Add Custom Minecraft Bedrock Servers on Xbox and Switch

Minecraft Bedrock Edition on Xbox and Nintendo Switch does not include a normal Add Server button. PC and mobile players can type a server address from inside the game, but console players only see the featured server list.

The usual workaround is to change your console's DNS settings so a featured server opens a BedrockConnect menu instead. From there, you can enter the custom server address and port. It is a small networking detour, which is annoying, but it gets the job done without modifying Minecraft.

This guide covers the Xbox and Nintendo Switch setup, then explains where to enter your server IP, what port to use, and how to fix the most common connection errors. The same approach works for many Java servers that support Bedrock players through GeyserMC.

Why Consoles Need a DNS Workaround

On console versions of Minecraft Bedrock Edition, Microsoft and Nintendo limit the Servers tab to approved featured servers. There is no built-in field for adding a private server, community server, or hosted crossplay server.

BedrockConnect works around that limit with DNS redirection. After you set your console's primary DNS to a BedrockConnect address, selecting a featured server sends you to a custom menu instead of the featured server itself. That menu lets you enter the real server IP and port.

Use a BedrockConnect DNS address that is close to your region when possible. A nearby DNS server usually responds faster and can make the connection feel less fussy. Keep the address handy before changing your console settings.

If you are setting up a server for friends, HolyHosting supports Minecraft hosting options for Bedrock and crossplay setups.

Add a Bedrock Server on Xbox

On Xbox, the setup happens in the console network settings, not inside Minecraft. You will change DNS from automatic to manual, enter a BedrockConnect primary DNS address, then use a public DNS resolver as the secondary DNS.

• Open Settings on your Xbox.
• Go to General, then choose Network Settings.

• Select Advanced Settings.
• Open DNS Settings, then choose Manual.

• Enter your chosen BedrockConnect address as the Primary IPv4 DNS.

• For Secondary IPv4 DNS, enter `8.8.8.8` or `1.1.1.1`.

• Save the settings and let the Xbox run its connection test.

These settings should not break other games or apps. If you want to undo the change later, return to the same DNS menu and switch it back to automatic.

Add a Bedrock Server on Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch uses a similar process. The important part is setting DNS to manual for the Wi-Fi network your console is currently using.

This method also applies to Nintendo Switch 2, since it uses the same type of manual DNS configuration.

• From the home screen, open System Settings.
• Scroll to Internet, then choose Internet Settings.

• Wait for the network scan to finish.
• Select the Wi-Fi network you are using.
• Choose Change Settings.
• Set DNS Settings to Manual.

• Enter your selected BedrockConnect address in Primary DNS.
• Enter `8.8.8.8` or `1.1.1.1` in Secondary DNS.

• Save the settings.

On Switch, make sure every DNS field is filled correctly. If the interface shows leading zeroes or grouped numbers, keep the format consistent with what the console expects.

Enter the Server IP and Port

Changing DNS only opens the door to the custom server menu. You still need the actual server address and port before you can join.

For most Minecraft Bedrock servers, the default port is `19132`. If the server owner gives you a different port, use that instead. GeyserMC crossplay servers often use `19132` too, but the exact value depends on how the server was configured.

• Open Minecraft and select Play.
• Go to the Servers tab.
• Join any featured server from the list.
• When the BedrockConnect menu appears, choose Connect to a Server.

• Enter the server address.
• Enter the port, usually `19132`.

• Enable Add to Server List if you want to save it for later.
• Select Submit to connect.

If the server address is a domain such as `play.example.com`, enter it exactly as provided. If it is a numeric IP, use the full address without extra spaces. Minecraft is picky about tiny typing mistakes because apparently one missing dot deserves drama.

Other Ways to Join Custom Bedrock Servers

If the DNS method does not work on your network, there are other tools that can make a remote Bedrock server appear as a LAN game.

BedrockTogether is a mobile app for iOS and Android. It broadcasts a custom server from your phone so your console can find it under the Friends tab. It works with Xbox and PlayStation, but it does not currently support Nintendo Switch.

Phantom is a desktop tool that runs on a PC. It creates a local LAN listing for a remote Bedrock server, allowing consoles on the same Wi-Fi network to join without changing DNS. Phantom is open source and can work with Nintendo Switch as long as the PC and console are on the same local network.

Fix Common Connection Problems

If Minecraft says it cannot connect to the world, restart both the console and the server first. For crossplay servers, update GeyserMC and Floodgate if they are installed. Joining a singleplayer world before connecting to the server can also clear some session issues.

If the server looks full or the connection queue fails, wait a minute and try again. Server owners should check the player limit, restart the server if needed, and confirm that crossplay plugins are configured correctly.

If you see a whitelist or allowlist message, the server owner must add your Xbox Live gamertag before you can join. Bedrock allowlists use the gamertag attached to your Microsoft account.

Xbox players may run into a DNS issue when IPv6 is active on the home network. Some Xbox consoles prefer IPv6 and ignore the manual IPv4 DNS settings. If BedrockConnect never appears, either disable IPv6 on the router or use the IPv6 BedrockConnect address `2001:19f0:4009:4126:5400:00ff:fe22:0d52` as the primary DNS. This is mainly an Xbox problem, not a common Switch issue.

The "Drowned" error is usually a Microsoft account authentication problem. Sign out of the Microsoft account on the console, then sign back in. If that fails, change the Microsoft account password in a browser and log in again. This error is separate from DNS and usually has nothing to do with the server itself.

FAQ

Why is there no Add Server button on Xbox or Switch?

Console editions of Minecraft Bedrock only show featured servers in the Servers tab. The DNS method is the common workaround for joining custom servers.

Can Nintendo Switch 2 join custom Bedrock servers?

Yes. Use the same manual DNS setup described for Nintendo Switch, then join through the BedrockConnect menu.

Can Xbox or Switch join a Java server?

Only if the Java server supports Bedrock connections through GeyserMC. Ask the server owner for the Bedrock address and port.

Will DNS changes affect other games?

Usually no. Other games and apps should continue working normally. To revert the change, set DNS back to automatic in your console network settings.