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Use a DNS record to give your server a memorable name such as play.example.com. Java Edition can also use an SRV record to hide a non-default port; Bedrock Edition requires players to enter the port separately. DNS only maps the name to an endpoint—it does not open your router, change a firewall rule, or make a private server reachable from the internet.
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Start by identifying the edition, public address and listening port. Then publish an A, AAAA or CNAME record, add a Java SRV record if necessary, configure forwarding and firewall access for a home server, and test from outside your network before sharing the hostname.
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What you need before creating the record
Write down the details that determine which DNS records and connection instructions you need. A domain can be registered anywhere, but you must be able to edit the authoritative DNS zone for it.
Identify the Minecraft edition and endpoint
Java and Bedrock use different connection behavior. The Java server normally listens on TCP port 25565. Microsoft’s Bedrock Dedicated Server documentation uses 19132 for server-port and 19133 for server-portv6 in its default examples. Your configuration may use different values, so check the server properties and the host’s network panel rather than assuming a default.
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| Edition | Typical port | What players enter | SRV behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java Edition | 25565 by default | One server address; a port can be appended when needed | An _minecraft._tcp SRV record can supply a non-default port |
| Bedrock Edition | 19132 for IPv4 and 19133 for IPv6 in Microsoft’s examples | Separate address and port fields | Do not rely on Java’s SRV method; enter the port in the Bedrock client |
For a home server, record the public IPv4 address that remote players will use and the server’s fixed private LAN address, such as 192.168.1.50. If you publish IPv6, also identify the server’s reachable IPv6 address and confirm that your router and firewall allow it.
Choose the hostname
A subdomain keeps the game endpoint separate from a website or email service. Common choices include play.example.com, mc.example.com and survival.example.com. In a DNS editor, the record name is usually just play; the provider appends example.com. Some interfaces accept the complete name, so follow that provider’s field convention.
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- Control of the domain’s authoritative DNS zone.
- The server’s public hostname or IPv4 address, and an IPv6 address if you intend to publish AAAA.
- The actual game port for the edition and server instance.
- A fixed LAN address for a home-hosted server, or the connection endpoint supplied by your host.
- Permission to change router port-forwarding and operating-system firewall rules when the server is at home.
- A second internet connection, such as a phone hotspot, for an external test.
How DNS records map a Minecraft name to a server
DNS answers the question “which endpoint belongs to this hostname?” It does not create a listening service. The Minecraft process, router and firewall must still accept the connection on the port you publish.
A and AAAA records
An A record maps a name to an IPv4 address. For example, an A record named play with value 203.0.113.25 makes play.example.com resolve to that IPv4 endpoint. An AAAA record performs the same job for IPv6. Publish AAAA only when the address is stable and the server is reachable over IPv6; a broken AAAA record can cause some clients to try an unusable path before falling back to IPv4.
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CNAME records
A CNAME maps your subdomain to another hostname instead of directly storing an address. Use it when your hosting service gives you a stable hostname and specifically instructs you to alias it. Do not point a CNAME at an address, and do not replace a provider-required CNAME with an A record unless the provider says that is supported.
SRV records for Java
An SRV record publishes a service, protocol, port and target hostname. Minecraft Java looks for the service name _minecraft._tcp. For play.example.com, the fully qualified SRV name is _minecraft._tcp.play.example.com. Its target must be a hostname that has an A or AAAA record, not a raw IP address. The record also contains priority, weight and the game port; enter those fields using the labels and format shown by your DNS provider.
| Record | Example name | Value or target | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | play |
Server public IPv4 | IPv4 endpoint, including Java on port 25565 or Bedrock address resolution |
| AAAA | play |
Server public IPv6 | IPv6 endpoint that is configured and reachable |
| CNAME | play |
Host-supplied hostname | A provider exposes the server through another hostname |
| SRV | _minecraft._tcp.play |
Priority, weight, port and target hostname | Java server uses a port other than 25565 |
Create the base DNS record
- Sign in to the service that is authoritative for your domain and open its DNS management page.
- Choose Add record (the wording varies by provider).
- Select A for an IPv4 endpoint, AAAA for IPv6, or CNAME when your host supplied a destination hostname.
- Enter
playas the name if the editor expects only the subdomain label. If it expects a fully qualified name, enterplay.example.com. - Enter the public address or host-supplied target exactly as provided. Do not enter your private LAN address in a public DNS record.
- Save the record. Leave any existing records for your website, mail or other services unchanged.
At this point, play.example.com should resolve to the endpoint, but Java clients will still need the port if the server is not listening on 25565. Bedrock players will still need a port in their separate port field.
Configure Java Edition
Java on the default port 25565
If the Java server listens on TCP 25565, an A and/or AAAA record is normally sufficient. Players can enter play.example.com in the Multiplayer server-address field without appending a port. Confirm that the server process actually uses 25565; changing a hosting panel’s port or server.properties after creating DNS can invalidate this assumption.
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Java on a custom port
Use an SRV record when the Java server listens on another port, such as 25570. Keep the base A, AAAA or CNAME record for the target hostname, then create the service record.
- Open the DNS editor and add an SRV record.
- Set the service to
_minecraftand the protocol to_tcpif the editor has separate fields. If it has one name field, use_minecraft._tcp.play(which becomes_minecraft._tcp.play.example.com). - Enter the server’s listening port, for example
25570. - Enter a priority and weight according to the provider’s SRV form. For one server, use the provider’s normal single-target values rather than inventing multiple priorities.
- Set the target to the hostname carrying the A or AAAA record, such as
play.example.comor a separate target hostname supplied by your host. Do not put an IP address in the SRV target field. - Save the record and query it with a DNS lookup tool before asking players to connect.
With a correct SRV response, Java clients can enter play.example.com and receive the custom port automatically. A player who manually types a port can still connect directly, but the SRV record is what makes the short address work without that suffix.
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Configure Bedrock Edition
Bedrock’s client has independent Server Address and Port fields. Give players the hostname in the address field and the configured Bedrock port in the port field. Do not expect the Java SRV record to supply that port to Bedrock.
Bedrock IPv4 example
If your Bedrock server listens on the IPv4 default from Microsoft’s example, players enter:
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- Server Address:
play.example.com - Port:
19132
Bedrock IPv6 example
If you deliberately publish IPv6 and configure the server for the documented IPv6 example port, provide the same hostname and port 19133, and verify that the player’s network supports IPv6. Do not advertise 19133 merely because an AAAA record exists; the service must be listening on that port and the firewall must allow it.
Make a home-hosted server reachable
A DNS name cannot bypass your home router. You must direct incoming traffic to the machine running Minecraft and permit it through the host firewall.
- Assign the Minecraft machine a fixed LAN address using a router DHCP reservation or a static configuration that fits your network.
- Create a router port-forward rule from the required external game port to that fixed LAN address and the same internal port, unless your server configuration intentionally uses different values.
- Choose the correct protocol. Java’s game traffic is TCP; follow the server and router documentation if your particular setup also requires another protocol. For Bedrock, configure the port used by your Bedrock server and its documented transport requirements.
- Add an operating-system firewall rule allowing the intended game traffic on the server machine.
- Check that the Minecraft process is listening on the intended port and that no second service is using it.
- Connect from a network that is not your home LAN. Testing only from inside the same network can be affected by router NAT-loopback behavior and does not prove that internet players can connect.
Minecraft Help cautions that “doing this requires changing your home network’s configuration and is not recommended unless you know what you are doing.” It also says, “We STRONGLY urge you to not give it out publicly and advertise with it as giving your public IP out publicly is a security risk to your home network.” Treat the public address as sensitive: keep the router and server patched, expose only the required port, use strong administrative credentials and monitor unexpected traffic.
Home hosting, managed hosting and tunnels
The right architecture depends on how much network control you have and whether you are willing to expose a residential endpoint.
| Approach | DNS target | What you configure | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home server with direct DNS | Your public IPv4 and/or IPv6 | Router forwarding, fixed LAN address, firewall and server port | Maximum control, but the residential public endpoint is exposed |
| Managed Minecraft host | Hostname or address supplied by the host | Usually only DNS; follow the host’s port and record instructions | Less router administration, with dependence on the host’s controls and availability |
| Proxy or tunnel | Endpoint supplied by the proxy or tunnel service | Provider-specific connector, DNS and protocol settings | Can avoid exposing the origin directly, but adds another service and configuration layer |
Use a managed host or an appropriate proxy/tunnel when exposing your home origin is unacceptable. A tunnel is not automatically compatible with Minecraft; confirm that it carries the edition and protocol you use and that its endpoint supports the required port behavior.
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Some DNS providers offer a proxy switch in addition to ordinary DNS resolution. A record can resolve correctly while a proxy still does not carry Minecraft traffic. Cloudflare’s documentation distinguishes DNS resolution from proxy and TLS behavior; use DNS-only mode unless the provider explicitly supports the Minecraft protocol and port you need.
- Publish the A, AAAA, CNAME or SRV records in the provider’s DNS section.
- Check whether the provider’s proxy is enabled for the hostname.
- For direct Minecraft connections, set the record to DNS-only when the proxy does not support the game protocol.
- If you are using a supported proxy or tunnel, follow its required target hostname, ports and client instructions instead of combining it with an unrelated direct-forwarding rule.
Do not infer protocol support from a successful web request or from the fact that a DNS lookup returns an address. Minecraft connectivity must be tested with the actual Java or Bedrock client.
Verify the setup before publishing the address
Check DNS responses
Run lookups from a command prompt or use a reputable DNS lookup utility. Replace example.com with your own domain.
dig +short A play.example.com
dig +short AAAA play.example.com
dig +short SRV _minecraft._tcp.play.example.comOn Windows, the equivalent checks can be made with:
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nslookup -type=A play.example.com
nslookup -type=AAAA play.example.com
nslookup -type=SRV _minecraft._tcp.play.example.com- The A or AAAA answer should show the intended public endpoint.
- A CNAME lookup should lead to the hostname your provider supplied.
- The Java SRV answer should show the intended port and a target hostname that itself resolves.
- Bedrock does not need an SRV response; verify the address record and the separately configured Bedrock port.
Test the service externally
- Confirm the server console reports that it is listening on the intended port.
- From a phone hotspot or another outside connection, add a Java server using only
play.example.comwhen using SRV or port 25565. - For Bedrock, add
play.example.comas the address and enter the configured port separately. - Check that the router’s forwarding destination is still the server’s fixed LAN address.
- Confirm the operating-system firewall rule matches the edition, protocol and port.
- After a successful test, give players edition-specific instructions rather than one address-and-port sentence that applies only to Java.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Java works when a port is appended but not with the hostname alone | Missing or malformed SRV record, or the server is not on 25565 | Query _minecraft._tcp.play.example.com; verify service, protocol, target hostname and port. |
| Java still reaches the old port | SRV target or port was not updated, or another hostname is being used | Inspect the exact hostname in the client and compare the SRV answer with the server’s listening port. |
| Bedrock resolves the name but cannot connect | The client has no port, or the supplied port does not match the server | Enter the Bedrock port in its separate field and verify forwarding and firewall rules for that port. |
| DNS lookup is correct but every edition times out | The service is not listening, the router is not forwarding, or a firewall blocks the traffic | Test from outside the LAN; check the server console, fixed LAN address, forwarding destination and firewall. |
| It works inside the house but not from the internet | NAT-loopback behavior or an internal-only test masked an external problem | Use a genuinely external network and verify the public endpoint and router rule. |
| Some players fail over IPv6 while IPv4 works | An AAAA record points to an unreachable address or IPv6 filtering is incomplete | Remove or correct the AAAA record until IPv6 routing and firewall access are genuinely configured. |
| The hostname resolves through a DNS provider but the game cannot connect | A provider proxy is intercepting traffic it does not support | Use DNS-only mode or the provider’s documented Minecraft-compatible proxy/tunnel configuration. |
| A host-supplied CNAME does not work after replacing it with an A record | The host expects the CNAME target for routing or address changes | Restore the prescribed CNAME and follow the host’s endpoint instructions. |
Choose the simplest record set that fits your case
| Your situation | Records | Player instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Java, port 25565, direct IPv4 | A for play |
Enter play.example.com |
| Java, custom port | A/AAAA or CNAME for play, plus _minecraft._tcp.play SRV |
Enter play.example.com; SRV supplies the port |
| Bedrock, IPv4 | A (and optionally AAAA when configured) | Enter the hostname and Bedrock port separately |
| Provider gives a hostname | CNAME to the supplied hostname, plus any provider-required service record | Use the provider’s address and port directions |
| Home server with exposed origin | A/AAAA to the public endpoint; SRV only for Java custom ports | Use the edition-specific address and port; keep the public endpoint protected |
Publish clear connection instructions
Once external testing succeeds, write separate instructions for each edition:
- Java on 25565: “Open Multiplayer, add
play.example.com, and leave the port blank.” - Java on a custom port with SRV: “Add
play.example.com; the SRV record supplies the port.” - Java without SRV: “Enter
play.example.com:25570,” using the actual custom port. - Bedrock: “Set Server Address to
play.example.comand Port to19132,” replacing 19132 with the port your server actually uses.
Keep the DNS record, server configuration, router rule and player instructions synchronized. When the public address or port changes, update the relevant record and connection details together, then repeat the external test.
Quick Recap
Final checklist
- Edition and listening port confirmed.
- A, AAAA or CNAME points to the intended endpoint.
- Java custom-port servers have a correctly named
_minecraft._tcpSRV record. - Bedrock players have a separate, correct port value.
- Home hosting uses a fixed LAN address, router forwarding and a matching firewall rule.
- Any DNS proxy is known to support Minecraft traffic, or the record is DNS-only.
- DNS responses and a real client connection were tested from outside the local network.
- The public address is shared only with people who need it, with the home-network security risk understood.
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