What Floodgate works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Paper, Spigot, BungeeCord, Waterfall, Velocity |
| Minecraft versions | 1.16.5, 1.18.2, 1.19.4, 1.20.1, 1.20.6, 1.21.1, 1.21.5, 1.21.8, 1.21.11, 26.1, 26.2 |
Floodgate is GeyserMC's companion plugin for Geyser that lets Bedrock Edition players join an online-mode Java Edition server without owning a Java Edition account. It installs on Paper, Spigot, BungeeCord, or Velocity for Minecraft 1.16.5 through 26.2, authenticating Bedrock players through their Xbox Live sign-in instead of Java's Mojang account check.
What Floodgate adds on top of Geyser
Geyser translates the network protocol so a Bedrock client can connect to a Java server at all, but on a server running in online mode that connection still has to pass Mojang's Java account check. Floodgate replaces that check for Bedrock players: it verifies them through Xbox Live, assigns each one a UUID that Java Edition accepts, and prefixes their username so server operators can tell Bedrock players apart from Java players in logs, permissions, and commands. It also uploads Bedrock player skins so Java clients can see them, and exposes a small API so other plugins can query or message Bedrock players.
Installing Floodgate on Paper, Spigot, BungeeCord, or Velocity
- 1.Download the matching build, floodgate-spigot.jar, floodgate-bungee.jar, or floodgate-velocity.jar, from the GeyserMC download page
- 2.Drop the jar into the plugins folder of the same server or proxy that already runs Geyser
- 3.Open Geyser's config.yml and set auth-type to floodgate
- 4.Restart the server
Configuration and the Floodgate key
Floodgate writes its own config.yml separate from Geyser's, with a username-prefix setting that controls the character added in front of Bedrock player names. Server operators running Floodgate 2.0 or newer also get an fwhitelist command for adding or removing Bedrock players by name or UUID, since a Bedrock player's prefixed username does not match a normal whitelist.json entry.
Compatibility and known limits
- Floodgate does not run standalone; it needs Geyser installed on the same server or proxy to have any effect
- Forge-Bukkit or Fabric-Bukkit hybrid servers, such as Magma, Mohist, or Cardboard, are not supported; put those behind a BungeeCord or Velocity proxy running Floodgate instead
- LuckPerms needs allow-invalid-usernames set to true in its config, or it will reject Floodgate's prefixed Bedrock usernames
- Bedrock players still need a working Xbox Live sign-in; Floodgate authenticates through Xbox Live, it does not remove that requirement
- MIT licensed, so the source is open to read or modify at the GeyserMC/Floodgate GitHub repository
Setting up a Java and Bedrock crossplay server with Geyser and Floodgate
Questions about Floodgate.
5 questions
What does Floodgate do?
Floodgate lets Bedrock Edition players join a Java Edition server that is running in online mode without owning a Java account. It authenticates them through Xbox Live instead of Mojang's login check, then hands them a Java-compatible UUID and a prefixed username so the server can treat them like any other player.
Do I need Geyser to use Floodgate?
Yes. Floodgate only changes how Bedrock players authenticate once they are already connected, and Geyser is what makes that connection possible by translating Bedrock's network protocol for the Java server. Installing Floodgate without Geyser has no effect.
Does Floodgate work with BungeeCord or Velocity?
Yes. Floodgate ships separate builds for Paper and Spigot, BungeeCord, and Velocity. On a proxy network, install it on the proxy only, unless a backend server also needs the Floodgate API, in which case that backend needs its own install plus the shared key.pem file.
How do I whitelist Bedrock players with Floodgate?
Use the fwhitelist command, added in Floodgate 2.0, with fwhitelist add <name> or fwhitelist add <uuid>. A regular whitelist.json entry will not match a Bedrock player, because Floodgate prefixes their username before the server sees it.
Is Floodgate safe to use?
Floodgate is maintained by the GeyserMC team, distributed through GeyserMC's own download page and Hangar, and released under the MIT license, so its source is open to inspect. The one real risk is its key.pem file, which should never be shared outside servers you control.
