Way back in 2011, Minecraft Java Edition was the sole version out there, and it only worked on Windows, Linux, and macOS. A year later, Mojang dropped a console edition that ran on Xbox and PlayStation. Eventually, they rolled out Bedrock Edition, which works across a bunch of gadgets like Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, and more.

Both Java and Bedrock Editions handle crossplay, letting folks on different devices jump into the same world together. Here's a straightforward rundown on making crossplay happen in Minecraft.

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Setting Up Crossplay on Java Edition

  1. Create a Microsoft account
    You'll start by setting up a Microsoft account. It's required not just for linking up with players on other platforms, but also for buying and grabbing the game to begin with. Head over to the official Minecraft site and pick "Create a new account" from the top-right menu.
  2. Purchase and Download Minecraft Launcher
    With your account ready, buy and download Java Edition right from the site. It'll prompt you to get the launcher, where you pick "Java Edition," choose your version, and hit play.
  3. Search online for servers or create your own
    Once Java Edition is installed, you can either spin up your own server using paid options like Exaroton or hunt down public servers online.
    Private servers mean you handle all the world settings yourself, but you get to team up just with your buddies. Public ones draw in crowds of players, and joining is as simple as plugging in the server info in-game. Up to you which way to go.
  4. Ask players from different platforms to enter server details and enter the world
    All set? Fire up Java Edition via the launcher, go to "multiplayer," and tap "add server." Here, you can name it for your list and paste in the server address—grab that from the public server's site or Exaroton.
    Friends on other platforms follow suit, adding the server themselves. Then everyone logs in and dives into the action.

Crossplay on Bedrock Edition

Crossplay on Bedrock Edition is way easier, thanks to Mojang putting heavy emphasis on it when they built this version in 2017. Bedrock Edition is all about getting players united, so it runs on tons of devices: Windows, Xbox, Switch, PS, Android, Chrome OS, iOS, iPadOS, and Amazon Fire.

Jumping into multiplayer worlds is a breeze, no matter the platform mix. Follow these steps:

  1. Create a new Microsoft Account
    Just like with Java, kick things off by making a Microsoft account to snag Bedrock Edition.
  2. Download Minecraft Bedrock Edition from a device's app store
    Hunt for "Minecraft" in your device's app store, download it, and log in with your Microsoft account when you launch the game.
  3. Add friends from different platforms and play together in a multiplayer world
    Now add your friends through your Microsoft account. Switch to single-player, make a new world, and flip on the "multiplayer" toggle so they can hop in. Platform differences? No issue at all—crossplay here is dead simple.