Minecraft Bedrock server problems

Common Minecraft Bedrock server problems. See Bedrock settings.

I cannot connect from console, phone or Windows

Why it happens: Bedrock uses UDP and its own port, not the Java one. Consoles cannot type an address directly.

How to fix it:

1. Check the server is Online.
2. On Network, copy the primary address and port. See Network and ports.
3. On phone or Windows: Play > Servers > Add Server, and enter the address and port.
4. On consoles there is no add server option. Xbox, PlayStation and Switch players usually need a workaround such as joining through a friend or a featured server. We cannot support those tools. Open a ticket to ask what works.

Unable to connect to world

Why it happens: Wrong port, server offline, or a version mismatch.

How to fix it: Check the status, re-type the address and port, and make sure the game and server versions match.

Outdated server / Outdated client

Why it happens: Bedrock updates automatically for players, and the server must match. Bedrock Version (BEDROCK_VERSION) is latest by default.

How to fix it:

1. On Startup, check Bedrock Version is latest, or set the version your players use.
2. Restart the server.
3. Back up your world first. See Backups.

Java players cannot join

Why it happens: Java Edition and Bedrock are different games. Java players cannot join a Bedrock server.

How to fix it: Use Bedrock Edition, or a Java server. See Minecraft Java connecting.

Cross-play limits

Why it happens: A Bedrock server accepts Bedrock players on all platforms, but console players can have limits on joining custom servers.

How to fix it: See the first issue on this page. Open a ticket for platform specific help.

Xbox authentication or “Could not authenticate” errors

Why it happens: With online-mode on, players must sign in to Xbox Live. Signed out or blocked accounts fail.

How to fix it:

1. Ask the player to sign in to Xbox in Minecraft.
2. Check the Console for the message.
3. Only change online-mode in server.properties if you understand the risk. It is safer to leave it on.

Allow-list is on and a player is refused

Why it happens: With allow-list=true in server.properties, only players in allowlist.json can join. Bedrock calls it allow-list, not whitelist.

How to fix it:

1. From the Console, run allowlist add <name> (use quotes for names with spaces).
2. Or edit allowlist.json in Files.
3. Check the name is exact.

How do I give someone operator?

Why it happens: Bedrock permissions are set in permissions.json, or with the op command.

How to fix it:

1. From the Console, run op <name>.
2. Or edit permissions.json in Files. It is a list of entries, each with the player’s xuid and a permission of visitor, member or operator. Bedrock needs online mode on for this, because the XUID comes from the player’s Xbox account.
3. Restart or ask the player to rejoin.

Commands do not work in game

Why it happens: Allow cheats (CHEATS) is false by default.

How to fix it: Set it to true on Startup, save, restart. Note that it may disable achievements.

Addons and behavior packs

Why it happens: Bedrock supports behavior and resource packs, but they need the right folders and manifest.

How to fix it:

1. Upload packs in Files to behavior_packs and resource_packs.
2. Enable them in the world’s pack list files (world_behavior_packs.json, world_resource_packs.json) using each pack’s UUID and version.
3. Check the Console for pack errors, and make sure the pack matches your server version.
4. We cannot promise any addon works.

How do I upload my own world?

Why it happens: Bedrock worlds are a folder, or a .mcworld file for import.

How to fix it:

1. Back up the current world. See Backups.
2. Stop the server.
3. Rename your .mcworld to .zip, unzip it, and upload the contents to worlds/<levelname> in Files. See Files.
4. Check level-name in server.properties matches the folder name, then start.

Gamemode or difficulty did not change

Why it happens: The Gamemode setting only sets the game mode for new players when they first join. Changing it does not change the game mode of players who have already joined. Difficulty (DIFFICULTY) may also keep the world’s saved value.

How to fix it:

1. Use exact values: survival, creative or adventure, and peaceful, easy, normal or hard.
2. Restart. For a player who already joined, or if the world keeps the old value, use the gamemode or difficulty command from the Console.

LAN and IPv6 problems

Why it happens: Home networks and IPv6 can confuse the client. Bedrock also has separate IPv6 handling.

How to fix it: Use the address and port from Network rather than a LAN listing, and try a different network. If IPv6 is the issue, open a ticket.

Server will not start

Why it happens: Invalid server.properties values, or a bad world.

How to fix it: Read the Console. See Server keeps restarting and restore a backup if needed.

Still stuck?

Open a ticket or ask on Discord. See Contact support.