Free Minecraft Bedrock Server: Play with Friends on Any Device

Minecraft Bedrock Edition runs on more platforms than any other version of the game: Windows 10/11, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. If your group of friends plays across different devices, Bedrock is the only way to get everyone in the same server without workarounds. This guide covers how to get a free Bedrock server, how crossplay works, and how to let Java Edition players join too.

What makes Bedrock Edition different

Bedrock Edition is built on a completely different codebase from Java Edition. It uses a different protocol, different chunk format, and different plugin system. The upside is broad device support and generally smoother performance on lower-end hardware. The downsides compared to Java are fewer server customization options and a smaller plugin ecosystem.

For server hosting, Bedrock uses Bedrock Dedicated Server (BDS), the official server software from Mojang. It runs on Linux and Windows. The main third-party option is PocketMine-MP, a PHP-based Bedrock server with plugin support that is more similar to Paper on the Java side.

Crossplay: who can join a Bedrock server

A Bedrock dedicated server can be joined by players on:

• Windows 10/11 (Bedrock Edition)
• Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
• PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
• Nintendo Switch
• iOS (iPhone and iPad)
• Android

Java Edition players cannot join a Bedrock server natively. However, you can bridge the two using Geyser, which we cover below.

Note that console players (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch) can only join servers that are on an approved server list, or through a workaround involving a proxy app on another device. This is a Mojang/console restriction, not something individual hosting providers can change. PC, iOS, and Android players can add any server IP manually without restriction.

Getting a free Bedrock server on NetSkyway

NetSkyway provides free game servers on dedicated hardware, including support for Minecraft Bedrock Edition. The process is the same as getting any server:

1. Join the Discord at discord.gg/QXKNwaWVJ2.
2. Go to #request-server and fill out the form, specifying Bedrock Edition and your preferred server software (BDS or PocketMine).
3. Once approved, you receive credentials for the panel at panel.netskyway.net.
4. You can manage files, monitor the console, and set up automated tasks from the panel.

Bedrock servers use port 19132 by default (UDP). Your server will be assigned a port and you share the IP and port with your players.

Letting Java players join: Geyser

Geyser is a proxy plugin that translates the Minecraft Java Edition protocol to Bedrock and vice versa. With Geyser installed on your server, Java Edition players can connect using the Java client and play alongside Bedrock players. This is the most common way to run a crossplay server.

To set up Geyser on a Paper (Java) server:

1. Download Geyser-Spigot from geysermc.org and place it in your server's plugins folder.
2. Download Floodgate from the same site and place it in plugins as well. Floodgate lets Bedrock players join without a Java account.
3. Restart the server. Geyser creates its own listener on port 19132 (UDP) by default.
4. Java players connect with the server IP on the normal Java port (25565). Bedrock players connect on port 19132.

This approach gives you the best of both worlds: Java plugin support from Paper, and Bedrock compatibility through Geyser. The vast majority of Paper plugins work fine alongside Geyser. A small number of plugins that interact with player networking directly may need Geyser-compatible alternatives.

Pure Bedrock vs Geyser-bridged Java: which should you use?

Factor	Pure Bedrock (BDS)	Java + Geyser
Native Bedrock clients	Yes	Yes (via Geyser)
Native Java clients	No	Yes
Plugin ecosystem	Limited (PocketMine)	Full Paper/Spigot library
Setup complexity	Simple	Slightly more steps
Best for	Bedrock-only groups	Mixed Java + Bedrock groups

For most groups that include any PC (Java) players, running Paper with Geyser is the better setup. It gives you Java's plugin ecosystem while still supporting all the Bedrock platforms your friends play on.

Bedrock server settings to configure

In server.properties on a Bedrock server, a few settings are worth reviewing:

• max-players - defaults to 10, increase it to match your group size.
• gamemode - survival, creative, or adventure. Set per your group's preference.
• difficulty - peaceful, easy, normal, or hard.
• allow-cheats - set to false to prevent players from using commands that break the game for others.
• online-mode - keep true to require Microsoft account authentication. Setting it to false allows any player to join without verifying identity.