The short answer: follow the players’ edition

When you host, choosing Java or Bedrock doesn’t come down to which one is “better” — it comes down to which client you and your friends actually have, because the two aren’t interchangeable, and if you pick wrong, people simply can’t connect. The fastest way to decide:

  • Bedrock: phones (iOS/Android), Switch / Xbox / PlayStation consoles, and the Windows 10/11 Store version. These devices can only play Bedrock and can’t switch to Java.
  • Java Edition: the official client launched from the PC launcher. Java is usually played only on a computer.

So the rule is simple: if your group includes any phone or console players, Bedrock usually has the widest reach; if everyone is on the PC Java client, host a Java server instead. To understand the differences between the two editions first, see What’s the difference between Java Edition and Bedrock.

Why you can’t “have both editions join together”

A lot of people want “one server that both Java and Bedrock players can join.” Vanilla can’t do this: Java and Bedrock are two different clients and network protocols, and a standard server can only serve one of them. There are third-party cross-play solutions built on proxies/plugins, but they go beyond vanilla and are complex to set up — this article won’t make them sound effortless.

The more practical move is to standardize on one edition first. Note that world files also come in different formats: Java uses region/.mca, Bedrock uses db/ (LevelDB), and the two aren’t interchangeable. If you have a Java world but want to host a Bedrock server for phone/console friends, you first need a one-way Java → Bedrock conversion (pay per job, see the compatibility score before paying, automatic refund on failure, and your source files are never overwritten); Bedrock can’t be converted back to Java.

How to choose during TopoBlocks one-click hosting

When you host on TopoBlocks, the very first step is to choose Java or Bedrock. After that the system automatically allocates a machine, installs and hardens the server, and you never touch terminal commands. A few things to keep in mind:

  • Default ports: Java is 25565, Bedrock is 19132. Once it’s up, you’ll get a dedicated address and port — send them to your friends to enter under “Add Server.” For connection details, see Connect to a Minecraft server.
  • Want to check status without hosting: the free “monitor only” mode needs just the address and port to check online status/edition/player count/latency, with no write access; full management and hosting run only after you explicitly authorize it.
  • Deploy a world: once the server is up, you can deploy a generated or converted world. Deployment follows “snapshot → validate → atomic switch → health check → automatic rollback on failure” and never overwrites the source file.

For the full step-by-step process of hosting from your phone, see How to host a Minecraft server from your phone. Hosting prices are as shown in the app, and failed paid tasks are refunded automatically.