Crossplay Setup: Java and Bedrock With GeyserMC
The biggest question in multiplayer Minecraft is: "Can Java players play with Bedrock players?"
The answer is yes. By utilizing a proxy translation tool known as Geyser MC, mobile, console, and Windows 10/11 Bedrock players can join your Java Edition servers flawlessly.
What is Geyser MC?
Geyser is a network protocol translator. It acts as a bridge, translating the incoming Bedrock packets into Java packets, and vice versa. It allows Bedrock clients to connect to Java servers without modifying the Java server's mechanics.
How to Set Up Geyser Plugin
If you are running Paper, Purpur, or Spigot:
- Download the Geyser-Spigot plugin and the Floodgate plugin.
- Drop both files into your
/plugins/folder on your server. - Restart your server.
- Floodgate allows Bedrock players to join without needing an official Java account, mitigating authentication blocks.
Server Ports and Networking
Bedrock Edition natively uses UDP port 19132. Java Edition uses TCP port 25565.
When you configure Geyser in its config.yml, ensure the Bedrock port is correctly exposed and your hosting provider has UDP ports open. Space-Node game hosting supports custom UDP allocations directly from the network tab.
Fix Bedrock Skins Java
Sometimes Bedrock skins do not show up properly for Java players. The Floodgate plugin generally handles skin translations, but ensuring your server allows external HTTP requests is vital for Geyser to fetch the skin mapping from Microsoft's API.
