The Hive: the biggest Bedrock server, and why it's on your phone already

If you play Minecraft on a phone, a console or the Windows edition, you have seen The Hive without looking for it. It sits in the Servers tab next to a handful of other featured servers, one tap from the title screen. That placement, plus a decade of running minigames, is why it is the biggest Bedrock server there is, with tens of thousands of players online at once when we check.

▶Watch the The Hive trailer plays from YouTube

From Java to Bedrock

The Hive opened as a Java Edition server on February 24, 2013, in the first wave of minigame networks alongside Mineplex and Hypixel. Its Java games, Survival Games and DeathRun above all, were staples of the era. In 2018 it opened a Bedrock version, timed with Mojang's move to make phones, consoles and Windows share one edition, and became one of the featured servers built into the game. The Java side closed in April 2021, and the Hive has been Bedrock-only since.

The games

Everything runs across devices, so a friend on a Switch can party with you on a phone. There are XP levels, cosmetics, quests and leaderboards, and the whole thing is free to play: the store sells hats and effects, not advantages.

Why it's this big

Being a featured server is the obvious reason, but Mojang has featured other servers that never reached this size. The Hive's edge is that it has been designing games for a decade and it treats Bedrock as the main event rather than a port. Games load fast, matches are short, and the controls work on a touchscreen. For a lot of players it is the first server they ever join, because it's the first one the game shows them.

Here's the live picture from our pinger:

Want the same idea with games you've never played before? Read about Galaxite. For the Bedrock server that came first, see Lifeboat. More on our Bedrock servers list.

Quick answers

Can Java players join The Hive?

No. The Hive has been Bedrock-only since the Java server closed in April 2021. Phones, consoles and Windows Bedrock all work.

Is The Hive free?

Yes. The store sells cosmetics like hats and effects, not advantages, and every game is free to play.

What is The Hive's address?

Pick it from the Servers tab, or add geo.hivebedrock.network on port 19132. Console players use the Servers tab.

Is The Hive safe for kids?

It's a featured server, so it follows Mojang's partner rules on chat and content, and it has active moderation. Party up with friends for the best experience.