sends back into Bedrock. To the server, a Bedrock player looks like a Java player.
- Floodgate lets Bedrock players in without a paid Java account. Without it, every Bedrock player would need to own Java Edition too.
Because the server is Java, you can add Java plugins as usual. Mods are not possible: Bedrock players cannot load Fabric or Forge mods.
Two addresses, one world
Java and Bedrock connect in different ways, so the panel shows two things on the Overview and in Settings under the play address.
| Player | What they type |
|---|---|
| Java (PC) | The server address, no port needed |
| Bedrock on phone, tablet or Windows | The same address, plus the Bedrock port the panel shows |
- On Bedrock, open Play, go to the Servers tab and choose Add Server.
- Give it any name, type the address, and put the port from your panel in the port field.
- Save and join.
The setting you should not change
Most crossplay tutorials tell you to put Geyser on 19132, the usual Bedrock port. Here each server gets a Bedrock port of its own, and Geyser has been set to that number for you. 19132 leads nowhere for your server.
If you open plugins/Geyser-Spigot/config.yml and change the port to 19132, or turn on the option that copies the Java port, Bedrock players can no longer connect, while Java players notice nothing. It is the most common way crossplay breaks.
Changed it by accident? Put the port back to the number the panel shows and restart the server.
Bedrock player names and the whitelist
To keep names apart, Floodgate puts a dot in front of Bedrock usernames. A Bedrock player called Sam shows up as .Sam in chat, in the player list and in commands.
- To whitelist a Bedrock player, use Floodgate's own command:
/fwhitelist add Sam(without the dot). - To give a Bedrock player permissions or op, use the name with the dot:
/op .Sam. - Bedrock names with spaces get an underscore instead of the space.
Consoles
Xbox, PlayStation and Switch have no Add Server button. Console players have two common workarounds: changing the console's DNS so one of the featured servers opens a menu where any address can be typed, or joining through a friend's session with a broadcast tool. Both work with a crossplay server; the address and Bedrock port stay the same.
Versions
Bedrock updates itself on phones and consoles, so Bedrock players are always on the newest version. Geyser is updated to follow, and it supports the newest Java versions. Keep a crossplay server on a recent Java version and keep Geyser up to date; an old Geyser is the usual reason Bedrock players suddenly see an outdated server message.
What does not translate perfectly
- Some Java redstone tricks and block quirks behave differently for Bedrock players, because Bedrock does not have them.
- Inventory screens of plugins show up as Bedrock menus; most work fine, some complex ones look odd.
- Custom resource packs for Java do not show for Bedrock players unless converted.
For a friends survival world none of this matters much. For a minigame server built around Java mechanics, test with a Bedrock player before you open.
Questions
Do Bedrock players need a Java account?
No. Floodgate lets them join with their Microsoft account from Bedrock. Only if you remove Floodgate would they need to own Java too.
Why can Java players join but Bedrock players cannot?
Almost always the Geyser port. Check that the port in the Geyser config matches the Bedrock port in the panel, and that the player typed that port. An outdated Geyser is the second most common cause.
Can I add crossplay to an existing Java server?
Yes, if it runs Paper or another plugin server. Ask support to add it; the world stays as it is. A Fabric or Forge server cannot get crossplay.
Do Bedrock players see Java skins?
Yes, Java players look normal to Bedrock players. Bedrock skins are shown to Java players too, although some very custom Bedrock skins look simplified.
Checked against Geyser and Floodgate on Paper for Minecraft Java 26.2, September 2026. Written by the Cheapest Minecraft Hosting team, updated .