Geyser is a free, open-source bridge plugin that connects Minecraft Bedrock Edition clients to any Java Edition server. It runs on Paper, Spigot, BungeeCord, and Velocity, translating Bedrock network packets in real-time so players on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and Windows can join the same server as Java Edition players. The Java server requires no modification and continues to function normally for Java players.
How Geyser Works
Geyser operates as a network translation layer sitting between the Bedrock client and the Java server. It opens a separate UDP listener on port 19132 (the standard Bedrock server port) while leaving the existing Java TCP listener on port 25565 unchanged. Incoming Bedrock packets are translated bidirectionally: block state mappings, entity metadata, inventory packets, chat, and command suggestions all pass through the translator. The Java server treats Geyser as a standard Java client and does not require plugins to be Geyser-aware.
Installation on Paper or Spigot
- 1.Download Geyser-Spigot.jar from the Geyser download page for your Minecraft version
- 2.Place the JAR in your server's plugins/ folder
- 3.Start or restart the server; Geyser generates a config at plugins/Geyser-Spigot/config.yml
- 4.Open config.yml and verify bedrock.port (default 19132); forward that UDP port on your router or firewall
- 5.Restart the server; Bedrock clients can now connect using your server IP on port 19132
Floodgate: Bedrock Account Authentication
Floodgate is a companion plugin maintained by the same GeyserMC team that handles authentication for Bedrock players on online-mode servers. Without Floodgate, Bedrock players on an online-mode server must log in with a Java account to connect. With Floodgate installed alongside Geyser, Bedrock players authenticate through Xbox Live and join using their Bedrock identity, no Java Edition license required. Floodgate also prepends a configurable character to Bedrock player names (default: a period) so server operators can distinguish them from Java players in logs and permission rules.
Compatibility Notes
- Most Java plugins and datapacks work without modification; Geyser operates at the network layer and does not alter server logic
- Custom inventory GUIs using named slots may display with minor visual differences on Bedrock clients
- Item maps (paper maps with drawn content) have limited rendering support on Bedrock
- Server resource packs do not apply to Bedrock clients; configure a Bedrock-format pack separately in Geyser if needed
- Always match the Geyser version to your target Java server version; version mismatches cause connection failures
- Geyser 2.x adds a self-hosted mode (running as a Fabric or NeoForge mod) for modded servers, separate from the Paper/Velocity plugin build
Bedrock and Java cross-play server setup with Geyser
Questions about this entry.
How do I install Geyser on a Paper server?
Download Geyser-Spigot.jar from the Geyser download page for your Minecraft version and drop it in your server's plugins/ folder. After restarting, Geyser creates a config at plugins/Geyser-Spigot/config.yml where you can adjust the Bedrock listener port (default 19132). Forward that UDP port on your router or firewall, then restart again. Bedrock clients connect using your server IP on port 19132.
Does Geyser work on Velocity or BungeeCord?
Yes. Use the Geyser-Velocity.jar build for Velocity proxies and Geyser-BungeeCord.jar for BungeeCord or Waterfall networks. Install Geyser on the proxy node only, not on each individual backend server. The GeyserMC download page provides separate JAR files for each platform.
Do Bedrock players need a Java account to join a server using Geyser?
On offline-mode servers, no account is required for anyone. On online-mode servers, Bedrock players must authenticate. Install Floodgate alongside Geyser to allow Bedrock players to join using their Xbox Live account without owning Java Edition. Floodgate is a free companion plugin from the same GeyserMC team.
Which Minecraft versions does Geyser support?
Geyser supports Java Edition servers from 1.16.5 through the latest 1.21.x releases. The Bedrock client version is handled automatically, so players on current Bedrock releases can connect. Always use the Geyser build that matches your Java server version to avoid protocol mismatches.
Does Geyser affect server performance?
Geyser adds minimal overhead on modern hardware. The translation work runs in-process alongside the server or proxy with no external processes or databases required. For most servers the performance impact is negligible. Servers with very high numbers of simultaneous Bedrock connections may notice slightly increased CPU usage from the translation workload.
