How to Make a Server Address in Minecraft
Whether you're hosting a private game with friends or joining a community server for the first time, understanding how Minecraft server addresses work is essential. The address is what connects players to a specific server — and creating or finding the right one depends on how that server is set up.
What Is a Minecraft Server Address?
A server address in Minecraft is essentially the network location of the server you want to join. It tells the game's multiplayer client where to send connection requests. Think of it like a home address — it directs traffic to the right place.
Server addresses come in two formats:
- IP address — A numerical string like
192.168.1.1(local) or123.45.67.89(public) - Domain name — A human-readable label like
play.servername.net, which points to the same IP behind the scenes via DNS
When you click Multiplayer → Add Server in Minecraft Java Edition (or Friends & Featured Servers in Bedrock), you're entering one of these two formats.
How Server Addresses Are Created
You don't "create" a server address the way you create a username. Instead, the address is determined by where the server is hosted and how the network is configured. Here's how that breaks down:
🖥️ Local (LAN) Server
If you're running Minecraft on your own machine and want friends on the same Wi-Fi network to join:
- Open a world in Java Edition and press Escape → Open to LAN
- Minecraft will display a local port number (e.g.,
19132) - Other players on the same network enter your local IP address + port, like
192.168.1.5:19132
Your local IP can be found by:
- Windows: Running
ipconfigin Command Prompt and looking for IPv4 Address - Mac/Linux: Running
ifconfigor checking System Preferences → Network
Local IPs typically start with 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x. These only work within your home network — they're not accessible from the internet.
🌐 Dedicated Server (Self-Hosted, Internet-Accessible)
If you're running a dedicated Minecraft server (using the official server .jar or software like Paper or Spigot), the address others use to connect is your public IP address.
To find your public IP:
- Search "what is my IP" in any browser — it will display your current public address
However, public IPs from residential internet connections are often dynamic, meaning they change periodically. Most server hosts solve this by using:
- Dynamic DNS (DDNS) — Services like No-IP or DuckDNS map a domain name to your changing IP automatically
- Static IP — Some ISPs offer this for a fee; the IP never changes
- Custom domain — You can purchase a domain and point its DNS A record to your server's IP, creating an address like
mc.yourdomain.com
The default Minecraft Java port is 25565. If your server runs on this port, players don't need to add a port number to the address. Any other port requires the format address:port.
☁️ Third-Party Hosting (Rented Server)
Using a Minecraft hosting provider (sometimes called a "server host" or "panel host") is the most common route for players who want a reliable, always-online server without managing hardware.
When you rent a server, the hosting provider assigns you an address automatically — usually a domain name or IP with a custom port. You'll find it in your hosting control panel after setup. It typically looks like:
node12.hostingprovider.net:25892- Or a subdomain if the host includes a free domain like
yourservername.mchost.gg
You don't configure this address yourself — the host generates it based on their server infrastructure.
Key Variables That Affect Your Server Address
| Factor | How It Affects the Address |
|---|---|
| Hosting type | LAN, self-hosted, or rented each produce different address formats |
| Java vs. Bedrock | Default ports differ (25565 vs. 19132); cross-play requires additional setup |
| Dynamic vs. static IP | Dynamic IPs require DDNS to stay consistent |
| Custom domain | Requires DNS configuration (A record or SRV record for custom ports) |
| Port forwarding | Required for self-hosted servers to be reachable outside your home network |
Port Forwarding: The Step Most Self-Hosters Miss
If you're running a server on your home network and want people outside your house to connect, port forwarding is required. This tells your router to direct incoming traffic on port 25565 (or whichever port you choose) to the specific machine running Minecraft.
Port forwarding is configured in your router's admin panel (usually accessed at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). The exact steps vary by router manufacturer — Netgear, TP-Link, ASUS, and others all have different interfaces.
Without port forwarding, your public IP won't successfully route players to the Minecraft server — connections will simply time out.
SRV Records and Custom Ports
If you have a domain but want to run your server on a non-standard port, a SRV DNS record lets you link play.yourdomain.com to yourip:customport without players needing to type the port number. This is a DNS-level setting managed through your domain registrar or DNS provider.
Not all hosting setups require this — it's mainly relevant when combining a custom domain with a self-hosted server running on a non-default port.
What Determines the Right Setup for You
The "correct" server address setup isn't one-size-fits-all. A player running a casual LAN game for two friends has completely different requirements from someone managing a public server with dozens of concurrent players. Factors like your technical comfort with networking, whether your ISP restricts hosting, the stability you need, and whether you're on Java or Bedrock Edition all shape which approach makes sense — and what your server address will ultimately look like.