Family server

How to join

Pick the device you'll play on, and the steps below change to match.

Which device?

The device they'll play on

You'll need

  • Minecraft from the App Store. The regular one, not Minecraft Education.
  • Minecraft from Google Play. The regular one, not Minecraft Education.
  • Minecraft for Windows, from the Microsoft Store or the Xbox app.
  • Minecraft: Java Edition, opened from the Minecraft Launcher.
  • To be signed in with a Microsoft account. It's free, and Minecraft's start screen offers it.
  • To be signed in to the launcher with the Microsoft account that owns the game.
  • For a child's account, a parent allows online play once. Sign in as the parent at account.xbox.com/settings, pick the child, and allow You can join multiplayer games.

Consoles can't join this server

Xbox, PlayStation and Switch only reach a few big public servers. Play on a tablet, a phone or a computer instead.

Get on the list

The server is invite-only. Ask a parent who plays here for an invite link, then type each player's name into it.

Add the server in Minecraft

Once on every device that will play.

On the iPad, iPhone or Android that will play, tap:

On the Windows PC that will play, click:

Add to Minecraft

Minecraft opens with the server filled in. Then tap Save.

Or add it by hand
  1. Open Minecraft and tap Play.
  2. Open the Servers tab.
  3. Tap Add Server, at the top or the bottom of the list.
  4. Fill in:

    Server Name: anything, such as Family server

    Server Address

    play.bittermesh.com

    Port

    19132
  5. Tap Save.
  1. Open the Minecraft Launcher and press Play.
  2. Click Multiplayer. If a warning appears, click Proceed.
  3. Click Add Server, and paste this as the Server Address:
    play.bittermesh.com
  4. Click Done.

Join

In Play, then Servers, tap Family server and then Join Server.

In Multiplayer, double-click Family server.

The first visit can take a minute while the world loads. After that it stays in the server list, so next time is one tap.

Trouble joining?
"You are not whitelisted on this server"
That name isn't on the list yet. Add it, spelled exactly as Minecraft shows it.
"Multiplayer is disabled" or "because of how your account is set up"
A parent needs to allow online play for that Microsoft account, at account.xbox.com/settings.
"Outdated client"
Update Minecraft. The App Store or Google Play has the update, and Java Edition updates itself when the launcher restarts.
"Outdated server"
The server needs an update for the newest Minecraft. Let whoever invited you know.
"Unable to connect" or it never finishes loading
Check the address and port. Some school and work Wi-Fi blocks games, so try home Wi-Fi or mobile data.
No Servers tab, or no Add Server button
That's probably Minecraft Education. The regular Minecraft is a separate app.
"Failed to log in" or "Invalid session" on a Mac or PC
Close the launcher, open it again, and sign in.