Is Minecraft cross-platform?

By Billy Givens and Jesse Lennox Updated October 10, 2024

Minecraft versions of the Spongebob cast. — Mojang/Spark Universe

Minecraft has long reigned as one of the most popular games available thanks to its nearly endless possibilities, regular updates, and charming vibes. If you’re one of the millions of players who have invested thousands of hours into the game, or are still learning the basic tips and tricks, you’ve almost certainly been rewarded with limitless excitement exploring all the biomes, enchanting weapons, and messing with the best mods. But what about co-op?

Playing with friends on a shared server is one of the greatest ways to experience Minecraft, just like it is for Terraria or GTA V. But in today’s gaming landscape, there is a wide variety of platforms on which people play the game, which may lead you to wonder if this is a cross-platform game. Below, we’ll tell you what you need to know about cross-platform play in Minecraft.

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Is Minecraft cross-platform?

The short answer is yes, Minecraft is cross-platform across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, and Android. However, there are a few limitations we’ll get into below.

Firstly, only Minecraft: Bedrock Edition supports cross-platform play. If you’re using Minecraft: Java Edition on PC, you won’t be able to play with friends on other platforms.

Secondly, you’ll need to sign into a Microsoft account to access cross-platform functionality, even if you’re playing on non-Microsoft hardware. If you don’t have a Microsoft account yet, it’s a fairly painless process to create one using your usual email address or by signing up for a new one.

Lastly, console players are required to have an active online subscription for their respective platforms to access online play in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.

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Gaming Writer

Billy Givens is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience writing gaming, film, and tech content. He started as a…

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