How to Let Bedrock Players Join a Java Server (Geyser, 2026)

To let Bedrock players join a Java Edition server, install the Geyser and Floodgate plugins on a Paper server, make sure Geyser's Bedrock port is reachable over UDP, and give Bedrock players your address and that port. Geyser translates between the two versions, and Floodgate lets Bedrock players join with their Microsoft account without owning Java Edition. The part that trips people up is the port: Java uses TCP, Bedrock uses UDP, so the server needs a UDP port open for Geyser, usually 19132 or the same number as your Java port.

What you need

Requirement	Why
A Paper or Purpur server	Geyser and Floodgate are plugins. Fabric and NeoForge versions exist too, but Paper is the simplest.
The latest Minecraft version, or ViaVersion	Geyser supports the newest Java release. On 26.2 or older, Geyser's docs say to add ViaVersion.
A UDP port	Bedrock connects over UDP. Without a reachable UDP port nothing else matters.
Bedrock players on a current version	Geyser supports recent Bedrock releases. Players should update their game.

Step 1: Install Geyser and Floodgate

Download Geyser-Spigot and Floodgate-Spigot from the official GeyserMC download page. The "Spigot" builds are the ones for Paper and Purpur.
Upload both .jar files to your server's plugins folder.
Restart the server. Both plugins create their config folders: plugins/Geyser-Spigot/ and plugins/floodgate/.

If you have not added plugins before, how to install plugins on a Minecraft server walks through it.

Step 2: Set the Bedrock port

Open plugins/Geyser-Spigot/config.yml. The section that matters:

bedrock:
  address: 0.0.0.0
  port: 19132
  clone-remote-port: false

You have two ways to set it up:

A separate UDP port (the default). Geyser listens on 19132 UDP. Bedrock players connect to your address with port 19132. This needs that UDP port to be open and forwarded to your server.
The same number as your Java port. Set clone-remote-port: true, and Geyser listens on your Java port number over UDP. Java players use it over TCP, Bedrock players over UDP. This is Geyser's documented setup for hosts that give you a single port.

Save the file and restart. Geyser prints the port it started on in the console.

Self hosting at home, forward the UDP port on your router to the server, alongside TCP 25565 for Java. Our port forwarding guide covers the router side.

Does this work on GamezServers Minecraft plans?

Here is the honest version. Our Minecraft: Java Edition plans come with one port, the one in your server address, and it is set up for Java's TCP connections. We do not open a separate 19132 UDP port for Minecraft Java servers.

The setup to use is the second option above: clone-remote-port: true, so Geyser listens on your server's own port number over UDP. Then test it from the console:

geyser connectiontest <your-server-ip> <your-port>

If the test passes, Bedrock players can join. If it fails, email support@gamezservers.com with your server name and we will check UDP on your port for you. We would rather tell you that up front than promise one click crossplay. If crossplay with phones and consoles is the main point and your group is mostly on Bedrock, a native Minecraft Bedrock server is the simpler choice.

One more thing on single port setups: only one program can use a UDP port. Simple Voice Chat, query and other UDP plugins cannot share the port with Geyser.

Step 3: Turn on Floodgate authentication

Without Floodgate, Bedrock players would need a Java account too. With it, they join with just their Microsoft account.

In plugins/Geyser-Spigot/config.yml, find auth-type and set it to:

auth-type: floodgate

Restart. Leave online-mode=true in server.properties, Floodgate works with it on, and it keeps Java players properly authenticated.

Floodgate creates a key.pem file in its folder. Never share it. Anyone with that key can join your server as any Bedrock player.

Step 4: How Bedrock players connect

On Windows, iOS and Android:

Open Minecraft (Bedrock), go to Play, then Servers.
Scroll down and tap Add Server.
Enter any name, your server's address without the port, and the Bedrock port: 19132, or your Java port number if you used clone-remote-port.
Save and join.

Xbox, PlayStation and Switch do not let players add custom servers directly. There are community workarounds, covered in how to join a Minecraft Bedrock server on Xbox, PS5 and Switch.

Step 5: Whitelist Bedrock players

Bedrock players join with a prefix in front of their gamertag, a . by default, so Steve on Bedrock becomes .Steve on your server. That keeps them from clashing with a Java player of the same name. Change it with username-prefix in plugins/floodgate/config.yml if you want.

The normal whitelist add looks names up as Java accounts, so it cannot find Bedrock players. Floodgate has its own command:

fwhitelist add Steve
fwhitelist remove Steve

Use the gamertag without the prefix. If your server has the whitelist on (the default for new servers since 26.3), add every Bedrock player this way before they try to join. For other commands, like op or teleport, use the prefixed name: op .Steve. More on whitelists in how to whitelist on a Minecraft server.

Step 6: Link Java and Bedrock accounts (optional)

Players who own both editions can link them, so they are the same player with the same inventory and claims whether they join from PC or phone. Floodgate's global linking is on by default:

Join the GeyserMC link server at link.geysermc.org (Java port 25565, Bedrock port 19132) on one account.
Type /linkaccount. You get a code.
Join on the other edition and type /linkaccount <code>.
You are kicked with a success message. From then on, every server with Floodgate treats both accounts as the same player.

To undo it, join the link server again and run /unlinkaccount. Link before playing much on your own server, since an unlinked Bedrock account has its own separate player data.

What does not work for Bedrock players

Geyser is impressive but it is a translation layer. Expect:

Some Java mechanics feel different on Bedrock: combat timing, some redstone and some inventory actions.
No mods. Geyser on a Fabric or NeoForge server works for vanilla content, but Bedrock players cannot see modded blocks or items. Big modpacks and Geyser do not mix.
Java resource packs do not apply to Bedrock players.
Version lag after big updates. When a new Java or Bedrock version lands, Bedrock players may not connect until Geyser updates. Update the Geyser and Floodgate jars after every Minecraft update.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
"Unable to connect to world" on Bedrock	UDP port not reachable	Check Geyser's port in the console, run `geyser connectiontest`, check the port forward or ask your host
Bedrock player kicked: not whitelisted	Normal whitelist cannot see Bedrock names	`fwhitelist add <gamertag>`
Bedrock player asked to sign in to a Java account	`auth-type` is not `floodgate`, or Floodgate is not loaded	Set `auth-type: floodgate`, check `plugins` shows Floodgate in green
Geyser fails to start, port in use	Another plugin uses the same UDP port	Move voice chat or query to another port, or disable it
Works for Java, outdated client for Bedrock	Geyser is behind the latest Bedrock	Update Geyser and Floodgate

FAQ

Do Bedrock players need to own Java Edition?

No. With Floodgate they join using only their Bedrock game and Microsoft account. Without Floodgate, they would need to sign in with a Java account.

Can Bedrock players join a modded Java server?

Not in a useful way. Geyser translates vanilla content, so modded blocks, items and mobs do not show properly for Bedrock players. Keep crossplay servers on Paper.

Is Geyser safe to run?

Yes. It is open source and widely used. Keep it updated, and keep Floodgate's key.pem private.

What port do Bedrock players use?

Whatever port Geyser listens on, over UDP. That is 19132 by default, or your Java port number if you set clone-remote-port: true.

Can I host a Bedrock server instead?

Yes, if most of your group plays on phones and consoles. A native Bedrock server avoids translation quirks entirely. Our Bedrock hosting quick start covers it.

Crossplay on GamezServers

A GamezServers Minecraft server runs Paper by default, so Geyser and Floodgate are two uploads and a config change away, with 3 one click backups if anything goes wrong. Because our Java plans have a single port, follow the clone-remote-port setup above and email support if the connection test fails so we can look into it with you.