How to Join a Minecraft Bedrock Server on Xbox, PS5 and Switch (2026)

On Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, the Minecraft Servers tab only lists the featured partner servers. There is no Add Server button, so you cannot type in an IP and port like you can on Windows, iPhone or Android. Console players can still play on any Bedrock server, including one you host, but they need a one time workaround. This guide covers the two that work in 2026: the BedrockConnect DNS method, and apps that make the server show up as a LAN game.

Short answer

• Any console: change your console's DNS to a BedrockConnect server, open a featured server in Minecraft, and a server list appears where you type the IP and port.
• Xbox or PlayStation with a phone: an app like BedrockTogether can make the server appear in your Friends tab.
• Any console with a PC on the same Wi-Fi: a tool like Phantom makes the server appear as a LAN game.
• Windows, iPhone, iPad and Android: no workaround needed, use Add Server in the Servers tab.

Before trying anything, make sure the console's Minecraft is up to date. A console on a newer version than the server gets "Outdated server" whatever method you use, see how to fix Minecraft Bedrock outdated server.

Why consoles cannot add servers

Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo only allow featured servers on consoles, so the console editions of Minecraft simply do not show the Add Server option. It is a platform rule, not a problem with your server. Once connected, console players play exactly like everyone else, with full crossplay.

Method 1: BedrockConnect DNS (Xbox, PS4, PS5, Switch)

BedrockConnect is a free community project. When your console uses its DNS server, opening one of the featured servers shows a BedrockConnect menu instead, where you can connect to any address and save it for next time.

At the time of writing, the public DNS addresses from the project's page are:

Community DNS servers can change, so check the BedrockConnect page if these stop working.

Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

1. Press the Xbox button and open Profile & system, then Settings.
2. Go to General, Network settings, Advanced settings, DNS settings.
3. Choose Manual and enter the primary and secondary DNS.

PS4 and PS5

1. Open Settings, then Network.
2. Set up your connection again with a custom or advanced setup (on PS5: Settings, Set Up Internet Connection, pick your network, Advanced Settings).
3. Set DNS Settings to Manual and enter the primary and secondary DNS.

Nintendo Switch

1. Open System Settings, then Internet, Internet Settings.
2. Pick your network and choose Change Settings.
3. Set DNS Settings to Manual and enter the primary and secondary DNS, then Save.

Connect in Minecraft

1. Restart Minecraft and open the Servers tab.
2. Join one of the featured servers that BedrockConnect supports, such as The Hive, Mineville, Lifeboat, Enchanted or Galaxite.
3. The BedrockConnect server list opens instead. Choose to connect to a server.
4. Enter the server IP (the part of the address before the colon) and the port (the number after the colon). Tick the option to add it to your list so you can find it next time.
5. Connect. From now on the server is one click away in that list.

While your DNS points at BedrockConnect, those featured servers open the menu instead of the real server. To play them again, set DNS back to Automatic.

Method 2: Make the server appear as a LAN game

Consoles do show LAN games and joinable friends, so a helper app can present a remote server that way:

• BedrockTogether (iPhone and Android): broadcasts the server from your phone so Xbox and PlayStation players on the same network can join it from the Friends tab. It does not help on Switch.
• Phantom (Windows, Mac and Linux): run it on a PC with the server address and consoles on the same Wi-Fi see it as a LAN game in the Friends tab.

The phone or PC has to be running and on the same network each time you want to play, which is why DNS is the more convenient long term option.

Things that stop console players joining

• Different versions. Consoles auto update. After a Minecraft release, the server owner needs to update the server.
• Allowlist. "You are not invited to this server" means the allowlist is on and the Gamertag is missing. The owner adds it with allowlist add "Gamertag".
• Wrong port. BedrockConnect needs the exact port, not the default 19132, unless the server really uses 19132.
• Multiplayer permissions. Console players need their platform's online membership for online play (a Game Pass tier with online multiplayer on Xbox, PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online). On Xbox, child accounts also need the "You can join multiplayer games" privacy setting allowed.
• Java server. Consoles only run Bedrock. They can only join a Java server if it runs Geyser.

Hosting a server your console friends can join

A Minecraft Bedrock server from GamezServers runs Mojang's official Bedrock Dedicated Server, with an allowlist button, one click updates after every Minecraft release and an IP and port ready to type into BedrockConnect. Setting one up takes about a minute, see how to host a Minecraft Bedrock server.

FAQ

Can you add servers on Minecraft Xbox?

Not directly. The Xbox edition has no Add Server button, so use BedrockConnect DNS or a LAN app like BedrockTogether.

Is BedrockConnect safe?

It is an open source project that redirects Minecraft's featured server addresses and passes other lookups through as normal. If you would rather not keep it, set DNS back to Automatic when you are done playing.

Do I have to redo this every time?

No. Once the DNS is set and the server is saved in the BedrockConnect list, you just open the featured server and pick it.

Why does the PS5 not connect with the Xbox DNS address?

BedrockConnect lists a separate address for PlayStation, 45.55.68.52 at the time of writing, because some PlayStation players had issues with the main one.