Minecraft Java And Bedrock Crossplay Server Hosting with GeyserMC
Last modified on Feb 14, 2023 in Plugins
By Noah
Overview
One of the best features of Minecraft is the ability to join servers and play with others. This is especially true when teaming up with friends, but problems may arise if some play on Java Edition while others play on Bedrock. By default, servers are not cross-platform, which prevents both versions from joining the same server. Thankfully GeyserMC, a Minecraft plugin, is here to solve this dilemma. The plugin can be installed on Java servers and can be configured to allow any Bedrock players to join and play like any other server. In addition to this, installed plugins will be available to these players, allowing everyone to have the same experiences. There are two ways to configure GeyserMC, so we have created this Apex Hosting guide to help you get started.
Automatic Installation
- Access your Apex server panel, then stop the server.
- In the left-hand menu, enter the
Customizations
tab. - Open the dropdown menu next to the
Geyser Installer
area and selectBukkit
. - When prompted, choose
Queue Installation
, then restart the server.

This will automatically configure GeyserMC to run using your existing IP and Port. You can confirm it has worked by checking the server console and look for a message from the plugin.
Manual Installation
Alternatively, GeyserMC can be manually installed through the FTP File Access tab. While this is more complicated, you have access to more configuration options.
Geyser + Floodgate Download
- Visit the GeyserMC download page.
- Locate and click the
Geyser-Spigot.jar
link. - Save the .jar to a safe location for later.
- Additionally, visit the Floodgate download page.
- Download and save the
floodgate-spigot.jar
like before.
Server Installation
- Navigate to your Apex panel page, then stop the server.
- Scroll down to the
Game File
section and open the dropdown. - Ensure you are running a plugin-compatible version, such as PaperMC or Spigot.
- Afterwards, enter the
FTP File Access
page in the left-hand menu and log in. - Enter the
plugins
folder, then press theUpload
button in the top-left. - Drag + drop the .jar files into the right-hand side.
- Once uploaded to 100%, return to the main panel page.
- Restart the server to load the default files for GeyserMC.
How to Setup GeyserMC
Before GeyserMC will function, you will need to configure it to run on your server. In addition to this, your server must accept connections from the latest version of the game. If you are running an older version, installing the ViaVersion plugin will allow you to meet this requirement.
Accessing the Configuration
- From the Apex panel, stop the server.
- Return to the
FTP File Access
like before and log in. - Navigate through the
/plugins/Geyser-Spigot/
directories. - Locate the
config.yml
file, then pressEdit
to the far-right to open the editor.
Changing the IP and Port Settings
- Locate the Bedrock section of the config file:
bedrock: # The IP address that will listen for connections. # There is no reason to change this unless you want to limit what IPs can connect to your server. address: 0.0.0.0 # The port that will listen for connections port: 19132
- Change the
address
to match your server’s IP address. - Adjust the port to a random port, such as your server’s existing one.
- Next, find the Remote section of the file with the following options:
address: auto port: 25565 auth-type: online
- Keep the
address
set to auto, then change theport
to your 5-digit server port. - Finally, switch the
auth-type
to floodgate. - Once this is complete, press
Save
, then restart the server.
1.19.1+ Installations
For 1.19.1 versions and newer, an additional setting is required to allow Bedrock players to join.
- From the main panel, enter the
Config Files
in the left menu. - Here, locate and click the
Server Settings
option. - Scroll down to find the
Enforce secure profile
setting. - Switch the setting to
Disabled
, then pressSave
at the bottom. - Restart the server when prompted to load these changes.
Joining Through Bedrock
Now that GeyserMC and Floodgate have been installed and configured, Bedrock players are ready to join the server and play.
- Start Minecraft Bedrock, then navigate to the
Servers
section and add a new server. - Enter the IP and Port adjusted in the Bedrock section from earlier.
- Once done, you can attempt to join the server.
- If successful, you will join the server and can play alongside Java Edition players.
Conclusion
Following these steps, Bedrock and Java Edition players will be able to play together on the same server. This is great for playing with your friends or just to allow more people to join. In addition to this, Geyser runs on a plugin-compatible Minecraft version, meaning Bedrock players should also be able to make use of any other installed plugins such as EssentialsX. After game updates are released, it may become necessary to update the GeyserMC and/or Floodgate files on the server. This can easily be done by repeating the steps and replacing the old .jar files with the newer ones. With this newfound knowledge you are ready to team up with or against players from a variety of platforms to continue your Minecraft adventures.
Common Issues
Oftentimes, this error will appear if the IP and Port is incorrectly configured or already taken. Return to the config.yml file and make sure the IP matches your server’s, not including the port at the end. If you are using a random port for the Bedrock settings, try to use a different port number or consider using your server’s default 5-digit port. Once this has been adjusted, save the file and restart to try again.
In some cases, Bedrock players may receive an error when attempting to join. The two most common errors often relate to necessary configuration settings. If the error says you require a Java profile, make sure that the “auth-type” is set to Floodgate. Alternatively if it mentions secure profiles, double check that the Enforce Secure Profile setting is disabled. Once either of these fixes are performed, restart the server and try to connect again.
A majority of the time, Bedrock skins will not appear properly to Java players. Custom Bedrock skins do not work on Java servers and some updates remove classic skin functionality as well. To add skins for these players, consider using a plugin such as SkinsRestorer.
Helpful Links
GeyserMC Download Page
Floodgate Download Page
How to Install ViaVersion
How to Install SkinsRestorer