Is Minecraft Cross-Platform And How To Play It?

Most of the games start with one platform but depending on the revenue they generate and diversify the platforms. Minecraft has also done the same. They launched the Java edition later on created bedrock edition. The First edition of Minecraft got released in 2009. In the following years, Minecraft grew as a worldwide phenomenon in the gaming world. Owing to this success, Majong(Minecraft developer) expanded its reach and made it cross-platform.

Minecraft is a multiplayer game that supports cross-platform play. On 20-Sep-2017, Majong rolled out the Minecraft better together update. This update enabled the gamers to play the game with other gamers on different platforms. All the devices and consoles on bedrock could now unify as one multiplayer platform.

As you can see from the table, most of the devices are on the Bedrock edition. If you have downloaded the Java version, then you will get redeem code from Microsoft to convert your game into the Windows 10 edition. Gamers without Minecraft can download it from the Windows store. Choose the Windows 10 edition.

Is Minecraft Dungeons Cross-Platform?

Minecraft Dungeon became the cross-platform in November 2020. Xbox, PS4, Mobile, and Nintendo Switch support cross-platform play. Gamers can play the co-op with four per group to play the cross-platform locally or on the internet. 

To play Minecraft cross-platform on Minecraft Dungeon, updating the game is mandatory. Here is how to update Minecraft Dungeon on various platforms:-

Xbox One

Log in to your Xbox live account. Open the Mt games & apps, and go to Minecraft Dungeons. Open the menu and select Manage Game & Add-Ons and then updates. The update will appear on the screen. If the game is already updated, you will get a prompt.

Windows 10

While inside the Microsoft store, search for Minecraft Dungeon. If the game is not updated, you will see the option to update. You are good to go if updated, click the play button.

PS4

In your PS4 console, open the game list and click the options button. Choose the update option from the list. The game will start to update if there is an update available. 

Nintendo Switch

Go to the Minecraft Dungeons and use the +. Press the button on software update. The game will start to update.

How To Play Minecraft Cross-Platform?

To play Minecraft cross-platform, you need to have a Microsoft account. Minecraft is owned by Microsoft Corporation, it is necessary to create this account. It was bought by Microsoft for $2.4 billion in 2014. Link the Microsoft account to the platform you are playing on. You can link two accounts with Mobile, Console, or PC. Both players should have the same version of Minecraft before playing. With one Microsoft account, players can jump from one device to another without losing the data.

So, two things are necessary to play the game cross-platform: one is the Microsoft account, and the second one is an updated game.

How to create a Microsoft account for Minecraft?

Creating a Microsoft account is easy and requires only a few steps.

Open Microsoft’s official website. Click on the sign-in icon with a + sign on the top right side. A new window will open; click to create a new account. You can either opt for an email address or go without it.  

How to update the game?

As the crossplay option is available for the Bedrock edition only, we will not discuss the Java edition. Let’s see how to update the game, before learning how to play the game cross-platform.

iOs/Android

On your mobile device, open Google Play on Android or Apple Store on your apple phone. Type Minecraft in the search bar. If there is an update available, you will get an option to update or the play option.

PS4, Windows 10, & Xbox One

For PS4, Windows 10, & Xbox One, update the game just like the Minecraft Dungeons. Use the steps mentioned above in the article. Only Xbox One supports cross-platform play, and only Xbox One users need to create Xbox Live ID.

How to play Minecraft cross-platform Xbox and PS4 

Cross-platform play on the Xbox one is the easiest way. Use your Xbox live account to sign in and start playing. Make sure your friend on PS4 has a Microsoft account logged in.

Step 1:- Open the Xbox website and sign In

Step 2:- From the friend’s option, add your friend name by their Gamertag

Step 3:- Start the game on your Xbox One

Step 4:- Hit Let’s Play using the A button on the gamepad

Step 5:- You will see the Minecraft Play option, hit the A button to start playing

Step 6:- Go to your previously created worlds or create a new world

Step 7:- Once inside your world, open the options menu

Step 8:- On the right-hand side, you will see the option Invite to the game, hit the A button on this option

Step 9:- Now, you will see the list of friends that are online on PS4. Add the friends from the options.

Step 10:- There will be an option Find Cross-Platform Friends. Hit Y on the controller to use the option. 

Step 11:- A small window will appear with an empty box with the title Find Friends By Name Tag. Write your friends Gnaretag in this box and hit A

Step 12:- Game will start searching, and the profile of your friend will appear on the screen. Choose the option Add Friend. Add your friend who is playing on the PS4.

How to play Minecraft cross-platform PS4 and PC

For PS4, gamers do not need to have Xbox live ID. Only a Microsoft account is required. Follow the below steps to play the game cross-platform from PS4 to PC. 

Step 1:- Start the game.

Step 2:- From the bottom left on Sign in with a Microsoft Account press ⭙

Step 3:- You will get a link and a code. Visit the mentioned website, sign in and enter the code.

Step 4:- You are now logged in with your Microsoft account.

Step 5:- Click on the Let’s Play using the ⭙ button on the gamepad

Step 6:- You will see the Minecraft Play option, use the ⭙ button to start playing

Step7:- Go to your previously created worlds or create a new world

Step 8:- Once inside your world open the options menu

Step 9:- On the right-hand side, you will see the option Invite to the game, hit ⭙ on this option

Step 10:- You will see a list of friends that are online on other platforms.

Step 11:- There will be an option Find Cross-Platform Friends. Hit △ on the controller to use the option.

Step12:- A small window will appear with an empty box with the title “Find Friends By Name Tag.” Write your friends Gamertag in this box and hit ‘⭙”

Step 13:- Game will start searching, and the profile of your friend will appear on the screen. Choose the option “Add Friend.” Add your friend who is playing on the PC.

How to play Minecraft cross-platform PC and Mobile?

Step 1:- Start the game.

Step 2:- Sign in with a Microsoft Account

Step 3:- Click on the Play

Step 4:- Go to your previously created worlds or create a new world

Step 5:- Once inside your world, open the options menu

Step 6:- On the right-hand side, you will see the option “Invite to the game,” click on this option

Step 7:- You will see the list of friends online on other platforms.

Step 8:- Click on the option “ Find Cross-Platform Friends.” 

Step 9:- A small window will appear with an empty box with the title “Find Friends By Name Tag.” Write your friend’s Gnaretag in this box and hit enter.

Step 10:- Game will start searching, and the profile of your friend will appear on the screen. Choose the option “Add Friend.” Add your friend who is playing on android or iOS.

Note:- Cross-platform play is also possible with setting up a LAN connection locally. Create a server on the computer and connect the Mobile devices with the wireless LAN.

How to play Minecraft cross-platform PC and Xbox?

Follow the below steps to play Minecraft cross-platform with friends. These steps work only for Minecraft Windows 10 edition. No Xbox Live ID is required to play the game on PC. The second person with Xbox One should have an Xbox Live ID. 

Step 1:- Start the game.

Step 2:- Sign in with a Microsoft Account

Step 3:- Click on the Play

Step 4:- Go to your previously created worlds or create a new world

Step 5:- Once inside your world, open the options menu

Step 6:- On the right-hand side, you will see the option “Invite to the game,” click on this option

Step 7:- You will see the list of friends online on other platforms.

Step 8:- Click on the option “ Find Cross-Platform Friends.” 

Step 9:- A small window will appear with an empty box with the title “Find Friends By Name Tag.” Write your friend’s Gnaretag in this box, and hit enter.

Step 10:- Game will start searching, and the profile of your friend will appear on the screen. Choose the option “Add Friend.” Add your friend who is playing on Xbox One.

How to play Minecraft cross-platform PS4 and Nintendo Switch?

For PS4, gamers do not need to have Xbox live ID. Only a Microsoft account is required. Follow the below steps to play the game cross-platform from PS4 to Nintendo Switch.

Step 1:- Start the game.

Step 2:- From the bottom left on Sign in with a Microsoft Account press ⭙

Step 3:- You will get a link and a code. Visit the mentioned website, sign in and enter the code.

Step 4:- You are now logged in with your Microsoft account.

Step 5:- Click on the “Let’s Play” using the ⭙ button on the gamepad

Step 6:- You will see the Minecraft Play option, use the ⭙ button to start playing

Step7:- Go to your previously created worlds or create a new world

Step 8:- Once inside your world open the options menu

Step 9:- On the right-hand side, you will see the option Invite to the game, hit ⭙ on this option

Step 10:- You will see a list of friends online on other platforms.

Step 11:- There will be an option Find Cross-Platform Friends. Hit △ on the controller to use the option.

Step12:- A small window will appear with an empty box with the title “Find Friends By Name Tag.” Write your friends Gamertag in this box and hit ‘⭙”

Step 13:- Game will start searching, and the profile of your friend will appear on the screen. Choose the option “Add Friend.” Add your friend who is playing on the Nintendo Switch.

How to play Minecraft cross-platform PC and Nintendo switch?

Step 1:- Start the game.

Step 2:- From the bottom left on “Sign in with a Microsoft Account” click “⭙”.

Step 3:- You will get a link and a code. Visit the mentioned website, sign in and enter the code.

Step 4:- You are now logged in with your Microsoft account.

Step 5:- Click on the “Let’s Play” using the “⭙” button on the gamepad

Step 6:- You will see the Minecraft Play option, use “⭙” button to start playing

Step7:- Go to your previously created worlds or create a new world

Step 8:- Once inside your world open the options menu

Step 9:- On the right-hand side you will see the option “Invite to the game,” hit X on this option

Step 10:- Now you will see the list of friends that are online on PS4.

Step 11:- There will be an option “ Find Cross-Platform Friends.” Hit “△” on the controller to use the option.

Step12:- A small window will appear with an empty box with the title “Find Friends By Name Tag.” Write your friends Gnaretag in this box and hit ‘⭙”

Step 13:- Game will start searching, and the profile of your friend will appear on the screen. Choose the option “Add Friend.” Add your friend who is playing on the Nintendo Switch.

How to play Minecraft cross-platform Xbox and Nintendo switch?

For Nintendo switch users, a mobile device or a PC is required as support for logging in to the game or creating a Microsoft account.

Step 1:- Open the Xbox website and sign In

Step 2:- From the friend’s option, add your friend name by their Gamertag

Step 3:- Start the game on your Xbox One

Step 4:- Hit “Let’s Play” using the A button on the gamepad

Step 5:- You will see the Minecraft Play option, hit the A button to start playing

Step 6:- Go to your previously created worlds or create a new world

Step 7:- Once inside your world, open the options menu

Step 8:- On the right-hand side, you will see the option Invite to the game, hit the A button on this option

Step 9:- Now, you will see the list of friends that are online on PS4. Add the friends from the options.

Step 10:- There will be an option Find Cross-Platform Friends. Hit Y on the controller to use the option. 

Step11:- A small window will appear with an empty box with the title Find Friends By Name Tag. Write your friends Gnaretag in this box and hit A

Step 12:- Game will start searching, and the profile of your friend will appear on the screen. Choose the option Add Friend. Add your friend who is playing on the Nintendo switch.

Things to remember for cross-platform

• With one Microsoft account, you can even play on different devices with all your data and friends list available on all platforms. Therefore creating a Microsoft account is critical.
• Minecraft Java edition does not support cross-platform play. Download the Minecraft Windows 10 edition, not the Java edition, if you want to play cross-platform.
• Creating the Microsoft account is not possible on the Nintendo switch. A mobile device, tab, or a PC is required.
• Cross-platform only works when both the parties have the same version of the game and a Microsoft account.