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A Minecraft server address is usually a hostname or IP address, sometimes paired with a port. Where to get it—and whether you need one at all—depends on whether you’re joining a public server, a friend’s world, a Realm, a LAN game, or a dedicated server. First check whether you’re playing Java or Bedrock: their server lists, connection details, and platform support differ.
What counts as a Minecraft server address?
An address tells Minecraft where to connect. It might be a hostname such as play.example.com, a numerical IP address, or an address paired with a port. A hostname can point to an IP address and is often easier to remember.
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An address is not the server’s display name, a player’s Minecraft username, a world seed, a Realm invitation, or a Discord invite. You also do not need an address for every kind of multiplayer session.
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Java and Bedrock are separate editions, with different dedicated-server software and multiplayer paths. A server address for one edition does not automatically work in the other. Some servers offer cross-play through additional software or separate connection details, but check with that server’s operator rather than assuming it.
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Java Edition is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Bedrock is the edition used on supported consoles, mobile devices, and Windows. Menu labels and manual server options can vary by platform and game version.
Find the address for a public server
- Visit the server’s official website, official community page, or a trusted listing.
- Check that the server supports your edition: Java, Bedrock, or both.
- Copy the address exactly. Note any port, required game version, account rules, or resource-pack requirement.
- Use the matching Java or Bedrock instructions below to connect.
Minecraft’s official server list features reviewed servers for Java and Bedrock. If you find an address in a random search result, verify it against the server’s official site or an established listing before using it. An address by itself does not establish that a server is trustworthy. Do not download an unknown launcher or provide account credentials just to join.
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Enter an address in Java Edition
- Launch Minecraft: Java Edition and select Multiplayer.
- Select Add Server to save the server, or Direct Connection to try it without saving.
- Enter the address supplied by the server operator. If they gave you a port, include it after a colon, as in
play.example.com:25565. This is only an example; use the port the server specifies. - Select Join Server (or the corresponding join option after a direct connection).
If no port was supplied, try the hostname or IP by itself; the server may be set up for the client’s default connection behavior. Do not assume that every Java server uses the same port. Java’s official server software is for Java Edition, not Bedrock. See Minecraft’s dedicated and featured servers FAQ.
Enter an address in Bedrock Edition
For a featured server, open Play > Servers, select a listed server, and choose its play option. To add a non-featured server on a platform that supports manual entry:
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- Open Play, then the Servers tab.
- Select Add Server.
- Enter a server name, its address, and its port in the separate fields.
- Select Add and Play or Add Server.
Minecraft identifies 19132 as Bedrock’s default port, but a particular server may use another. Use the port supplied by the owner or hosting provider. If the game shows a separate port box, enter just the hostname or IP in the address box and the number in the port box—not hostname:port all together. See Minecraft’s Bedrock server instructions. The instructions note that console versions are limited to featured servers for manually adding servers, so custom-server options may not be available on your console.
If you’re trying to join a friend
Ask the host which kind of session they have. You may need an address, but a friend’s world or Realm usually has another join method.
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- Bedrock friend’s world: Add the friend in Minecraft. When they are online with multiplayer enabled, look under Play > Friends for a joinable world. The host generally needs to be online. Minecraft’s friend-world instructions explain the steps.
- Realm: Ask the owner for an invitation, not an IP address. After accepting, join from the Realms list. The owner does not need to stay online for invited players to play. See Minecraft’s Realm joining guidance.
- Dedicated server: Ask the owner for the exact address, edition, port if applicable, required version, and whether the server is online. Ask whether your account must be added to an allowlist (sometimes called a whitelist).
- Java LAN session: The host opens the world to LAN; players on the same local network should find it under Multiplayer. See the LAN steps below.
LAN games: usually no address entry needed
Java Edition
The host opens a single-player world, presses Esc, selects Open to LAN, and then Start LAN World. Minecraft displays a message with the local port. Other players on the same local network should look in Multiplayer for the LAN world; they normally do not need to type an address. The displayed port is for that local session—it is not, by itself, a public internet address. See Minecraft’s Java multiplayer instructions.
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Bedrock Edition
When creating or editing a world, open its multiplayer settings and enable Multiplayer Game and Visible to LAN Players. Start the world. Other players on the same local network can look under Play > Worlds for the world marked LAN. If it does not appear, Minecraft’s Bedrock LAN instructions say to use the network button at the top of the Worlds tab to toggle LAN-game display.
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If you host the server yourself
The right address depends on where the other players are connecting from. A hosting provider’s control panel is usually the first place to check for the server address and port.
- Players on the same home network: They may need the host computer’s private or local IP address. Local addresses commonly fall in ranges such as
192.168.x.x,10.x.x.x, or172.16.x.xthrough172.31.x.x. The server’s port may also be required. This address is for the local network, not a general internet-facing address. - Players connecting over the internet: They generally need a public IP address or a domain pointed to it, plus the configured port. A home-hosted server may also require router port forwarding and firewall permission. Confirm the server is running and listening on the intended network interface.
- Managed hosting: Use the hostname or address and port shown in the provider’s panel. A hostname can be more convenient than a changing IP, but rely on the provider’s displayed connection details.
A local IP usually will not work for someone outside your home network. Conversely, whether a public IP works from inside that same home network can depend on the router. Keep a home public IP private and share it only with intended players. If internet players cannot reach a running server, firewall rules, VPNs, router NAT, missing port forwarding, a changed public IP, or carrier-grade NAT may be involved. Minecraft’s Java multiplayer troubleshooting covers network and connectivity issues.
When an address does not work
- Check the edition. Confirm the server accepts your Java or Bedrock edition; cross-play is not automatic.
- Check the exact address. Look for typos, extra spaces, or a copied link instead of the server hostname or IP.
- Check the port. Use the owner’s exact port. On Bedrock, enter it in the separate port field when the screen provides one;
19132is a default, not a guarantee. - Check that the server is available. A private server may be stopped, and an ordinary friend-hosted world generally requires its host to be online. A Realm works differently.
- Match the game version. The server may require a particular release or configuration. Snapshots and previews can also prevent a match; for Java snapshot multiplayer, everyone must use the same snapshot version. See Minecraft’s snapshot guidance.
- Check permissions. If the server is reachable but rejects you, ask whether an allowlist, account permission, or other access rule applies. A permission rejection is different from a network timeout.
- For LAN, check the network. Everyone must be on the same local network, and the host must have enabled LAN play. On Windows, Minecraft’s LAN troubleshooting guidance discusses the network profile. Use a Private profile only on a trusted home network, not public Wi-Fi.
- For self-hosting, check firewall, VPN, and router setup. A server can work from the host computer but remain inaccessible to others if the firewall blocks it, the router lacks a forwarding rule, or NAT/network configuration prevents inbound connections.
- Check platform limits. If you are on a console and cannot add a custom Bedrock server, the platform may not support manual server entry; use the available featured-server or friend/Realm options.
After checking those details, restarting Minecraft or the device can clear a temporary client-side problem. If it still fails, ask the server owner for the edition, exact address and port, required version, server status, and any allowlist requirement.
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