Can Java and Bedrock Play Together on a Minecraft Server?

No, not by default. The Minecraft Wiki says Bedrock players cannot play with Java players unless the server uses a workaround. That workaround is Geyser: it lets Bedrock players join a Java server, and with Floodgate they need no Java account. Java players still cannot join a Bedrock server.

Who can join what

Minecraft is sold as two separate games, Java Edition and Bedrock Edition. They use different code and different network protocols, so a server built for one does not accept players from the other. This table shows what works in 2026:

Player	Server	Works?
Java player	Java server	Yes.
Bedrock player	Bedrock server	Yes, across phones, tablets, Windows and consoles.
Bedrock player	Java server	Only if the server runs Geyser.
Java player	Bedrock server	No. There is no official or common workaround.

Java Edition runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. Bedrock Edition runs on Windows, phones, tablets and consoles, which is why most crossplay questions come from friends who own different devices. If one friend plays on a PlayStation and another on a Mac, only a Java server with Geyser connects them.

How Java and Bedrock crossplay works

Geyser is a free bridge between the two editions. You install it on your Java server and it translates between Bedrock's protocol and Java's. Floodgate goes with it, so Bedrock players can join without buying Java Edition.

Your Java players keep joining as usual, on the Java port. Bedrock players add the same address in their Servers tab and use a second port, the one Geyser listens on. Since Bedrock 26.60, that port has to be open for TCP and UDP. The whole setup takes a few minutes and is covered step by step in how to set up Geyser and Floodgate.

What each player does

Crossplay asks very little of your players. Java players change nothing: they join with the address they already use. Bedrock players add the server once in their Servers tab, with the same address and the Bedrock port, and then join like any other server. On consoles they take the extra helper step first. You, as the owner, handle the Geyser setup once.

What a crossplay server needs

A Java server, most often on Paper. Geyser also runs on Fabric, NeoForge, Velocity and BungeeCord. For plugin basics see how to install plugins on a Paper server.
The Geyser and Floodgate files, both free from GeyserMC.
One extra port, different from the Java port.
A server that is online whenever your Bedrock friends want to play.

What Bedrock players give up on a Java server

Geyser translates between two games that are not identical, so a few things differ. The Geyser wiki lists them under current limitations. The ones that matter most:

Client-side Java mods. Geyser works with server-side mods and plugins only. A mod that every player has to install will not work for Bedrock players.
Some chat and interface features, such as clickable links in chat and the glowing effect, cannot be reproduced.
Inventory clicks. Bedrock cannot tell left from right clicks inside inventories, which changes how a few plugin menus behave.

For a survival world, a minigame lobby or a build server, these limits rarely get in the way. For a heavy modpack they often do.

Console players need one more step

Xbox, PlayStation and Switch have no Add Server button, so console friends need a helper to type your address in. How to join a Bedrock server on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch shows the options. The same steps work for a Java server with Geyser.

Three common groups

One friend on PlayStation, another on a Mac: a Java server with Geyser and Floodgate. The Mac player joins as Java, the PlayStation player joins as Bedrock through a helper.
Everyone on phones and tablets: a Bedrock server. No Geyser needed, and the setup is simpler.
A community with Java plugins and a few console players: a Java server with Geyser, with a note in the rules that some plugin menus look different on Bedrock.

Keep Geyser in step with Minecraft

Crossplay depends on a version match. As of November 2026, the Geyser wiki says Geyser supports Minecraft Bedrock 26.40 to 26.62 and Minecraft Java 26.3. When Mojang releases a new Bedrock version, update Geyser, or Bedrock players on the new version will not connect. Java players are not affected by Bedrock updates.

Which setup fits your group

Your group	Best setup	Read this
Everyone on Java	A plain Java server.	How to make a Minecraft Java server
Everyone on Bedrock	A Bedrock server. Simpler and lighter.	How to make a Minecraft Bedrock server
A mix of both	A Java server with Geyser and Floodgate.	Geyser and Floodgate setup
Not sure yet	Compare the two editions first.	Bedrock vs Java server

Run a crossplay server on TheGameHosting

Hosting a crossplay server with us takes four steps.

Choose a plan on Minecraft Java server hosting. The plans page lists all nine sizes. Bedrock players add a little load, so give a busy server some room.
Open Version in the panel and choose Paper, one of the 28+ platforms in the Version Changer.
Upload the Geyser and Floodgate files in Files, then edit Geyser's config in the browser.
Share your address and the Bedrock port. Our support team can help with Geyser through live chat or a ticket.

Prefer one plan that can do both? The Game Changer in our panel switches a server between Minecraft Java and Minecraft Bedrock, and it is included with every plan. Make a backup first, because a Java world and a Bedrock world use different formats and a switch does not convert worlds. If crossplay does not connect after setup, Geyser not working lists the fixes.

FAQ

Can Java and Bedrock players join the same server?

Only if the server is a Java server running Geyser. Then Bedrock players on phones, consoles and Windows can join with the server address and the Bedrock port. Java players cannot join a Bedrock server.

Do Bedrock players need to buy Java Edition?

No. With Floodgate installed next to Geyser, Bedrock players join with their own Bedrock account. Without Floodgate, Geyser asks Bedrock players to sign in with a Java account.

Is Java and Bedrock crossplay official?

No. The Minecraft Wiki says Bedrock and Java players cannot play together by default and points to GeyserMC as the usual workaround. Geyser is a community project, not a Mojang feature.

Can console players join a Java server?

Yes, with a Geyser-enabled server. Console players cannot type a server address in the game, so they use a helper such as BedrockConnect to reach it.

Will Java mods work for Bedrock players?

Server-side mods and plugins work, because Geyser translates their results. Mods that every player has to install on their own computer do not work for Bedrock players.

Hosting for these games

Written by TheGameHosting Team, the people who run our servers in Dallas and Amsterdam and answer your tickets.

All posts