A Minecraft server on PS5, Xbox or Switch
Published on 3 October 2026
You can play on your own Minecraft server on a PS5, Xbox or Switch, just not directly. Minecraft on consoles is Bedrock, and consoles don’t let you add a server yourself: you only see the featured servers. A third-party workaround still gets you onto a Bedrock server, or onto a Java server running Geyser. If you’d rather skip the workarounds, Realms is the easiest route. Online play needs a subscription on every console.
| Console | Needed for online play | Add your own server | Workarounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 4 and 5 | PlayStation Plus | No | DNS method, LAN app on a phone or PC |
| Xbox One and Series | Game Pass (Essential or higher) | No | DNS method, LAN app on a phone or PC |
| Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch Online | No | DNS method; not every LAN app works |
Can you join your own server on a console?
Yes, but it takes some effort. On a console, Minecraft is a piece of cake until you want to add your own server: the Servers tab only lists the featured servers, and there’s no button to add one. On a PC, phone or tablet you do get that button.
Your server also has to speak Bedrock. Consoles only play Bedrock; there’s no Java Edition for consoles. That leaves two options: a Bedrock server, or a Java server with the Geyser plugin so Java and Bedrock players can play together. How that works is covered in Minecraft server for friends: Java and Bedrock together.
What works on PS5 and Xbox?
There are three workarounds. None of them comes from Microsoft or Sony, so any of them can stop working for a while after an update.
- A LAN app on your phone. Apps like BedrockTogether and MCCompanion make your server show up on your home network as if it were a LAN game. Enter your server’s address and port in the app and tap Start. On the console, the server then appears on the Friends tab under LAN Games. Your phone and console need to be on the same Wi-Fi. According to Aternos you can close the app once you’re connected.
- The DNS method. You set the BedrockConnect DNS server in your console’s network settings. When you then pick one of the compatible featured servers in Minecraft, you land in a server list where you enter an address and port yourself. Be aware: all your DNS requests then go through a third-party service, and according to GeyserMC the main BedrockConnect address is often blocked on consoles. Switch your DNS setting back when you’re done.
- The server as a friend. As an admin, you can add the MCXboxBroadcast extension to your Geyser server. It uses an Xbox account to make your server show up on the Friends tab. Its makers recommend a separate account, because the extension imitates client features that may or may not be allowed under the terms of service.
The native PS5 version of Minecraft belongs to the Bedrock family: according to Mojang it cross-plays with friends on all Bedrock devices.
What about the Switch?
GeyserMC says the DNS method works on the Switch as well. LAN apps are trickier: Aternos reports that BedrockTogether doesn’t support the Switch, and according to GeyserMC the PC tool Phantom doesn’t work with it either. Online play needs Nintendo Switch Online. A dedicated Switch 2 version comes out on 27 October 2026 according to minecraft.net; the announcement says nothing about servers.
Is Realms an alternative on consoles?
Yes, and it’s the easiest one. A Bedrock Realm works on every console without a workaround: you invite your friends and you play. There are limits, though. Realms for Bedrock lets you plus 2 players in at once, Realms Plus you plus 10, and you can’t get at the server files. The full comparison is in Minecraft Realms vs your own server: which suits you?
A Bedrock server for the whole group? At CakeHosting a Bedrock server starts at €2.95 a month. Friends on PC, phone and tablet join directly, console players through one of the workarounds. See the Bedrock plans.
How do your friends connect to your Bedrock server?
- Look up your address and port. You’ll find them with your server in the game panel. Bedrock asks for the port separately.
- On PC, phone or tablet: open Play, go to the Servers tab, choose Add Server and enter a name, the server address and the port.
- On a console: use one of the workarounds above.
- Keep your server up to date. Bedrock players usually update automatically, and a player on a newer version often can’t join an older server. So keep your server on the latest version: here’s how to change the version.
Playing with a fixed group? Turn on the allowlist so only your friends get in. More ways to play together, with or without a server, are in How to play Minecraft with friends.
