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Join a Server — Xbox, PlayStation & Nintendo Switch

This guide shows you how to connect your console to a custom Minecraft Bedrock server with the BedrockConnect app. It works the same way on every console, with an Android phone or an iPhone/iPad.

What you need​

  • A phone or tablet (Android or iOS) with the BedrockConnect app installed
  • Your phone and console must be on the same Wi-Fi network
  • An online membership for your console:

Xbox Game Pass Essential or higher.

warning

Do not use a VPN, mobile data, or a strict firewall. Your phone and console need to talk to each other directly over your Wi-Fi.

No DNS setup needed

You don't need to change any DNS settings on your console — not even on the Nintendo Switch. Your console simply finds BedrockConnect as a LAN world.

Step-by-step​

1. Open the app​

Launch BedrockConnect and go through the welcome screens.

During the welcome screens, the app shows an "Allow Local Network" step. Tap Allow Access, then tap OK in the popup from iOS. Without this, BedrockConnect can't reach your console.

iOS Local Network permission popup
Tap "OK" — this is required for BedrockConnect to work
Accidentally tapped "Don't Allow"?

Go to iPhone Settings → scroll down to BedrockConnect → enable Local Network. Then restart the app.

2. Pick or add a server​

In the Servers tab you can pick a server from the Partner or Featured list, or add your own.

To add your own, tap the "Custom" tab at the top, then tap the blue + button in the bottom right. You'll land on the Add Custom Server screen.

Custom tab with + button
Tap "Custom", then the blue + button
Add Custom Server screen
Enter name, IP address, and port

Enter the server's name, IP address, and port (usually 19132), then tap Save. The server must be online and running Minecraft Bedrock Edition.

"Server Already Listed"?

If you see this message, the server is already in the Partner or Featured list. Just pick it from there instead.

3. Select and start​

Tap the server. You'll see the server details.

Some Partner and Featured servers have more than one game mode — pick the one you want now, because you can't change it while the server is running. See Game Modes.

Then tap the blue "Start" button at the bottom.

Free vs. Premium

Without Premium, the button says "Ad & Start" — you'll watch a short ad first, then the server starts automatically. Free users may also see an ad when a player first joins the running server. With Premium, there are no ads at all.

Once the server is running, the button turns red and shows "Stop".

Server details with Start button
Tap "Start" to launch the server
Server running with Stop button
Server is running — ready to join

4. Find the server on your console​

On your console, open Minecraft and go to the Worlds tab (on some versions it's called the Friends tab). BedrockConnect shows up there as a LAN world. Tap it to join.

Where to find the server

The app tells you this too: "The server appears as a LAN World in your Minecraft Worlds tab."

Server visible in Minecraft world list on console
The server appears as a LAN world in Minecraft
Nintendo Switch needs NetherNet

The Switch only finds BedrockConnect over NetherNet, which is the default. If you changed Settings → Network Transport to RakNet, set it back to Nethernet (or Both). See Network Transport.

Server doesn't show up?

Check our Troubleshooting Guide.

5. Join​

Your console first connects to BedrockConnect, then gets sent on to the real server. This is normal — you're connecting through two servers.

You're done!

Once you're connected, you can close the app. BedrockConnect only handles the first connection — it isn't a proxy.