Can Bedrock players join a Java Minecraft server?

Why Java and Bedrock cannot normally play together, how Geyser bridges them on self-hosted servers, its limits, and what Bedrock players can do on Cobbly.

By the Cobbly team · Updated October 14, 2026

Minecraft comes in two editions. Java Edition runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Bedrock Edition runs on phones, tablets, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and the Windows store version. They look almost the same, but underneath they are different programs that speak different network protocols — so out of the box, a Bedrock player cannot join a Java server, and the other way round.

Why they cannot connect directly

Different protocols. Java uses TCP on port 25565; Bedrock uses a UDP-based protocol on port 19132. A Java server does not even hear a Bedrock connection.
Different accounts. Bedrock signs in with an Xbox (Microsoft) gamertag; Java servers check Java profiles.
Different game details. Combat, redstone, some blocks and many small behaviours differ between the editions.

Geyser: the bridge

Geyser is a translator that sits in front of a Java server. It listens for Bedrock players on UDP 19132, translates everything they do into Java’s protocol, and translates the server’s replies back. To the Java server, a Bedrock player looks like any other player. It runs as a Paper plugin, a Fabric or NeoForge mod, or a standalone proxy.

Its companion Floodgate lets Bedrock players join without owning a Java account. Without Floodgate, each Bedrock player has to sign in with a Java account as well.

What Geyser needs

A UDP port open to the internet — 19132 by default, or another one you set. Bedrock players connect to that port, not 25565.
A server close to the latest version. Geyser supports the newest Bedrock clients, and translates to recent Java versions; old Java versions may not be supported.
No mods. Bedrock players cannot load Java mods, so Geyser only works for Vanilla-style servers — Paper or Fabric with server-side mods only. Modded blocks and items do not exist for them.

Its limits

Geyser is impressive, but the editions are not identical and some things never translate perfectly: certain inventory screens, some redstone and combat timing, custom items from resource packs, and anything a Java mod adds. Bedrock players occasionally see small glitches Java players do not. For mixed groups who just want to build and survive together, it works well.

On Cobbly

Cobbly free servers are Java Edition only, and Geyser cannot run on them: every free server is reached through one shared Java entry point that routes players by the server name, and there is no UDP port for Bedrock connections. You can install a Geyser plugin or mod, but no Bedrock player would be able to reach it.

What Bedrock players can do:

On a PC: Minecraft bought for Windows today includes both editions — “Java & Bedrock Edition for PC”. Many players already own Java without realising it; it is in the launcher.
On consoles and phones: there is no Java Edition, so they need a Bedrock-friendly host — a Bedrock server, a Realm, or a self-hosted Java server with Geyser.

Running Geyser yourself

If you host a server yourself: install Geyser and Floodgate for your server type, start the server once to create their configs, forward UDP 19132 on your router (in addition to TCP 25565 for Java players), and have Bedrock players add your address and port 19132 under Servers → Add Server. Bedrock usernames show up with a prefix (a dot by default) so they cannot collide with Java names — keep that in mind when adding players to the whitelist. Minecraft server addresses, ports and SRV records covers the port-forwarding part.