Yes, Minecraft is cross platform, but only inside one edition. Java Edition plays with other Java Edition players on Windows, Mac and Linux. Bedrock Edition plays with other Bedrock Edition players on Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and mobile. A Java player and a Bedrock player cannot join the same world. We read Mojang's pages on 10 October 2026.
The short answer
| Edition | Platforms that can play together | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|
| Java Edition | Windows, Mac and Linux | Store page FAQ and Realms page |
| Bedrock Edition | Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, PS4, and mobile | Store page FAQ |
| Realms for Java Edition | Windows, Mac and Linux | Realms page |
| Realms for Bedrock Edition | Android, iOS, Windows, Amazon Fire, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and Chromebook | Realms page |
The two groups never merge. The store page puts it bluntly for Java Edition under "No Cross-Play": its users can only play with other Java users.
Which platforms can play together on Java Edition
Java Edition is a desktop-only edition. The store page says it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and its FAQ lists exactly those three as the platforms Java Edition can cross-play with. There is no phone, console or Chromebook group for Java Edition in either source.
The trade-off is narrow reach. A Java player on a Mac can join a friend on Windows or Linux, but not a friend on a console or phone. The store page also notes that Java Edition does not have native controller support at this time.
Which platforms can play together on Bedrock Edition
Bedrock Edition has the wide group. The store page describes it as playable on consoles, mobile, Chromebook and PC, and says Bedrock players can play with other Bedrock players on any platform online. Its FAQ names Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, PS4 and mobile.
The wording is not identical across Mojang's pages. The store's comparison table lists Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PS5 and mobile, without PS4. The Realms page lists Android, iOS, Windows, Amazon Fire, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and Chromebook. We report each list as written and have not tried to reconcile them.
Why Java and Bedrock do not play in one game
They are separate games. Mojang's announcement of 4 June 2022 says Java and Bedrock "will remain separate games with their own distinctive features", even when both are sold together for Windows PC and started from the same launcher.
The same announcement describes the one workaround. A PC player who owns both can cross-play with either Java or Bedrock players by launching whichever edition their friends are playing, but not at the same time. That is switching editions, not joining across them.
How Realms follows the same split
Realms, Mojang's hosted worlds, uses the same two groups. The Realms FAQ says Realms is cross-platform but only within the same edition: Java players join a Realm with other Java players, and Bedrock players with other Bedrock players. The Realms page lists Windows, Mac and Linux for Realms for Java Edition, and the Bedrock platforms in the table above for Realms for Bedrock Edition. Its comparison also marks cross-platform play across Bedrock devices and consoles as "No" for Realms for Java Edition.
What this means if you use mods or add-ons
The split also decides what content you can bring. The store page lists mods as included on Java Edition and not on Bedrock Edition, and lists add-ons as included on Bedrock Edition and not on Java Edition. A friend group that wants one shared setup therefore has to pick an edition first. See what a Minecraft mod is for Java Edition and what Minecraft add-ons are for Bedrock Edition.
Mixed hardware is the other case. If your friends are on consoles or phones, Bedrock Edition is the group they can share. If everyone is on a desktop and wants mods, our Java mod listing is where to start. For joining friends in practice, see how to play Minecraft with friends.
Limits of what we know
We read Mojang's pages and did not play across devices, so we cannot say how smooth any pairing is. The pages also say nothing here about whether a modded Java Edition world changes who can join. Platform lists change as Mojang updates its pages, and the dates above are when we read them.
Where to read the full edition differences
Cross-play is one difference among many, including controls, content stores and system requirements. For the full picture, read Minecraft Java vs Bedrock Edition.
