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Keep the record DNS-only for a normal direct Java connection. If the server uses a non-default port, publish a Minecraft SRV record so clients can discover that port. Cloudflare Tunnel is not a general-purpose TCP path for Minecraft; protecting or proxying Minecraft traffic requires checking Cloudflare Spectrum and its current plan and protocol limits.
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What a custom Minecraft server address actually is
Players normally enter a hostname such as play.example.com. DNS translates that name into the public address where your Minecraft server is listening. Cloudflare supplies the DNS zone and authoritative nameservers; it does not change the server’s underlying numeric IP.
There are two separate decisions:
- Naming: an A, AAAA, or CNAME record gives the server a memorable hostname.
- Traffic handling: DNS-only sends players directly to the resolved address. A proxied record asks Cloudflare to handle traffic, but ordinary proxied DNS is not a general Minecraft TCP proxy.
This distinction matters because a branded hostname and origin-IP protection are different goals. DNS can solve the first. It does not, by itself, conceal the address in the second.
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Choose the right Cloudflare design
| Design | What players use | Port handling | Origin visibility | When it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNS-only A or AAAA | A hostname such as mc.example.com |
Default port works directly; a non-default Java port needs SRV or an explicit port | The server address is publicly discoverable | Most privately hosted or rented servers that only need a clean name |
| DNS-only CNAME | Your hostname points to another hostname | Same as the target; add SRV when the Java port is not default | The final address remains reachable and may be discoverable through DNS | When your provider already gives you a stable hostname |
| Cloudflare Tunnel public hostname | A Cloudflare hostname | Not a direct Minecraft Java TCP route | Useful for supported web services, not a substitute for Minecraft TCP proxying | Web dashboards or HTTP/HTTPS services associated with the server |
| Cloudflare Spectrum | Your public domain and configured edge port | Maps the edge port to the origin port | Designed for proxying supported non-HTTP protocols and investigating origin masking | Players need TCP proxying or you need stronger origin protection; paid plan and protocol availability must be checked |
Cloudflare’s Full Setup, in which Cloudflare becomes authoritative for the domain’s DNS, provides the best Tunnel experience and allows Tunnel to configure DNS records automatically for newly started tunnels. For a straightforward Minecraft DNS record, authoritative DNS is still useful because all records can be managed in one zone.
Before you begin
- A registered domain that you control, for example
example.com. - A Cloudflare account and a domain added to its DNS zone.
- The server’s reachable public IPv4 address, IPv6 address, or an existing hostname supplied by your hosting provider.
- The Java server’s listening port and the firewall or router that forwards it.
- Access to the machine’s Minecraft configuration so you can confirm the bind address and port.
If your domain is not using Cloudflare nameservers, records created in the Cloudflare dashboard will not answer publicly. Follow the nameserver instructions shown when you add the domain, or use Cloudflare DNS as the authoritative service where possible.
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1. Add the domain to Cloudflare
- Sign in to Cloudflare and choose Add a site.
- Enter the domain you own and select the plan appropriate to your account.
- At your registrar, replace the domain’s nameservers with the two Cloudflare nameservers displayed for the zone, if Cloudflare is not already authoritative.
- Wait until Cloudflare reports the zone as active. Do not test the new hostname until the authoritative nameserver change is complete.
2. Create the address record
Open the domain’s DNS records and add the record that matches your server:
| Record | Name example | Value | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | mc |
Your public IPv4 address | The server is reachable over IPv4 |
| AAAA | mc |
Your public IPv6 address | The server is reachable over IPv6 and the network is configured for it |
| CNAME | mc |
An existing hostname that resolves to the server | Your provider gives you a stable DNS name instead of a fixed address |
Cloudflare combines the name with your zone. A record named mc in example.com becomes mc.example.com. You can use play, survival, or another label that players will remember.
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3. Set the record to DNS-only
For direct Minecraft access, leave the cloud icon gray, meaning DNS only. This publishes the DNS answer without attempting to proxy the Minecraft connection. The orange-cloud Proxied setting is intended for supported HTTP and other Cloudflare products; it is not a generic way to proxy arbitrary Minecraft TCP traffic.
4. Save the record and verify it externally
From a device that is not on the server’s local network, query the hostname:
dig +short mc.example.com A
dig +short mc.example.com AAAA
nslookup mc.example.comThe returned address should match the public address that your router or host exposes. Testing from a separate network avoids false results caused by local DNS overrides or hairpin NAT behavior.
5. Give players the hostname
For a server on the default Java port, players can enter mc.example.com in the multiplayer server-address field without appending a port. If they receive a timeout, troubleshoot reachability before changing DNS settings: the hostname can resolve correctly while the server port remains blocked.
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Use an SRV record when Java runs on a non-default port
DNS A, AAAA, and CNAME records resolve names to addresses; they do not tell a Minecraft client which alternate TCP port to use. Java clients can obtain that information from a Minecraft SRV record.
Example record layout
Suppose players should enter play.example.com, while the server listens on an alternate port. In Cloudflare DNS, create an SRV record with these values:
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Service | _minecraft |
| Protocol | _tcp |
| Name | play (the hostname label players use) |
| Port | The Java server’s chosen listening port |
| Target | A hostname such as mc-origin.example.com that has an A or AAAA record |
The resulting DNS owner is equivalent to _minecraft._tcp.play.example.com. The target must itself resolve to the server; an SRV record that points to a name with no address record cannot work. Priority and weight are relevant when publishing multiple destinations; for one server, use the single-destination values offered by the Cloudflare form.
Make the port reachable
- Configure the Minecraft server to listen on the selected port.
- Allow that TCP port through the host firewall.
- If the server is behind a router, forward the same external port to the machine’s internal address.
- Confirm that the server binds to the intended interface. Binding only to a loopback address makes it unavailable from the Internet.
- Query the SRV record from outside your network:
dig +short _minecraft._tcp.play.example.com SRVPlayers should then enter only play.example.com. If a client does not honor the SRV record, provide the explicit form with the port, such as play.example.com:alternate-port.
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Cloudflare Tunnel: what works and what does not
Tunnel creates outbound connections from a server to Cloudflare and is well suited to supported web applications, administration panels, and dashboards. A standard Tunnel public-hostname route is not a direct TCP path for a Minecraft Java server.
Cloudflare’s current Spectrum limitations state: “Integrating Spectrum with Cloudflare Tunnel is only supported for HTTP/HTTPS applications.” The same limitation means a Spectrum application of another type, such as TCP, cannot use a Tunnel origin directly. A direct <UUID>.cfargotunnel.com origin is not a valid workaround for a TCP Spectrum application.
Why a Tunnel attempt commonly fails
- The Minecraft client speaks the Java protocol, not HTTP or HTTPS.
- A public-hostname Tunnel route may show a healthy connector while still lacking a protocol path the game client understands.
- Pointing a TCP Spectrum application at a Tunnel hostname does not convert the Tunnel into a Minecraft TCP origin.
Use Tunnel for a web map, control panel, or other supported HTTP/HTTPS service. Keep Minecraft on a direct DNS record or use Spectrum for a supported TCP design.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use Spectrum when you need TCP proxying or origin protection
Spectrum is Cloudflare’s product to investigate when the requirement is more than a memorable name: proxying a supported TCP protocol, presenting a Cloudflare edge address, or reducing direct exposure of the origin. Cloudflare’s Minecraft guidance describes Spectrum as the protection path for Minecraft.
How the Spectrum mapping is organized
- Choose the public domain name players will use.
- Define the public edge port that Cloudflare accepts.
- Map that edge port to the Minecraft server’s origin address and listening port.
- Confirm that your Cloudflare plan supports the required protocol and configuration.
- Test the public endpoint from an external network before moving players over.
Spectrum is a paid service, and protocol support depends on the plan. Cloudflare’s plan and protocol matrix can change, so check the current documentation and dashboard for availability before committing to this architecture. No universal price or latency figure should be assumed from the DNS setup alone.
Protect the origin as well as the name
A proxy is useful only if players cannot simply bypass it. If the server’s address has already been shared or exposed in old DNS records, changing the hostname does not erase that knowledge. Review old records, server listings, logs, and screenshots, and restrict direct access at the origin according to the controls available from your host. Do not describe a DNS-only record as IP masking: anyone who can query it can see the published address.
DNS-only versus Spectrum: a practical decision guide
| Your requirement | Recommended path | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Players need a short, memorable address | DNS-only A, AAAA, or CNAME | Simple naming with the fewest moving parts |
| The Java server uses an alternate port | DNS-only address record plus Minecraft SRV | SRV advertises the port while players keep using one hostname |
| You want to hide the origin from ordinary DNS lookups | Investigate Spectrum | DNS-only publishes the origin; Spectrum is the Cloudflare product aimed at proxying supported TCP traffic |
| You want to expose a web dashboard privately | Cloudflare Tunnel | Tunnel is designed for supported HTTP/HTTPS services |
| You want one Tunnel to carry Minecraft TCP | Do not use standard public-hostname Tunnel routing | Cloudflare documents the Tunnel/Spectrum integration as HTTP/HTTPS-only |
Troubleshoot the common failure modes
The hostname returns NXDOMAIN
- Confirm the domain is active in Cloudflare.
- Check that the registrar uses the Cloudflare nameservers assigned to your zone.
- Make sure the record name is in the correct zone and spelled exactly as players enter it.
The hostname resolves, but Minecraft times out
- Compare the A or AAAA answer with the address currently assigned to the server.
- Check the host firewall and any router port-forwarding rule.
- Verify the Minecraft process is running and listening on the intended interface and port.
- Test from an external network; a local test can fail even when Internet clients can connect, or succeed through a local override that outsiders cannot use.
Players see an old address
Query the record from several independent resolvers and check the authoritative answer. Do not promise a fixed propagation time; Cloudflare’s official documentation provides configuration requirements rather than a universal propagation figure. Ensure there is no second A, AAAA, or CNAME record returning the wrong destination.
The connection fails only with the orange cloud enabled
Switch the Minecraft record to DNS-only and test again. A normal proxied DNS record is not a general Minecraft TCP proxy. If proxying is a requirement, design the endpoint with Spectrum instead of treating the orange cloud as a replacement for it.
The SRV record is ignored
- Confirm the service is
_minecraftand the protocol is_tcp. - Check that the record name corresponds to the hostname players enter; for
play.example.com, the owner is_minecraft._tcp.play.example.com. - Verify the port matches the Java server and the target hostname has an A or AAAA record.
- Query the SRV record with
digand try an explicit hostname-and-port connection to separate DNS problems from server reachability problems.
The origin IP is still visible
That is expected with DNS-only A, AAAA, CNAME, and SRV records. A CNAME or SRV target can still lead to a publicly resolvable origin. Use a supported Spectrum design if masking and TCP proxying are essential, and review any historical disclosures of the address.
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A Tunnel connector is healthy but Minecraft cannot connect
Connector health confirms the outbound Tunnel connection, not Minecraft protocol compatibility. Remove the Tunnel route from the Minecraft path and use direct DNS or a properly configured Spectrum application. A TCP Spectrum application cannot use a Tunnel origin directly under Cloudflare’s documented limitation.
Ongoing maintenance checklist
- Keep the hostname’s A, AAAA, CNAME, and SRV values aligned with the server’s current address and port.
- When changing providers, update the address record and test from outside the hosting network before announcing the change.
- When changing the Java port, update the server configuration, firewall or router rule, and SRV record together.
- Review IPv6 separately. A reachable AAAA record can cause some clients to choose IPv6 even when the IPv4 path works.
- Leave Minecraft records DNS-only unless you have selected a product that explicitly supports the required TCP protocol.
- For Spectrum, re-check plan eligibility and protocol support whenever Cloudflare changes its product matrix.
Bottom line
Create a DNS-only A, AAAA, or CNAME record for the memorable hostname, make the server port reachable, and add a Minecraft SRV record when Java is not using its default port. That is the reliable Cloudflare setup for a custom Minecraft address. Standard Cloudflare Tunnel public-hostname routing is for supported HTTP/HTTPS services, not direct Minecraft TCP. If you need Cloudflare to proxy the game protocol or help shield the origin address, evaluate Spectrum, confirm its current paid-plan and protocol requirements, and configure the public domain, edge port, and origin mapping accordingly.
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