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How to Open a Minecraft Server for Your Friends (Java and Bedrock)

Checked 9 November 2026

A Minecraft server of your own stays on: friends play while you are offline, and nobody leaves a PC running. This guide goes from picking a plan to friends joining.

1. Java or Bedrock

  • Java Edition plays on PC (Windows, macOS, Linux) and takes the most plugins and mods
  • Bedrock Edition plays on phones and Windows
  • The two do not normally play together, so pick what your crew mostly plays on

2. Pick a plan

Go by how many play at once: each plan says how many players it suits. Many mods, such as a Forge modpack, need more RAM. Not sure? Rent a small plan by the day and upgrade later; the world stays.

See Minecraft plans

3. Name the server and pay

  1. Press "Open a server" and pick Minecraft and the edition
  2. Name the server (a–z, 0–9 and -, 3–32 characters). This is what friends join with, such as myworld.playrack.online
  3. Pick the server software (Paper, Forge, Vanilla …) and the version your friends play
  4. Pay. The server comes up by itself

4. Friends on Java Edition

  1. Open Minecraft and press Multiplayer
  2. Press Add Server
  3. In Server Address type the name, such as myworld.playrack.online, with no port
  4. Press Done, then Join Server

The game's version must match the server's. On "Outdated client" or "Outdated server", switch the game to the same version, or change the server's version in the Settings tab of your server's page.

5. Friends on Bedrock Edition

  1. Open Minecraft and press Play
  2. Go to the Servers tab and press Add Server
  3. Server Name can be anything
  4. In Server Address type the name, and in Port the port shown on your server's page under "Players join with"
  5. Press Save and join

With a dedicated IP a Bedrock server uses the standard port 19132, already the Port field's default, so friends type the name alone.

Bedrock on consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch) cannot add a server from inside the game directly. Friends on phones or Windows join as above.

Common problems

  • Cannot join right after paying: give the server a moment to start; its Console shows how it is doing
  • Bedrock will not connect: check the port
  • Some friends cannot join: check they play the same edition and version as the server
Open a Minecraft server

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