How to Check a Server Address in Minecraft

Whether you're trying to reconnect to a favorite survival world, share a server with friends, or troubleshoot a connection issue, knowing how to find a Minecraft server address is a fundamental skill. Server addresses in Minecraft work similarly to website URLs — they're the unique identifiers that point your game client to a specific machine on the internet (or your local network). Here's how to track one down depending on your situation.

What Is a Minecraft Server Address?

A server address (also called an IP address or hostname) is the string of text or numbers you enter in the "Server Address" field when adding a multiplayer server in Minecraft. It typically looks like one of these:

• A domain name: play.someserver.com
• An IP with a port: 192.168.1.10:25565
• A plain IP address: 192.168.1.10

The default Minecraft port is 25565. If a server runs on this port, you usually don't need to type it manually. If it runs on a different port, the address will include a colon followed by the port number.

How to Find a Server Address You've Already Added 🖥️

If you've connected to a server before and saved it, Minecraft stores that information in your server list.

Java Edition:

1. Open Minecraft and click Multiplayer
2. Find the server in your list
3. Click Edit on the server entry
4. The Server Address field displays the address exactly as it was entered

Bedrock Edition:

1. From the main menu, tap or click Play
2. Go to the Servers tab
3. Scroll to your saved servers under "Additional Servers"
4. Tap the pencil/edit icon to view the address and port fields

Keep in mind that Bedrock stores the address and port separately — the address field holds the domain or IP, while the port is in its own box (default 19132 for Bedrock, not 25565).

Finding the Address for a Server You're Currently On

If you're already in a Minecraft session and want to note the server address:

Java Edition:

• Press F3 to open the debug screen
• Look for the line labeled Server — it shows the IP address and port of the server you're connected to
• On some systems, the Fn key must be held along with F3

This is particularly useful if someone else added the server to your client and you want to save or share it independently.

Bedrock Edition doesn't have an equivalent debug overlay for server IPs, so you'd need to check the server entry in your list directly.

Checking a Server Address on Your Own Hosted Server

If you're running your own Minecraft server, finding the address depends on whether it's local or publicly hosted.

Local (LAN) Server

• Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux)
• Type ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig / ip a (Mac/Linux)
• Look for your IPv4 address — something like 192.168.x.x
• Other players on the same network use this address to connect

Public Server (Self-Hosted)

• Your public IP is what external players need
• Visit a site like whatismyip.com from the server machine to find it
• Your public IP can change if your ISP uses dynamic IP addressing — a situation where services like Dynamic DNS (DDNS) become useful for maintaining a stable hostname

Third-Party Hosted Server (Hosting Panel)

If you're using a paid Minecraft hosting provider:

• Log into your control panel (e.g., Multicraft, Pterodactyl, or the host's custom dashboard)
• The server IP and port are typically displayed on the Overview or Dashboard page
• Some hosts assign a domain subdomain like yourname.hostingprovider.net:25565

Checking the server.properties File 🔧

For those with direct access to a server's files, the server.properties file contains configuration details. While it doesn't explicitly list the server's external IP, it does show:

• server-port — the port the server is listening on
• server-ip — if left blank, the server binds to all available network interfaces; if filled in, it binds to a specific local IP

This file is found in the root folder of your server installation.

Variables That Affect How You Find the Address

The right method depends on several factors that vary by user:

• Java vs. Bedrock Edition — different menus, different default ports, different debug tools
• Who set up the server — if someone else runs it, you may need to ask them directly
• Hosting type — self-hosted servers require OS-level tools; managed hosting panels do the work for you
• Network type — LAN addresses only work inside the same network; public IPs are needed for internet play
• Dynamic vs. static IP — servers without a fixed IP or domain name may have an address that changes periodically

Someone running a small LAN server for a household game night has a completely different lookup process than a player trying to reconnect to a large public server they found online. And someone with admin access to a dedicated hosting panel works differently again from a player who only has client-side access.

What method makes sense for you depends entirely on your role — player, server owner, or admin — and where your server actually lives.