Crossplay is an option for Minecraft players on all consoles, but it comes with some limitations. Console players cannot connect to sponsored servers, Minecraft realms, and games created by friends. Luckily, it is possible to get around these limitations and connect to any server you want with a little bit of extra work. Server owners can also set up Java servers to allow anyone to connect, regardless of their version or console. Here's how to connect with any server on any console.
Connecting via Xbox
Console players may find it difficult to connect to a server hosted elsewhere. You will need trick your console to allow you to connect to the server. Close all games that are running on your console, and then open your network settings.
Click on the DNS settings option from your network settings. Next, change the IPv4 DNS settings from Automatic to Manual. This will take to a screen in which you can enter a Primary DNS. You will need to change the numbers at this screen to 104.238.130.180 before you can confirm the change. You will be taken another screen to set secondary DNS. Confirm by setting the numbers in the boxes to either 1.1.1. or 8.8.8.8. You may need switch between the two Secondary DNS options at least once to establish a connection to the server.
Open Minecraft and restart your console. Head to the Server List in Minecraft. Click any server with the message "Join the Server List" beneath the name. It does not matter which server you choose. Instead of joining the server you chose, you will be taken to a new screen with several options. Click the Connect To a Server option to the top. You will be taken to a screen that allows you to enter the IP and port information for the server you want to join. PAXTON'S BLOG To save time when joining again later, we recommend activating the Add to server List option.
Nintendo Switch allows you to connect
As with the Xbox version, you will need to trick the Switch into connecting to your server. First, open Minecraft and log off of your Microsoft Account. Once you have logged in, close Minecraft and then open the Switch's connection settings. Click on the Change Settings option to select the WiFi network that you wish to connect to the server.
Scroll down to DNS Settings in the network settings screen. You can change the setting from Automatic to Manual. This will open the settings menu with two new options. Change the Primary DNS setting from 104.238.130.180 to Secondary DNS 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8. You may need to switch between these two Secondary DNS numbers if you are having trouble connecting. Save these settings, and then start Minecraft.
After Minecraft is loaded on your Switch, go ahead and log back into your Microsoft account. After logging in, you will be able to open Multiplayer and go to the Server List. You can click on any server that's available. It doesn’t matter which one.
Instead of connecting directly with the server you choose, you will be presented with a new menu that lists many server options. Click on the top option saying Connect to a Server, and you will now be able to add the IP address and port number of the server you want to connect to. We recommend enabling the Add server list option to save time and avoid having to enter these details each time you join.
This process is known for being picky. This may mean that you will need to change the Secondary DNS numbers. Log in and out of Microsoft to verify.
Connecting via PlayStation
Sony has made it extremely difficult to connect non-sponsored Bedrock servers. You will need to set up a LAN on another device, preferably a PC, in order to do this. Phantom must be downloaded to your PC and run on the same network as your PlayStation. After downloading Phantom to your computer, you will need to open a command window. You can do this by pressing Windows + X, which will open a context menu that includes the command prompt option, as well as by searching for it in your computer’s search bar.
Drag the Phantom software that you downloaded earlier to the command prompt window. Hit the enter key. This will get the software started. Just another blog or something To automatically fill the prompt, use the up-arrow key on the keyboard or drag the software to the command prompt. Instead of pressing enter and running the command again, add a space to the command prompt, then enter the IP and port information for the server you wish to join, and hit enter. This will ensure that the software works correctly. The IP and port must both be connected with a colon. The command should look something like this: "...\Desktop\phantom (1).exe" play.gamepur.com:25565
After setting up Phantom, you can now connect with your PlayStation to the server. Just open up Minecraft, go to the Friends tab, and scroll all the way to the bottom of the list. You will see a LAN Game called Remote Server. To join the server you are interested in, click on the LAN Game.
Crossplay: Setting up your server
Paper
A few plugins are required to allow anyone to connect to your server, regardless if they have a console or version. These plugins can only be installed if your server API is capable of running them. For your server to be able to run, we recommend the latest version Paper. Paper is a Spigot fork that runs on Bukkit. It's designed to reduce server lag and increase performance. It also allows large communities to have a stable platform while still running all plugins from other Bukkit Forks. It can also easily be optimized to make your server as smooth as possible.
The hosting platform you use to install paper will determine how easy it is. If you are using a company like Apex or Shockbyte, their support staff will be able to help you and will have guides available for you to reference. Alternatively, you can set up the server on your own machine.
Geyser and Floodgate
Floodgate and Geyser will be indispensable for any server that wishes to allow crossplay. The plugins allow players on Bedrock to join a Java server and make use of any plugins you might have installed. Geyser allows players to connect to the server itself with little setup needed. Floodgate handles player authentication to allow more people to join without running into any issues with their Microsoft or Mojang accounts.
It is very easy to set up Floodgate and Geyser. Download the plugins from GeyserMC and then drop the.jar files in your server's plugins directory. Restart your server to generate the necessary configuration files. These files will need to be edited slightly in order for other players to join the server via Bedrock. Geyser offers an online editor to help you make changes to the configuration files. Make sure you replace the old config files by the new ones that you download.
Once your server is up and running, you can go back to your plugins directory and locate the newly created GeyserMC file. Open it and edit Geyser’s configuration.yml file according to your server's specifications. We recommend changing the Remote port numbers for Bedrock and Remote to match your server's port (25565 by default). You should also change remote port address from 25565 to 127.0.0.1. Also, change floodgate's authtype.
After you make these changes to the config files, you can restart the server again for the changes to take effect. Any console can now join your server.
ViaVersion/ViaBackwards/ViaRewind
ViaVersion plugins are a great set of tools that every server should install, especially if they want to allow crossplay. ViaVersion allows players to join the server even if they are playing on a different version of Minecraft. Players who are still using 1.13.2 can still join the server even if they are running 1.16.4. This is useful if you have an older version of your server and want to allow players to connect to it.
ViaVersion can be installed easily. Simply download each plugin.jar, drop it into your server's plugins directory, and restart the server. Like all plugins, ViaVersion will generate new configuration files for the plugins each time it starts back up. You can also make any changes that you feel are necessary.
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