How to Play Minecraft Cross-Platform (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Mobile, PC)

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Bedrock crossplay: everyone on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, mobile and Windows 10/11 plays together - sign in with a free Microsoft account, add friends by gamertag and join their world. Java Edition cannot crossplay with Bedrock; Java players play together on any OS.

What you need

Bedrock Edition on each device (same version)
A free Microsoft account per player
Friends added by gamertag

Step by step

Check the edition: everything except 'Java Edition' on PC/Mac is Bedrock - Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, iPhone, Android and the Windows 10/11 version all crossplay together.
Sign in: each player links a free Microsoft account in Bedrock (main menu > Sign In). This creates the gamertag friends use.
Add each other by gamertag, then join from the Friends tab or use Invite to Game inside a world.
Worlds work too: a world opened by one friend is joinable by the others while they are online.
Realms option: a Bedrock Realm is a always-online world for up to 10 friends - it is the paid option, run by Mojang.
Java: crossplay between Windows, macOS and Linux is automatic (same servers). Java cannot play with Bedrock without unofficial server proxies.
Version mismatch is the usual blocker: everyone must run the same game version - update first.

Java vs Bedrock

Crossplay is Bedrock-only. Java is its own island across PC operating systems.

Versions: Crossplay requires matching versions across devices. Console, mobile and Windows Bedrock update in lockstep, so updates fix most join failures.

Frequently asked questions

Can PlayStation and Switch play together?

Yes - both run Bedrock. Add each other's gamertags through the Microsoft account sign-in and join.

Do we all need to pay for online play?

The Microsoft account is free, but consoles charge their own online subscription (Game Pass Core, PS Plus, Switch Online) for multiplayer. Mobile and Windows do not.