Minecraft Server for Java and Bedrock: Play Together

A PC player on Java and a friend on Xbox or mobile (Bedrock) can't join each other by default: they're two games with different code. There are two ways to get them into the same world: a Java server running the Geyser plugin, or two separate servers side by side, one Java and one native Bedrock.

Key takeaways

Java and Bedrock are two distinct games with different network protocols: without a bridge, a PC player and a console or mobile player can't see each other.
Geyser turns a Java server into a crossplay gateway: Bedrock players join the same world as PC players, with no second server.
A Minecraft Box can also host a separate Java server and a native Bedrock server on the same plan, from €15.99 per month for 3 simultaneous servers.
On Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, joining a third-party server takes a custom DNS or a local connection. That's a platform restriction, not something the host controls.

A Minecraft server bringing Java and Bedrock players together

Why Java and Bedrock don't talk to each other

Minecraft Java Edition and Minecraft Bedrock Edition share a name, a world and most of their content, but they're two separate pieces of software. Java runs on the Java Virtual Machine and talks over TCP; Bedrock is written in C++ and talks over UDP, which also makes it lighter on the server side, as the Minecraft Wiki page on the Bedrock Dedicated Server explains. Mojang provides no official bridge between the two: a Java client simply can't read what a Bedrock server sends, and vice versa.

The practical result: if your group mixes PC (Java) with consoles or phones (Bedrock), you have to choose one of the two approaches below on purpose. It never happens automatically, and neither LAN nor the in-game friends list will bridge the gap, as we explain in our guide to playing Minecraft with friends.

Option 1: a Java server with Geyser

Geyser is an open-source plugin that translates the Bedrock protocol into the Java protocol in real time. Your server stays an ordinary Java server (Paper, Spigot or Purpur): Bedrock players connect to it on a dedicated port and land in the same world, with the same plugins, as the PC players. No second server and no world to keep in sync. Its companion plugin, Floodgate, lets Bedrock players join without owning a Java account.

One thing to watch: Geyser doesn't always support the very latest Java release on day one. Before a major game update, check the official page of versions supported by Geyser, and if crossplay matters to your group, wait a few days before updating the server.

Every OnPowered Minecraft plan comes with a one-click version manager for Paper, Spigot and Purpur, plus a plugin installer, so adding Geyser takes a couple of minutes, from €5.99 per month.

Option 2: two separate servers, Java and native Bedrock

The other approach is to duplicate rather than translate: a regular Java server on one side, a Bedrock Dedicated Server (BDS), Mojang's official server software, on the other. Each edition runs its own software, with its own settings and usually its own world.

That's the idea behind an OnPowered Box: one subscription hosts several Minecraft servers, Java and Bedrock included, with resources (RAM, vCores, disk) split freely between them from the client area. The Iron Box, for example, gives you 16 GB of RAM and up to 3 simultaneous servers for €15.99 per month: enough for a Java server and a Bedrock server side by side, plus a proxy if you need one.

The upside: each group of players gets its edition's native software, with no translation layer. The downside: without an extra sync plugin, these are two separate worlds, so it's not the answer if everyone absolutely has to build in the same place. Java plus Geyser remains the right choice for that; the Box shines when you'd rather have a lobby, a survival world and a creative world kept apart, or want to test Java and Bedrock side by side.

The console trap: Xbox, PlayStation, Switch

One detail changes everything for console players. On PC and mobile, Bedrock Edition lets you add a third-party server directly by address and port in the "Servers" tab. On Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, that isn't possible in the same way: the Minecraft Wiki states that these platforms can only join a third-party server through a custom DNS or a local (LAN) connection. It's a restriction set by Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo themselves, not by the server or the host, and it applies to Java plus Geyser just as much as to native Bedrock.

So before you promise the whole group that "anyone can join from any device", check who plays on what. PC and mobile Bedrock players join without trouble once Geyser (or the Bedrock server) is running. Consoles need an extra network step that differs per platform. Better to plan for it than to discover it on launch night.

Geyser or two separate servers: which one?

Both approaches work; they solve different problems. The table sums up the trade-offs:

Criterion	Java + Geyser	Two separate servers (Box)
Shared world	Yes, one world for everyone	No, two separate worlds
Set-up effort	One plugin to add	Create a second server in the Box
Plugins/mods for Bedrock players	Those of the Java server (via Geyser)	Limited to Bedrock add-ons
Best for	A mixed group that wants to play together	Separate lobby/survival/creative, or testing both editions
Entry price at OnPowered	€5.99 per month (Coal plan)	€15.99 per month (Iron Box, 3 servers)

For a first server with friends where everyone needs to end up in the same place, Geyser almost always wins: it's simpler to run and there's only one world to back up. The Box comes into its own once you want several distinct play spaces, or both editions running natively without compromise. Not sure how much memory either set-up needs? Our guide to how much RAM a Minecraft server needs breaks it down.

FAQ

Can a friend on Xbox and a friend on PC play on the same server?

Yes, by running Geyser on a Java server: the Xbox player joins through the translated Bedrock protocol and the PC player connects with Java as usual, both in the same world. On consoles, plan for the extra custom DNS or LAN step that Xbox requires to reach a third-party server.

Does Geyser work with every Paper plugin?

The vast majority, such as EssentialsX, LuckPerms and WorldGuard, work normally. Plugins with complex graphical interfaces or very specific menus may look different on the Bedrock side, because that client doesn't have the same display capabilities as a Java client. Test your key plugins with a Bedrock player before opening up.

Do I need two subscriptions to host a Java and a Bedrock server?

No. An OnPowered Box hosts several servers, Java and Bedrock included, under one subscription, with resources split freely between them. The Iron Box starts at €15.99 per month for 16 GB of RAM and up to 3 simultaneous servers, so a Java world, a Bedrock world and a proxy fit together.

Does crossplay work on mobile too?

Yes, and it's the easiest case: Bedrock on iOS and Android adds a third-party server by address and port, exactly as on PC. There's none of the custom DNS hassle that home consoles require, so phone players can usually join a Geyser server within a minute of getting the address.

Which OnPowered plan fits your server?

Mixed group in one world: a single plan such as Coal (8 GB) with Geyser does the job. Want a Java server and a native Bedrock server side by side? The Iron Box runs up to 3 servers on one subscription.

Plan	RAM	vCores	Storage	Servers	Price	Link
Iron	16 GB	6	80 GB NVMe	3	€15.99 per month	Order
Gold	24 GB	7	100 GB NVMe	5	€21.99 per month	Order
Diamond	32 GB	8	150 GB NVMe	7	€29.99 per month	Order
Emerald	48 GB	9	200 GB NVMe	10	€43.99 per month	Order
Netherite	64 GB	12	250 GB NVMe	12	€52.99 per month	Order

Free 7-day trial on the Minecraft plans, no commitment: start the trial. Full details: Minecraft Box.