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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To connect a custom domain, create a subdomain such as play.example.com, point its DNS A record to your server’s public IPv4 address, and have players enter that hostname with UDP port 19132 in Minecraft Bedrock. Add an AAAA record only when your server has working public IPv6. DNS supplies a name; it does not open a port, configure your firewall, or create a public route to a server behind a home router.
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The complete path is: Bedrock Dedicated Server listening on the selected port, host firewall allowing that UDP port, router forwarding it to a stable private address when self-hosting, DNS resolving to the current public address, and a client using a compatible protocol version. The default Bedrock IPv4 port is 19132; the official IPv6 setting commonly uses 19133.
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What a custom domain does—and does not do
A domain is a human-readable DNS name. When a player enters play.example.com, the Bedrock client asks DNS for an address and then attempts a UDP connection to the port you specify. The name does not tunnel traffic, bypass carrier-grade NAT, replace router forwarding, or make a private address reachable from the internet.
- DNS: Maps the hostname to a public IP address through an
Arecord for IPv4 and, when correctly configured, anAAAArecord for IPv6. - Bedrock Dedicated Server: Listens on the port configured in
server.properties. The documented IPv4 default is UDP19132; the documented IPv6 default is19133. - Firewall: Must permit inbound UDP traffic on every port the server uses.
- Router: Must forward the public UDP port to the server’s private LAN address when the machine is behind a home gateway.
- Client: Must use the hostname and the reachable port, and its protocol version must be compatible with the server.
If any one of those layers fails, changing the domain name will not fix the connection.
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Requirements checklist
| Requirement | What to have ready | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bedrock server software | Bedrock Dedicated Server running on Windows or Ubuntu | The official server software hosts the Bedrock world and opens the configured UDP listener. |
| Public endpoint | A public IPv4 address, or a correctly routed public IPv6 address | Internet clients cannot reach a private LAN address directly. |
| Stable LAN address | A DHCP reservation or static private address for a self-hosted machine | Router forwarding breaks if the server receives a different address after reboot. |
| UDP access | Host-firewall permission and, for home hosting, a router forward | Bedrock traffic uses UDP; a DNS record alone does not permit it. |
| DNS control | Access to the authoritative DNS zone for your domain | You need to create and later maintain the A and optional AAAA records. |
| Client details | The exact hostname and port to enter in Bedrock | Players normally enter 19132 explicitly, particularly when using ordinary Bedrock clients. |
Understand the Bedrock ports before changing DNS
Microsoft’s Bedrock Dedicated Server documentation identifies server-port=19132 as the default IPv4 setting and server-portv6=19133 as the IPv6 setting. The guide also says that, when the firewall is enabled, the ports configured in server.properties must be allowed through it. Treat the configuration file as the source of truth: if you deliberately changed server-port, forward and publish that selected port instead of assuming 19132.
IPv4 and IPv6 are separate paths. An A record can direct players to the public IPv4 address while an AAAA record directs IPv6-capable clients to an IPv6 address. Do not add an AAAA record merely because your internet service advertises IPv6. The address must route to the server, and the host and upstream firewall must allow the IPv6 Bedrock port. A broken IPv6 path can make some clients fail even though IPv4 works, because clients may try the published IPv6 address first.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchStep 1: Install and start Bedrock Dedicated Server
Download the official Bedrock Dedicated Server package, extract it on Windows or Ubuntu, and start the executable for that operating system. The official Minecraft server page describes Bedrock Dedicated Server as the software that lets you host a multiplayer world for Bedrock Edition.
- Extract the server files into a permanent folder rather than a temporary download location.
- Start the Windows or Ubuntu executable and allow it to generate or read the server configuration.
- Open
server.propertiesand confirm the port values. Leaveserver-portat19132unless you have a specific reason to use another UDP port. - If you change a port, stop and restart the server so the new listener is active before testing the network.
- Record the configured IPv4 and IPv6 ports; those exact values are required for firewall rules and forwarding.
First test locally on the same machine or LAN, then test from outside your network. A server that is not listening cannot be made reachable by DNS.
Step 2: Give a self-hosted machine a stable private address
A home router normally assigns private addresses dynamically. If the server is currently 192.168.1.25 and later receives 192.168.1.42, a forward that still targets the old address sends packets to the wrong device. Reserve the server’s DHCP lease in the router, or configure a static private address using your network’s addressing plan.
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Write down the private address, subnet, and gateway used by the host. The exact labels vary by router, so look for a DHCP reservation, LAN clients list, or address-reservation section. Avoid choosing a static address that is inside a range the router may hand to another device unless the router’s documentation explicitly supports that arrangement.
Step 3: Allow Bedrock through the host firewall
On the server machine, permit inbound UDP traffic on every configured Bedrock port. Microsoft’s guidance specifically calls out the ports represented by server-port and server-portv6. A rule for TCP alone is not sufficient for normal Bedrock gameplay.
- Allow UDP
19132for the default IPv4 listener. - Allow UDP
19133when the IPv6 listener is enabled and reachable. - If you changed either setting, create rules for the replacement ports instead.
- Apply the rule to the network profile or interface on which the server is actually connected.
After saving the rule, confirm that the Bedrock process is running and listening on the expected port. If the process is bound only to a loopback address or has stopped after an error, external traffic will still fail even with a permissive firewall rule.
Step 4: Forward the UDP port on a home router
Self-hosting from home usually requires a port-forward rule. In the router’s port-forwarding or virtual-server page, create a rule that sends inbound UDP traffic on the public Bedrock port to the server’s stable private address and the same destination port.
- Select UDP, not only TCP.
- Use external and internal port
19132for an unchanged default IPv4 configuration. - Enter the server’s reserved private IPv4 address as the destination.
- If you intentionally selected a different
server-port, use that number in both the router rule and the client’s Server Port field. - Save or apply the rule, then confirm it remains present after the router reloads.
Forward IPv6 differently: many IPv6 networks do not use traditional NAT, so the host’s global IPv6 address and firewall policy are the important controls. Follow the router and ISP’s IPv6 routing model rather than copying an IPv4 NAT rule blindly.
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Test from a different network, such as a mobile connection. A same-LAN test can be misleading because some routers do not support hairpin NAT, which is the ability to reach the public address from inside the same network.
Step 5: Create the DNS record
At the registrar or authoritative DNS provider that hosts your domain’s zone, create a subdomain label such as play. The resulting fully qualified name is play.example.com.
| Record | Name | Value | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
A |
play (or the full hostname, depending on the DNS editor) |
Your current public IPv4 address | The server is reachable over IPv4. |
AAAA |
The same hostname | Your server’s correctly routed public IPv6 address | IPv6 routing and firewall rules are configured and tested. |
SRV |
A service/protocol name defined by the DNS provider | Priority, weight, port, and target fields | Only when the exact Bedrock client and service explicitly document support. |
Use the public address assigned to your internet connection, not the private address shown on the server’s network adapter. If your ISP changes the public address, the A record becomes stale; update it manually or use a dynamic-DNS system that is compatible with your DNS provider.
Publish an AAAA record only after confirming that the address belongs to the server and is allowed through every IPv6 firewall. If the record points to an unreachable address, some players may experience intermittent or complete failures depending on how their client selects between IPv4 and IPv6.
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DNS changes are cached according to the record’s TTL. Your own resolver may continue returning the old address for a while after you edit the zone. Check the hostname with a DNS lookup tool from more than one network and confirm that it returns the current public endpoint.
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- Look up the
Arecord and compare it with the router’s current public IPv4 address. - If you published an
AAAArecord, verify that it returns the intended global IPv6 address. - Check that the hostname has no conflicting record, such as an old address at the same label.
- Allow existing TTL caches to expire before concluding that the update failed.
- Only after DNS returns the correct address should you continue to router and Bedrock testing.
DNS lookup success proves only that the name resolves. It does not prove that UDP traffic reaches the server or that the Bedrock process accepts it.
Step 7: Add the server in Minecraft Bedrock
On a Bedrock client, open Play, select Servers, and choose Add Server. Enter the custom hostname in Server Address and enter 19132 in Server Port when you are using the default IPv4 configuration.
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- Launch Minecraft Bedrock Edition.
- Go to Play > Servers.
- Select Add Server.
- Enter
play.example.com(replace it with your own hostname) as the server address. - Enter the configured UDP port, normally
19132, as the server port. - Save the entry and connect.
If you selected a non-default port, players must enter that number. A domain name does not tell an ordinary Bedrock client which arbitrary UDP port to use.
Can an SRV record hide the Bedrock port?
DNS standards support SRV records with service, protocol, priority, weight, port, and target fields. That capability does not mean every Minecraft Bedrock client reads those records. Minecraft Feedback includes a request for Bedrock SRV support; a feature request is not a compatibility guarantee. Current Bedrock hosting guidance generally treats SRV-based hiding of a non-default port as unsupported for ordinary clients.
For a setup intended to work across standard Bedrock clients, publish an A record (and a tested AAAA record when appropriate) and tell players to enter the port explicitly. Use SRV only when the exact client version and hosting service document support and you have tested the complete connection path. If your goal is to let players omit the port, keep the endpoint on the default 19132 where possible rather than relying on an unverified SRV behavior.
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Self-hosting or managed hosting?
The domain step is similar in both models, but the network responsibilities differ. Use this comparison before deciding where the Bedrock process should run.
| Factor | Self-hosting at home | Managed Bedrock hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Public IP | You must have a reachable public IPv4 or IPv6 path; carrier-grade NAT can prevent inbound access. | The provider normally supplies the public endpoint; confirm whether it is dedicated or shared. |
| UDP forwarding | You configure and maintain the router forward and host firewall. | The provider controls the forwarding layer; verify that UDP 19132 is available. |
| Custom domain | Create the DNS record yourself and update it if your public IP changes. | Confirm that custom hostnames are allowed and learn which address or hostname to publish. |
| IPv4/IPv6 | You are responsible for routing and firewall rules for each protocol. | Check which address families the service actually offers. |
| Backups and uptime | You must arrange backups, power protection, updates, and recovery. | Review the provider’s backup schedule, retention, maintenance policy, and uptime commitments. |
| Capacity | Limited by your hardware, upload bandwidth, and household network. | Check the plan’s player and resource limits; no general capacity figure is established here. |
| Total cost | Uses your existing equipment and connection but may require electricity and network upgrades. | Has a recurring hosting charge; compare the complete monthly cost with your home setup. |
A managed service can be practical when your ISP blocks inbound connections or your router cannot forward UDP. It still does not eliminate DNS verification: you must publish the endpoint the service gives you, and you must confirm that its Bedrock port and custom-domain policy match your intended client workflow.
Troubleshoot in the order packets travel
The hostname does not resolve
- Confirm the record was created in the authoritative DNS zone, not merely in a registrar’s forwarding feature.
- Check the spelling of the label and the full hostname entered in Bedrock.
- Look up the
Aand optionalAAAArecords from an external resolver. - Wait for the previous TTL to expire if the record was recently changed.
- Remove or correct stale records at the same label.
The name resolves, but the server is unreachable
- Check that Bedrock Dedicated Server is running and listening on the configured port.
- Confirm the host firewall allows inbound UDP on that port.
- Verify the router forwards UDP to the server’s current private address.
- Compare the DNS result with the router’s current public address.
- Test from outside the home network to avoid hairpin-NAT limitations.
Only some players can connect
Compare the paths being used. An incorrect or unreachable AAAA record can affect IPv6-capable clients while IPv4 users continue to connect. Remove the IPv6 record until IPv6 routing and firewall rules are genuinely working, then publish it again after testing.
The client reports an outdated server or outdated client
Microsoft warns that minor-version mismatches can produce “Outdated Client” or “Outdated Server.” Update the client or server so their protocol versions are compatible before changing DNS or router settings. Network reachability and protocol compatibility are separate checks.
A custom port works by IP but not by hostname
Verify that players entered the custom port in Server Port. Do not assume an SRV record will supply it. Ordinary Bedrock clients generally require the port explicitly for non-default endpoints unless the exact client and service document otherwise.
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Maintenance after the first successful connection
- Keep the server’s private address reserved so forwarding remains valid after reboots.
- Monitor the public IPv4 address if your ISP changes it; update the
Arecord promptly or use a compatible dynamic-DNS updater. - Review firewall rules after operating-system or server updates.
- Keep the DNS TTL short enough for practical recovery when an address changes, but not so short that it creates unnecessary resolver traffic.
- Back up the Bedrock world and server configuration before upgrades.
- Document the configured ports, router destination, DNS labels, and recovery contacts.
- Re-test externally after changing the router, ISP service, server port, or IPv6 settings.
Final connection checklist
- Bedrock Dedicated Server is running on Windows or Ubuntu.
server.propertiesshows the intended ports, normally19132for IPv4 and, when used,19133for IPv6.- The host firewall allows the corresponding UDP ports.
- The server has a stable private LAN address.
- The home router forwards the public UDP port to that address, if applicable.
- The
Arecord points to the current public IPv4 address. - An
AAAArecord exists only if IPv6 routing and firewalling have been tested. - DNS lookups return the current endpoint after caches update.
- Players enter the hostname and the configured port in Play > Servers > Add Server.
- Client and server protocol versions match.
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