Java servers accept players on Windows, macOS and Linux running Minecraft: Java Edition. Bedrock servers accept players on Windows, consoles and phones running Minecraft: Bedrock Edition. The two editions use different network protocols, so a player on one edition cannot join a server built for the other unless the server adds a bridge.
Java vs Bedrock servers at a glance
| Java Edition servers | Bedrock Edition servers | |
|---|---|---|
| Devices that can join | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS |
| Default port | 25565 (TCP) | 19132 (UDP) |
| Common server software | Vanilla, Paper, Spigot, Purpur, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge | Bedrock Dedicated Server, PocketMine-MP, Nukkit |
| Customization | Plugins and mods | Add-ons, behavior packs and plugins on third-party software |
| Adding a custom server | Any platform Java runs on | Windows and mobile; consoles list featured servers only |
| Combat | Attack cooldown since version 1.9 | No attack cooldown |
Which edition do you have?
If you play on a console, phone or tablet, you have Bedrock Edition. On Windows you can have either: the launcher lists them separately as "Minecraft: Java Edition" and "Minecraft for Windows". On macOS and Linux you have Java Edition.
How the server experience differs
Game modes and plugins. Java has the larger ecosystem of server plugins and mods, which is why complex game modes such as towny, factions and heavily modded survival are most common there.
Who can play together. Bedrock's strength is reach. Friends on a phone, an Xbox and a Windows PC can meet on the same Bedrock server.
Gameplay details. The editions are not identical. Combat timing differs, and some redstone behavior exists in one edition and not the other, so farms and contraptions built from a tutorial for one edition may not work on the other.
Can Java and Bedrock players share a server?
Yes, when the server owner sets it up. The usual approach is a Java server running Geyser, a bridge that translates between the two protocols so Bedrock players can connect. Paired with Floodgate, Bedrock players can join without owning a Java account. These servers publish two addresses or ports, one per edition.
Crossplay servers run Java game logic, so Bedrock players get Java behavior for combat and redstone.
Which should you choose?
- You already own one edition: choose servers for that edition. It costs nothing extra.
- Your friends play on consoles or phones: choose Bedrock, or a Java server with crossplay.
- You want specific plugin-heavy game modes or mods: choose Java.
Browse Java servers or Bedrock servers, and read how to join a Minecraft server for step-by-step instructions.