Bedrock hosting

Bedrock Minecraft server hosting on Android

Anvil-MC hosts a Bedrock server on the Android device in your hand, two ways. Run a native Bedrock server with PowerNukkitX and Bedrock or MCPE clients connect straight to it, or run a Java server bridged with Geyser and Floodgate so both editions share one world. Both take one tap, both are free, and neither needs a PC or port forwarding.

Free forever · No root required · Android 9+

Two ways to serve Bedrock players

Which one you want depends on a single question: do Java Edition players need to be in the same world? If not, a native Bedrock server is the simpler and lighter option.

Native Bedrock (PowerNukkitX)Java server + Geyser
Who can joinBedrock and MCPE playersBedrock and Java players, one world
How Bedrock clients connectYesStraight to the serverPartialTranslated by Geyser
Java Edition playersNoBedrock onlyYesSame world, same chunks
Java account requiredNoNoFloodgate handles it
Java plugins and modsNoNot a Java serverYesApply to everyone
SetupOne tap when you create the serverOne switch in server settings
Public address, no port forwardingYesYes
On the free tierYesYes

Playing with a group that is entirely on phones, tablets or consoles? Pick PowerNukkitX. Mixing Java and Bedrock friends, or running Java plugins and mods? Run a Java server and switch on Bedrock support.

Running a native Bedrock server with PowerNukkitX

PowerNukkitX is Bedrock server software, so a Bedrock or Pocket Edition client talks to it in its own protocol with nothing in between. In Anvil-MC it is a server type like any other: pick it when you create a server and the app handles the rest.

  1. Create a new server and choose PowerNukkitX as the software.
  2. Set the world options you want, then start the server.
  3. Share the public address and port from the dashboard — automated tunneling means there is no router configuration.
  4. Friends open Play → Servers → Add Server in Bedrock Edition and enter that address. No Java account, no bridge, no add-ons.

Native Bedrock hosting is part of the free tier, alongside every Java server type.

How Java and Bedrock end up on one server

Java and Bedrock speak different network protocols, so a Bedrock client cannot talk to a Java server directly. Three well-known projects close that gap, and Anvil-MC installs and configures all three for you when you enable Bedrock support:

  • Geyser translates the Bedrock protocol into the Java protocol in real time. It is what actually lets a Bedrock client connect.
  • Floodgate handles authentication, so Bedrock players join without needing to own a Java account.
  • ViaVersion widens the range of client versions that can connect, so your group does not all have to sit on the same exact release.

In the app this is a single switch in server settings. There is no YAML to edit and no separate proxy to run.

Turning it on

  1. Create a server as normal — Paper is the usual choice for cross-play, since Geyser and Floodgate are plugins.
  2. Open server settings and enable Bedrock support.
  3. Start the server. Anvil-MC downloads and wires up Geyser, Floodgate and ViaVersion on first boot.
  4. Share the public address and port shown in the app.

How Bedrock players join

In Bedrock Edition, players open Play → Servers → Add Server, give it any name, then enter the address and port from the Anvil-MC dashboard. Java players use the same address in Multiplayer → Add Server. Both land in the same world, see each other, and share the same chunks, chests and builds.

What matches, and what does not

Cross-play through Geyser is very good, but it is a translation layer rather than magic. Worth knowing before you invite a mixed group:

AreaHow it behaves for Bedrock players
Building, mining, redstoneYesWorks normally in the shared world
Server pluginsYesApply to everyone, Bedrock players included
SkinsYesCarried over by Floodgate
Combat timingYesJava mechanics apply, since the server is a Java server
Inventory and UI screensPartialTranslated by Geyser; a few custom menus can look different
Client-side Java modsNoJava-only — a Bedrock client cannot load them

Why host it on a phone

A Bedrock-friendly server usually means renting one or paying for Realms. Hosting on a device you already own removes the bill entirely: Anvil-MC is free to host with, needs no PC or VPS, and requires no port forwarding — every server gets a public address through built-in tunneling.

You need Android 9 or newer and no root. Around 2 GB of free RAM starts most servers; 4–6 GB is the comfortable range once you add mods, plugins or a larger group. The cross-play bridge itself adds some overhead, so give it a little more headroom than a Java-only server.

The phone is the server. Keep it charging and connected, and expect higher battery use while a server is running.

Frequently asked questions

Can I host a native Bedrock (PE) server on Android?

Yes. Choose PowerNukkitX when you create a server and Anvil-MC sets up a native Bedrock Edition server in one tap, the same way it sets up a Java one. Bedrock and MCPE clients connect to it directly — there is no Geyser bridge in between, nobody needs a Java account, and there is no port forwarding. Native Bedrock hosting is included in the free tier.

Should I run PowerNukkitX or a Java server with Geyser?

Run PowerNukkitX if everyone is on Bedrock or MCPE: clients connect directly and there is no translation layer. Run a Java server with Bedrock support enabled if you also have Java Edition players, or if you want Java plugins and mods, since those apply to Bedrock players too when Geyser bridges them into the same world.

Can Bedrock Edition players join a Java server hosted on Android?

Yes. Enable Bedrock support in one tap and Anvil-MC configures Geyser, Floodgate and ViaVersion automatically. Bedrock players on phone, tablet, console or Windows can then join the same world as Java players.

Do Bedrock players need a Java account?

No. Floodgate is included and handles authentication, so Bedrock Edition players can join without owning Minecraft: Java Edition.

Is Bedrock hosting free on Anvil-MC?

Yes. Both routes are part of the free tier — native PowerNukkitX servers and Java servers with Bedrock cross-play — along with every other server type, mods, plugins and modpacks. Premium only adds a permanent custom subdomain that stays up on its own with nothing to renew, the remote web dashboard, DDoS protection, legacy Java versions and no ads.

How do Bedrock players connect to the server?

In Bedrock Edition go to Play → Servers → Add Server, then enter the address and port shown in the Anvil-MC dashboard. Java players use the same address under Multiplayer → Add Server.

Can Bedrock players use Java mods?

Server-side mods and plugins apply to everyone, Bedrock players included, because the server itself is a Java server. Client-side Java mods cannot be loaded by a Bedrock client.

Do I need port forwarding for a Bedrock server?

No. Anvil-MC gives every server a public address through built-in secure tunneling, so there is no router configuration for either edition.

Ready to start hosting?

Download Anvil-MC and launch your first free server in under a minute. No PC, no VPS, no port forwarding.

Get it on Google PlayJoin the Discord
170,000+ downloads4.2 ★ on Google PlayFree forever

Cover image: Minecraft screenshot by Minecraft Wallpaper (CC BY 2.0)