Minecraft comes in two editions that don't naturally talk to each other. Java Edition runs on PC. Bedrock Edition runs on phones, tablets, consoles, and the Windows 10/11 app. They can't join the same server out of the box — so the first real question isn't "how do I set this up," it's "which edition are my friends on?" This guide walks the three honest answers.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| You need | A Minecraft server on Falix, plus a feel for the panel (the Java quickstart covers the basics) |
| Plan | Free plan is fine |
| Main tool | The Version Changer, opened from the Console page |
The Version Changer is the one tool you'll use throughout — it downloads the right server software and matching Java runtime for you.
Setup 1: a pure Bedrock server
If everyone plays on phones, consoles, or the Windows app, run a Bedrock server and skip Java entirely.
Open the Version Changer and pick from the Bedrock family — Vanilla Bedrock, Bedrock Preview, or a server platform like PocketMine, Nukkit, or Cloudburst. The panel downloads it and configures the server for you.
Bedrock networking has one quirk worth knowing up front: it runs over UDP and has no SRV-record magic. That means there's no "just type the name" shortcut — Bedrock players always enter your address and port separately. Grab both from the Network page and share them.
⚠️ Heads up: Bedrock has no SRV-record magic, so there's no name-only shortcut. Bedrock players always enter the address and port in separate fields. In the Bedrock client, add a server (or use "Servers" → add), and enter the address in one box and the port in the other.
A fair warning: adding a custom server by address is easy on phone, tablet, and the Windows app, but consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch) restrict it heavily. That's a Bedrock limitation, not a Falix one.
Java players cannot join this server.
Setup 2: a pure Java server
If everyone's on PC, a Java server is the simplest, most compatible choice — every plugin, mod, and datapack in the ecosystem targets Java first.
Pick a Java software in the Version Changer (Purpur or PaperSpigot are great starting points) and you're set. For joining, create a free subdomain on the Network page like yourname.falixsrv.me. Java subdomains get an SRV record, so your friends join with just the name — no port. Without a subdomain they can still use the raw address and port from the Network page. See the Knowledge Base for the player's side: joining a Java server.
Bedrock players cannot join this server — which is exactly what setup 3 solves.
Setup 3: crossplay with Geyser
Want your Bedrock friends and your Java friends in the same world? That's what Geyser does. In the Version Changer, Geyser is one of the software choices: it runs a Java-compatible server that also accepts Bedrock players. The panel allocates an extra UDP port for the Bedrock side; find it on the Network page. Java players connect the normal way (name or address); Bedrock players connect with your address plus that extra port, typed in manually, just like setup 1.
Falix ships Geyser preconfigured on several bases, so you don't bolt it on yourself — you pick the base you want and crossplay comes built in. That includes modded bases, so your Bedrock friends can join a Fabric or NeoForge world too:
| Geyser option | Base it runs on | Reach for it when |
|---|---|---|
| Geyser - Bedrock Bridge | Purpur | The default — a plugin-friendly crossplay server |
| Geyser PaperSpigot / Geyser Spigot | Paper / Spigot | You want a specific plugin base under crossplay |
| Geyser Pufferfish | Pufferfish | Crossplay on a performance-tuned base |
| Geyser Fabric / Geyser NeoForge | Fabric / NeoForge | Crossplay on a modded server |
Whichever you choose, the join details below are the same. The full software menu is in Minecraft software and versions.
🎯 Good to know: Under Geyser it's a Java world, translated on the fly. Most things work, but Bedrock players meet Java-flavored quirks in inventory, crafting, and edition-only features.
Be honest with your Bedrock friends about what they're joining: it's a Java world, translated on the fly. Most things work, but Bedrock players will meet Java-flavored quirks — inventory and crafting layouts, some UI screens, and the occasional feature that only one edition has. For casual survival with friends it's great; for a polished public server it takes some tuning.
One more piece you'll hear about: Floodgate. By default, a Bedrock player joining a Java server still needs a Java (Microsoft) account. Floodgate lifts that requirement so Bedrock players can join with just their Bedrock account. It pairs with Geyser, and its options (linked accounts, username prefixes, and more) go deeper than a quickstart should — configure it using Geyser's own documentation at geysermc.org, which is the authoritative source and stays current with Minecraft versions.
Which should you pick?
| Your friends are on | Run | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Bedrock (phones, consoles, Win10/11) | Pure Bedrock server | Simplest, native feel, nothing to translate |
| Java (PC) | Pure Java server | Best compatibility, subdomain for one-word joining, full plugin and mod ecosystem |
| A mix of both | Geyser crossplay | One world for everyone, at the cost of the Java-world quirks above |
Verify it works
Start the server and watch the Console for the Done (…) line — that's the success signal for a Java-family server. Then do the real test: have one player from each intended edition actually connect. A Bedrock player who can't get in is nearly always a port problem (Bedrock needs the exact address and port, and Geyser's Bedrock listener uses its own extra port) rather than anything deeper.
Troubleshooting
- Bedrock player can't connect — double-check they typed the address and port in the separate fields, and that the port is the Bedrock/UDP one from the Network page (with Geyser, that's the extra allocated port, not the Java port).
- Java player can't connect to a Bedrock server — that's expected; the editions don't cross without Geyser. Switch to setup 3 if you need both.
- Server won't reach anyone at all — that's a general connectivity issue, not a crossplay one: I can't reach my server.
- Bedrock features look "wrong" under Geyser — expected. Remember it's a translated Java world; check Geyser's docs for what's supported.
- Server sleeps when you step away — normal on the free plan; see How free game servers work.