How to join a Minecraft server: Java, Bedrock, mobile and console

To join a Minecraft server you need three things: its address (what everyone calls "the IP"), the right edition of the game, Java or Bedrock, and on Java a compatible version. This guide shows where to type the address on your device, then how to fix the most common problems.

Java or Bedrock: know which edition you have

Edition	Devices	What you can join
Java	Windows PC, Mac, Linux	Java servers, by far the most numerous
Bedrock	Windows, phones, tablets, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch	Bedrock servers, and Java servers running Geyser

On PC, buying Minecraft now gives you both editions: the launcher offers Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft for Windows, which is the Bedrock version. On phones, tablets and consoles, you are always on Bedrock.

Each server's CubeVote page says whether it accepts Bedrock players, and the list of servers open to Bedrock keeps only those.

On Java (PC, Mac, Linux)

1. Launch the game and click Multiplayer. The first time, a screen warns you that online play goes through servers not run by Mojang: click Proceed.
2. Click Add Server.
3. Give it a name, for you only, and paste the server address, for example play.example.com.
4. Click Done: the server appears in the list with its player count and ping. Double-click it to join.

Direct Connection does the same without saving the server: handy for a quick try.

If the address ends with a colon and a number (play.example.com:25570), keep them: that's the server's port. Without a number, the game uses the default port, 25565.

The right version

A Java server runs a specific version: 1.21, 1.20.1… Many also accept newer versions thanks to plugins like ViaVersion. Otherwise, the game refuses the connection with an incompatible client or server message (Outdated client, Outdated server). To switch versions:

1. In the Minecraft Launcher, open the Installations tab.
2. Click New installation, choose the version shown on the server's page, then Create.
3. Go back to Play and select that installation before launching the game.

A modded server also requires the same mods as it has: install the modpack given on its page, from CurseForge or Modrinth, before you connect.

On Bedrock: Windows, phone and tablet

1. Launch the game, tap Play, then open the Servers tab.
2. Scroll down to Add Server.
3. Fill in the name, the address and the port. The default Bedrock port is 19132; if a server uses another one, it says so on its page or its Discord.
4. Save, then tap the server to join it.

A Java server that welcomes Bedrock players thanks to Geyser is joined the same way: same address, Bedrock port. Your username often carries a prefix there, a dot for instance (.Steve), which sets you apart from Java players.

On console: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox

On consoles, the Servers tab only shows a few partner servers, with no "Add Server" button. There are workarounds to join all the others: they are detailed, console by console, in the guide Minecraft servers on Switch, PS5 and Xbox.

Where to find a server's address

The address is on every server's page in the CubeVote ranking, with a button to copy it, the accepted edition, the version and the number of players online. Copy it rather than typing it: one wrong letter is enough to make the connection fail.

Not sure which one to pick yet? The Find your server quiz suggests three in five questions, and the guide Minecraft server game modes explains what survival, factions or skyblock mean.

It doesn't work?

What the game says	Likely cause	What to do
Connection timed out	server offline, wrong address or wrong port	check the address, test the server
Incompatible client or server	different versions	change version in the launcher
Multiplayer is disabled	Microsoft account setting	follow the dedicated guide
You are not white-listed	private server (whitelist)	ask the staff for access

To find out whether the problem is on the server's side or yours, paste its address into the server tester: if it answers, the server is online and the cause is on your end. The other messages and their fixes are gathered in Can't connect to a Minecraft server, and the online play block in Minecraft multiplayer disabled.