Consoles can't type a server address. Xbox, PS5, and Switch don't have a manual "add server" field for Bedrock servers. To join, you need a helper app (BedrockConnect is the standard one) running on a phone or tablet on the same Wi-Fi network as your console. The app injects your server into the console's server list, and from there you tap in like any other listed server.
Symptoms
- Xbox/PS5/Switch shows no way to enter a server IP or port.
- Friends on PC or mobile can join fine, but console friends are stuck.
- Server briefly appears in a "Featured Servers" list on console but doesn't match your actual server.
- Console asks for a password that doesn't match what you set.
Why this happens
Bedrock console editions restrict server browsing to a curated list. There's no built-in field for custom addresses. Every console player relies on a companion app (BedrockConnect, or BedrockTogether as an alternative) that spoofs an entry in that list pointing at your server's IP and port. This is normal, expected Bedrock behavior, not a bug in your server.
If your server is Java Edition, there's an extra layer: Bedrock and console clients can't natively speak to Java servers, so GeyserMC (protocol translation) and Floodgate (Bedrock login handling) must be installed and running first, or console players will fail to connect or hit a Microsoft sign-in error.
How to fix it
- If your server is Java Edition, open Enable Cross Play in the left sidebar, select GeyserMC, choose your Bedrock port, keep Floodgate enabled, and click Install, then restart. This is required before any console player can join: see How to Set Up Java and Bedrock Crossplay (Geyser + Floodgate).
- Open Dashboard and copy the exact Hostname (IP:PORT) shown in Server Info.
- On a phone or tablet connected to the same Wi-Fi as the console, install BedrockConnect from the app store and add your server using that exact IP and port: no extra spaces.
- Launch Minecraft on the console, go to Servers, and look for your entry injected by the app (it may briefly show a placeholder before updating).
- Connect. If prompted for a password and it fails, re-check it in Startup or Server Properties rather than guessing: special characters are a common mismatch.
- If the server still isn't found, rename it and restart from the panel: some console caches only refresh after a name change and reboot.
The single biggest failure point is a mismatched or mistyped port, copy the Hostname directly from Dashboard rather than retyping it by hand.
For general connection formatting (Java vs Bedrock vs console), see How to Connect to Your Bedrock Server and Crossplay: Letting Bedrock Players Join a Java Server.
Still stuck?
If Geyser is installed, the port is correct, and console players still can't connect, check Geyser Crossplay Not Working: Bedrock Players Cannot Connect for deeper troubleshooting, or open a support ticket with your server ID from Dashboard and we'll check the Console logs for you.
Did this solve it?
If you are still stuck, our team can look at your server directly.