How to Add a Server in Minecraft Bedrock (Phone and PC)

To add a server in Minecraft Bedrock on a phone, tablet or Windows PC, open Play, go to the Servers tab, scroll to the bottom and choose Add Server. Type a name, the server address and the port, 19132 by default, then save and tap the server to join. Consoles use a different method.

Before you add the server

The server address. This is an IP address such as 203.0.113.25 or a domain name. If you host with us, it is shown in the panel.
The port. The default Bedrock port is 19132. Hosting panels often assign another number, so use the one you were given.
The same game version as the server. If the server is newer or older than your game, it will refuse the connection.
Your name on the allowlist, if the server uses one. The default server.properties turns the allowlist on, so a new server rejects everyone until the owner adds names. How to make a Minecraft Bedrock server explains how.

Add a server on Windows, Android, iPhone or iPad

The menu is the same on Windows and on phones and tablets. The Bedrock Dedicated Server guide from Microsoft describes the same fields.

Open Minecraft Bedrock and tap Play.
Open the Servers tab.
Scroll to the bottom of the list and select Add Server.
In Server Name, type any name you like. It is only a label for your list.
In Server Address, type the IP address or domain, with no port in it.
In Port, type the port number. The default is 19132.
Save the entry, then select the server in your list to join.

If a website gives you the address as play.example.com:19133, split it. The part before the colon goes in Server Address and the number after the colon goes in Port.

Servers on your own network can also appear as LAN games

The default server.properties has enable-lan-visibility=true, so a server on your home network can show up for players who are on the same network. That is handy for testing, but it does not help friends who join from outside your home. They always need the address and port.

The mistakes that stop the connection

The Java port. Bedrock uses 19132 by default, not 25565. Java Edition uses 25565.
A private IP address. An address that starts with 192.168 or 10. only works inside the same network. Friends outside need the public one.
A closed port. On a PC server, the port has to be forwarded in the router for TCP and UDP, because the connection type NetherNet uses both. Hosted servers are set up for you.
An old entry. After a server changes address or port, delete the old entry and add it again.
A version mismatch. Update the game, or ask the owner to update the server.

When the entry looks right and it still fails, Minecraft Bedrock server not showing up goes through every cause in order.

Most failed joins come from a missing detail. Copy this block, fill in your values and send it to your group:

Message for friends

Server name: My Bedrock Server
Address: your.server.address
Port: 19132
Play > Servers > Add Server
Tell me your Gamertag so I can add you to the allowlist.

Players on consoles need the extra steps from the console guide linked below, so add a line for them.

Quick checklist when the entry will not open

Check	What to do
Address	No port inside it, no spaces, no `http://` in front.
Port	The number your host or the owner gave you, usually `19132`.
Server	Running, and not full. The default `max-players` is 10.
Version	Same version as the server. Update the game if the server is newer.
Allowlist	Your Gamertag has been added by the owner.
Network	Try mobile data instead of Wi-Fi to rule out a school or work network that blocks the connection.

Adding a Java server that uses Geyser

Bedrock players can also join Java servers that run Geyser. The steps in the menu are identical. The one difference is the port: use the Bedrock port that Geyser listens on, not the Java port. The server owner sets it up as described in the Geyser and Floodgate setup guide.

On Xbox, PlayStation and Switch

Consoles have no Add Server button, so this menu does not exist there. Console players join through a helper, covered in how to join a Bedrock server on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch.

Get your own server address on TheGameHosting

Once you have a server, the address you add is the one the panel shows. Here is how to get there.

Open Minecraft Bedrock server hosting and pick a plan. Bedrock only needs 1 GB of RAM, so it runs on every size on the plans page.
If your server is set to another game, open Game Changer in the panel and switch to Minecraft Bedrock Vanilla. Make a backup first if it already holds a world.
Copy the server address and port from the panel and add them to Minecraft as shown above.
Send the same address and port to your friends. Add their Gamertags to the allowlist from the Console.

There is no port forwarding to do on your side, and the server keeps running when your phone or PC is off. If you want to know whether our servers are up, check the server status page. Wondering which edition suits your group? Read Bedrock vs Java server.

FAQ

Where is the Add Server button in Minecraft Bedrock?

Open Play, go to the Servers tab and scroll to the bottom of the list. The Add Server button is there on Windows, Android, iPhone and iPad. Console versions of Bedrock do not have it.

What port do I use to join a Bedrock server?

Use 19132 unless the owner gave you another number. Hosting panels often assign a different port, so copy the one shown for your server. Port 25565 is the Java Edition default and does not work for a Bedrock server.

Can I use a domain name instead of an IP address?

Yes. The Server Address field accepts a domain name or an IP address. Type only the name, without the port, and put the port in its own field.

Why does Minecraft say it cannot connect to the world?

The usual causes are a wrong address or port, a closed port on a home network, a version mismatch or a name missing from the allowlist. Work through the checks above in that order.

Can Java Edition players use the same Add Server menu?

No. Java Edition has its own Multiplayer menu with a different default port, and Java players cannot join a Bedrock server by default. Bedrock players can join a Java server if it runs Geyser.

Hosting for these games

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

All posts