A Minecraft server for friends on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch

Console players can join a private Minecraft server, but only a Bedrock server, and only with one extra step. Xbox, PlayStation and Switch have no Add Server button, because Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo only let consoles open the featured servers. The way in is a one time DNS change: the console opens our menu instead of a featured server, and the player types your server's join code. After that the server is saved and joining is one click.

Which server do console players need?

A Bedrock server. Bedrock is the edition on every console, phone, tablet and Windows PC, so one Bedrock world holds the whole group. Java Edition is PC and Mac only. A Java server with Geyser can take phone and tablet players, but consoles still cannot reach it directly, so for a group with console players Bedrock is the right pick.

How does a console player join?

1. One time only: in the console's network settings, set Primary DNS to our address and Secondary DNS to 8.8.8.8. The address and where the setting lives on each console are in the console joining guide.
2. Open Minecraft, go to the Servers tab and pick The Hive. Our menu opens instead.
3. Choose Join with a code or IP, type the 6 letter join code from your invite and press Submit.
4. You are in. Next time, open The Hive and pick the server from the menu.

To play the real featured servers again, set DNS back to Automatic.

How do phone, tablet and Windows players join?

They skip the DNS step. In Minecraft, go to Servers, tap Add Server, and put the address in Server Address and the port in Port. Those go in separate boxes: putting both in the address box, or leaving the port at 19132, is the usual reason a server will not connect.

What do console players need?

• Their own copy of Minecraft on the console.
• A free Microsoft account, signed in. The server's allowlist uses their Gamertag.
• The same Minecraft version as the server. Consoles update on their own, and our Bedrock servers update every time they restart, so a restart after an update keeps everyone matched.

Common problems

• The real Hive opens: the DNS change has not taken yet. Check the Primary DNS, then fully close Minecraft. On Switch, restart the console.
• "You are not invited to this server": the allowlist is on and the Gamertag is not on it. The owner adds it with Allowlist player, spelled exactly, spaces included.
• "Outdated server": restart the server. It installs the newest Minecraft version on every start.

How big a server do we need?

Bedrock's server is light. 2 GB holds a group of friends, 4 GB a busy world of 10 to 25 players, and 6 GB a big explored world or up to 50 players. See the Bedrock plans on our plans page.