Minecraft Bedrock on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch: how to join your server

On PC (Windows), phone and tablet it’s easy: add your server under “Play” → “Servers” → “Add Server” (see Minecraft Bedrock: connecting and setting up your server).

On Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch that button is missing. Microsoft only shows the official “featured servers” there (The Hive, CubeCraft, Lifeboat and others). You can’t type in your own address. This is not a problem with your server and affects every host. With one of the following methods you can still join your server.

Before you start: your server details

You need two things. You’ll find both in the client area on your server’s page:

• the IP address, for example 185.209.228.90
• the port, for example 19132

Write both down. Make sure your server is running (status “running” on the server page). A stopped server can’t be joined with any method.

Which method is right for me?

Our recommendation: method 1. You set it up once and can then join directly every time, without a phone and without a friend.

Method 1: DNS setting (recommended)

What happens? (short explanation)

When going online, every device asks a so-called DNS server which address belongs to a name, like a phone book. Normally your console automatically uses your internet provider’s DNS.

We now set a different DNS that gives a special answer for Minecraft’s featured servers: when you select a featured server, a menu opens instead where you can type in your own server address. Everything else (games, store, Netflix, YouTube etc.) keeps working as usual.

You’ll enter these values:

• Primary DNS: 134.255.231.119
• Secondary DNS: 1.1.1.1

The primary DNS is located in Germany and belongs to the freely available “BedrockConnect” project. The secondary DNS (1.1.1.1, Cloudflare) keeps your internet working normally. Please never leave the secondary DNS empty, otherwise other apps on the console will stop working properly.

Step A: set the DNS on your console

Choose your console:

Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

1. Press the Xbox button (the glowing X) on the controller.
2. Go to Profile & system → Settings.
3. Select General → Network settings.
4. Select Advanced settings.
5. Select DNS settings → Manual.
6. For Primary IPv4 DNS enter 134.255.231.119 and confirm.
7. For Secondary IPv4 DNS enter 1.1.1.1 and confirm.
8. The Xbox now tests the connection. If it says “Connected to the internet”, everything is correct.

PlayStation 5

1. Open the gear icon (Settings) at the top right.
2. Select Network → Settings → Set Up Internet Connection.
3. Highlight your current connection (your Wi-Fi name or “Wired LAN”) and press the Options button (the small button right of the touchpad).
4. Select Advanced Settings.
5. Set DNS Settings to Manual.
6. Primary DNS: 134.255.231.119
7. Secondary DNS: 1.1.1.1
8. Leave all other settings as they are. Select OK.

PlayStation 4

1. Go to Settings → Network → Set Up Internet Connection.
2. Select Use Wi-Fi or Use a LAN Cable, depending on how your PS4 is connected.
3. Select Custom (not “Easy”!).
4. For Wi-Fi: select your network and enter your Wi-Fi password if asked.
5. IP Address Settings: Automatic
6. DHCP Host Name: Do Not Specify
7. DNS Settings: Manual
8. Primary DNS: 134.255.231.119, Secondary DNS: 1.1.1.1, then Next.
9. MTU Settings: Automatic
10. Proxy Server: Do Not Use
11. Select Test Internet Connection. If it says “Successful”, everything is correct.

Nintendo Switch (also Switch Lite and Switch 2)

1. On the HOME menu select the gear icon (System Settings).
2. On the left select Internet → Internet Settings.
3. Wait briefly until the list of networks appears, then select your connected Wi-Fi (with a tick).
4. Select Change Settings.
5. Scroll to DNS Settings and set it to Manual.
6. Select Primary DNS. Delete the existing digits with the B button and enter 134.255.231.119.
7. Select Secondary DNS and enter 1.1.1.1. The Switch shows this as 001.001.001.001, that’s correct.
8. Select Save on the right, then OK.

Step B: join your server in Minecraft

1. Restart Minecraft (close it completely, then open it again). This makes sure the game uses the new setting.
2. Select Play and then the Servers tab at the top.
3. Select one of the featured servers, ideally The Hive or Lifeboat, then Join Server.
4. Instead of the featured server, a BedrockConnect menu appears. Select Connect to a Server.
5. Enter:
   • Server Address: your IP, for example 185.209.228.90 (numbers only, without port)
   • Server Port: your port, for example 19132
   • Turn on Add to server list, then you won’t have to type the details again next time.
6. Select Submit. You’ll now be forwarded to your server.

Next time: select a featured server → your server is in the menu’s list → select it → done.

Is this safe?

Yes. A DNS server is just the “phone book”: it sees which addresses your console looks up (for example “xboxlive.com”), but not what you do there. It doesn’t see passwords, chats or payment details. Your console’s sign-in, store and payments are additionally encrypted and verified by the console itself.

The game itself then runs directly between your console and our server. The BedrockConnect menu only shows the selection and then hands you over.

If you don’t want this permanently: simply set the DNS back to Automatic after playing (same steps as above, just choose “Automatic” instead of “Manual”). Your console is then exactly as before.

It doesn’t work? The most common causes

The featured server opens normally, the menu doesn’t appear.
The DNS setting isn’t active yet.

• Check every digit: 134.255.231.119. A single typo is enough and the console silently uses the normal DNS.
• Close Minecraft completely and restart it. If that doesn’t help: fully restart the console once (not just rest mode).
• Try a different featured server (The Hive, Lifeboat, CubeCraft, Mineville, Galaxite).
• IPv6: some routers give the console an additional IPv6 connection that bypasses the setting. If you can turn off IPv6 on your console, do so. Otherwise enter the DNS in your router instead of the console (it then applies to all devices in your home).
• As a fallback for the primary DNS you can try 104.238.130.180.

I have no internet any more or other apps don’t work.
Almost always the secondary DNS is missing or wrong. Enter 1.1.1.1. If in doubt, set the DNS back to Automatic and everything is as before.

“Unable to connect to world” after entering the details.
The menu worked, but your server isn’t answering.

• Is your server running? Check the server page (status “running”).
• Are IP and port correct? Compare both carefully with the server page.
• Do you and the server have the same Minecraft version? Update Minecraft on the console. If the server is set to latest, your game needs the newest version too.
• Is the allowlist turned on on the server? Then your gamertag must be added (Players tab on the server page).

Switch: the “Servers” tab shows “Coming soon” or stays empty.
A known Minecraft bug on the Switch. Go back to the main menu and open the tab again. Sometimes it takes several tries. If that doesn’t help: sign out of your Microsoft account in Minecraft, close the game, restart it and sign in again.

I don’t see any featured servers at all.
You need to be signed in with a Microsoft account and have an online subscription on the console (Xbox: Game Pass, PlayStation: PlayStation Plus, Switch: Nintendo Switch Online). Without a subscription, online play on consoles isn’t possible at all.

Method 2: “BedrockTogether” app (Android phone)

This free app announces your server on your Wi-Fi as a “LAN game”. The console then thinks the server is in your home and shows it.

1. Install BedrockTogether from the Google Play Store on your Android phone. (The app may show ads.)
2. Connect phone and console to the same Wi-Fi. If your router has two networks (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), both devices must be on the same one.
3. Open the app and enter your IP and port.
4. Tap Run. Keep the app open and the phone unlocked.
5. Start Minecraft on the console and open Play → Friends tab.
6. Your server appears at the bottom under LAN Games. Select it and join.
7. Once you’re in the world, you can close the app.

Server doesn’t show up? Check that phone and console really are on the same Wi-Fi and that the app is still in the foreground. On the Nintendo Switch this method often doesn’t work. Use method 1 there.

You have to repeat this method every time you want to play.

Method 3: join via a friend

If a friend plays on PC or phone, they can take you along:

1. Your friend joins the server normally via “Add Server”.
2. You both need to be friends in Minecraft (Microsoft account).
3. On the console open Play → Friends tab. There you’ll see your friend with the server among the friends you can join.
4. Select them and join.

This only works while your friend is on the server and doesn’t work in every game version. If not: please use method 1.

Still having problems?

Open a ticket in the client area and tell us:

• which console you have (e.g. PS5, Xbox Series S, Switch),
• which method you tried,
• what exactly happens or which error message appears (a photo of the screen helps a lot).

We’re happy to help.