Minecraft is a cross-platform game. Minecraft can be played on almost every platform, including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One and S/X series, Nintendo Switch, macOS, and mobile devices. Also Read: Borderlands 3.
Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android, and Windows 10 = Bedrock edition WinOS (including Windows 10), MacOS, and Linux = Java edition Legacy only plays with Legacy, Bedrock only plays with Bedrock, Java only plays with Java. Edit: The 'Windows 10' bit tends to confuse people. If you want to play Microsoft Xbox games on your Mac there are two easy ways to do so on your desktop. One is by running Windows on your Mac using Parallels and the other is via an app called OneCast. If you just want a cloud solution, you can also use Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service. You May Also Like.
Crossplay is one of the most favored functions of Minecraft. Exploring together with your friends regardless of the platform makes everything easier. We’ve got all the necessary information for you.
Minecraft crossplay: How to set it up
Playing Minecraft together is easy. You and your friends just need the right setup as listed below:
- Supported platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows 10, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android and Samsung Gear VR are supported.
- Bedrock Edition: You and your friends need the Bedrock Edition, which is not the same as the Java Edition. Crossplay is not supported for the Java Edition.
- Microsoft account: The last thing need for crossplay is a Microsoft account. If you own an Xbox account just use that instead.
If you have installed the Bedrock update, you can start crossplay on PS4, Xbox, PC or tablet and thus play Minecraft cross-platform in the future.
Step-by-Step: Playing together
Can Mac Run Minecraft
After the setup you and your friends just need to step right into Minecraft. Start the game as usual and you will see the option “Sign in with a Microsoft account”. Connect your account with this option.
Time needed: 4 minutes.
After the setup you and your friends just need to step right into Minecraft. This is how it works step by step.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account
Start the game as usual and you will see the option “Sign in with a Microsoft account”. Connect your account with this option.
- Type in the code of your Minecraft Edition & confirm
You will automatically be redirected to the site aka.ms/remoteconnect. There you need to type in the code of your Minecraft Edition to connect your Microsoft account. Confirm to finish the process. If you play the Xbox One edition you are already connected.
- Choose “Play”
When the account is connected you can start a crossplay multiplayer session. A maximum of 8 people can play together.
- Look for the option “Joinable Cross-Platform Friends” & choose friends
To start a session choose Play and choose “Friends” to look for people to play with. You need to look for the option “Joinable Cross-Platform Friends”. There it is possible to find friends from other platforms.
- Invite your friends
You can invite your friends to your game as a host or join their sessions. You can even decide what your friends are allowed to do. E.g. they can only explore your world or build themselves.
💡 Related Posts:
- 'Minecraft' offers cross-platform gameplay for both editions of the game, but in different ways.
- If you're playing 'Minecraft: Bedrock Edition,' you can play with Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and smartphone players.
- If you're playing 'Minecraft: Java Edition,' you can play with Windows, Mac, and Linux players.
- Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.
Over the past few years, 'Minecraft' has developed a great multiplayer mode. Best of all, this multiplayer mode has cross-platform (or crossplay) functionality, meaning that it doesn't matter what system you play 'Minecraft' on - you can play with friends on any system.
Just note that there are two different versions of 'Minecraft,' and each one of them does crossplay a bit differently. The biggest thing to remember is that you can play 'Minecraft' with anyone who owns the same version as you.
If you want to play with your friends, here's what you need to know about how 'Minecraft' supports cross-platform gaming.
'Minecraft: Bedrock Edition' allows cross-platform play across consoles, phones, and PCs
'Minecraft: Bedrock Edition' is playable on Windows 10 PCs, Xbox One and Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, iOS and iPadOS devices, and Android devices.
If you're playing 'Minecraft: Bedrock Edition,' you can add friends and play with them on any other system. They just have to be playing 'Bedrock Edition' too.
Quick tip: Be aware that you may not see the word 'Bedrock' when you buy a copy of 'Minecraft' for your console - the subtitle is generally omitted in the marketing. On PCs, for example, it's often called just 'Minecraft for Windows 10.'
If you're playing that version, or any version of 'Minecraft' on a console or phone, you're playing 'Bedrock.'
How to do crossplay in 'Minecraft: Bedrock Edition'
To play cross-platform you simply need to add and invite your friends to your world. Here's how:
After launching 'Minecraft,' sign into your Microsoft account (Xbox One users will have an account automatically). You'll see a button for this in the main menu if you're not signed in already. Console players will also need an online subscription for their device, such as Xbox Live or Nintendo Switch Online.
© Emma Witman/Insider You'll be able to log into your Microsoft account from the main menu. Emma Witman/Insider- Load an existing world or create a new one and launch it. Once your world is loaded, open the in-game pause menu.
Click 'Invite to Game,' on the far-right, then select the option to 'Find Cross-Platform Friends' on the next screen.
© Emma Witman/Insider Select 'Invite to Game.' Emma Witman/Insider- Find your friends using their Minecraft ID, also known as their gamertag, and select 'Add Friend.'
Friends added and available for multiplayer will appear under 'Online Friends.' Check the box by their gamertag and click 'Send 1 Invite.' When they accept, they'll be loaded into your world.
© Emma Witman/Insider Make sure to click the checkbox before sending the invite. Emma Witman/Insider
Note that some worlds in 'Bedrock' can't be played with users on other platforms. This is because each console has exclusive content that's only available on that specific console.
For instance, on the Nintendo Switch, you can't share the 'Mario Mash-Up' world template with friends on other platforms. You can only share it with other Switch users.
Can Mac Play With Xbox Minecraft Controller
© Emma Witman/Insider Not every Minecraft world can be shared across systems. Emma Witman/Insider'Minecraft: Java Edition' allows cross-platform play across PC, Mac, and Linux
'Minecraft: Java Edition' is the original version of 'Minecraft,' and while it's not playable on consoles, it's the only version available for Mac and Linux users.
'Java' users can play with other 'Java' players, regardless of whether they're running the game on a Windows, Linux, or Apple operating system.
Playing multiplayer with 'Java' is a little more complicated than 'Bedrock,' but not difficult once you're familiarized. These are a few of your options:
- You can use a public Minecraft server or create your own, and invite friends using an IP address
- You can pay for Minecraft Realms, where Mojang hosts multiplayer servers for you but it costs money.
- Or you can play together by sharing a local area network, or LAN, meaning you'll have to be in the same place as the other players.
For more detail on how to play with others in 'Minecraft: Java Edition,' check out our article 'How to play multiplayer in 'Minecraft: Java Edition,' using either a public server or one you create yourself.'
