Geyser — a plugin for connecting Bedrock players to Java servers in Minecraft

Geyser — a plugin for connecting Bedrock players to Java servers in Minecraft

Geyser is a proxy plugin that lets Bedrock Edition players join Java Edition servers. The plugin translates network packets between the two editions of the game: the owner doesn't need to keep a separate world for each one, and users on phones, consoles, and the Windows edition connect to the very same server as Java players.

How Geyser works

Java and Bedrock have different network protocols and aren't directly compatible. The proxy sits in between: it accepts the Bedrock client's connection, converts its packets into the Java format and back. For the player, it's just a regular login to a server by address and port.

The plugin can be run in two ways: inside an existing server (Spigot, Paper, BungeeCord, Velocity, Fabric, NeoForge) or as a separate Standalone program in front of the server. Standalone is chosen when there's no access to the server itself or when several backends need to be served.

What a Bedrock player gets

After connecting, a Bedrock player ends up in the same world as Java users and sees them right next to them. Some of the differences between the editions are smoothed over by the GeyserIntegratedPack resource pack, which loads automatically: on the Bedrock side it adds hit particles, the off-hand item animation, a scoreboard width matching Java, and Java-style inventory design.

Bedrock uses the version 1.8 combat mechanic, with no attack cooldown, while Java has an attack timer. To help the player get their bearings, the proxy shows an artificial cooldown indicator — a crosshair, a bar next to the hotbar, or none at all, depending on the cooldown-type parameter.

Authorization and Floodgate

The login method is set by the auth-type parameter. By default it's set to online — the Bedrock player must log in through a Microsoft account that owns Java Edition. This works for servers where everyone has a Java account.

To let in players without a Java version, Floodgate — a separate plugin from the same team — is installed alongside Geyser. With auth-type: floodgate set, login happens straight from a Bedrock account. Floodgate also displays Bedrock players' skins on Java, lets you send them native Bedrock forms, and links accounts across both editions. It's available for Spigot/Paper, BungeeCord, Velocity, and Fabric; without it, the proxy runs in online mode.

Main configuration parameters

The config.yml file contains dozens of options, but only a handful of key ones are needed to get started — the rest relate to fine network tuning.

Limitations

Since the plugin translates the protocol between two different games, some Java features can't be reproduced on the Bedrock side: clickable links in chat, the glowing effect on entities, distinguishing left and right clicks in the inventory, custom enchantments, and custom anvil and smithing table recipes. A Bedrock player's movement isn't reproduced perfectly, so on large servers anti-cheats may misread it.

Conclusion

Geyser lets Bedrock players join a Java server without a separate world for each edition, from phones, consoles, and the Windows edition all at once. Unlike running two parallel servers, the proxy keeps everyone in one world and passes through the MOTD, skins, and forms. In exchange, some Java mechanics are simplified or unavailable on Bedrock, and movement doesn't always get along with anti-cheats. The plugin suits servers that want to open up to a Bedrock audience; paired with Floodgate, it also works for players without a Java account.