Port and SRV record
The port is the network number a server listens on (25565 for Java by default). An SRV record lets players join via a domain without typing the port.
Every server listens on an IP address and a port. Minecraft Java Edition uses TCP port 25565 by default, set with server-port in server.properties. If a server uses a different port, players must add it to the address, for example play.example.com:25570.
What an SRV record does
An SRV record is a DNS entry that tells clients which host and port to use for a service. Minecraft Java looks for a record named _minecraft._tcp.<your domain>. If it exists, players can type just play.example.com and the client connects to the host and port from the record.
A typical setup:
- An A (or AAAA) record points a hostname, for example
node.example.com, to the server’s IP. - An SRV record for
_minecraft._tcp.play.example.comwith targetnode.example.com, the server’s port, and priority and weight (for a single server, any values such as 0 and 5 work).
The SRV target must be a hostname, not an IP address. DNS changes can take a while to reach everyone.
Why it matters for server owners
A domain looks more trustworthy than an IP with a port, is easier to remember, and lets you move to a different machine later by changing DNS instead of telling every player a new address.
Bedrock and proxies
- Bedrock Edition does not use SRV records. Bedrock players need the address and port, which by default is UDP 19132. See Geyser for crossplay.
- With a proxy such as Velocity, the SRV record points at the proxy, not at the backend servers.
Practical tip
If players can connect with ip:port but not with the domain, check the SRV record name first: it must start with _minecraft._tcp. and many DNS panels add your domain automatically, so entering the full name leads to a duplicated domain.