PowerupStackA DNS SRV record lets Java Edition players use a hostname such as play.example.com without typing a non-default port. You need access to the DNS settings for your domain.
Before you begin
Find the instance domain and external Minecraft port in the panel. DNS records only direct players to the server; they do not keep an offline instance running.
Point a subdomain to the instance
If your DNS provider supports a CNAME at the desired hostname, create:
| Type | Name | Target |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | play | Your instance domain |
Players can use play.example.com:port without an SRV record. It's recommended to also setup a SRV record for Java Edition to connect without a port.
Create an SRV record for a custom port
First create an CNAME record pointing to the instance domain such as server.example.com to the instance domain.
Then create this SRV record:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Service | _minecraft |
| Protocol | _tcp |
| Name | play |
| Priority | 0 |
| Weight | 0 |
| Port | Your instance's primary port |
| Target | server.example.com |
The target must be a hostname, not an IP address. Some DNS panels combine the service, protocol, and name into _minecraft._tcp.play.
Wait for DNS changes
DNS updates may take from a few minutes to 24–48 hours, depending on the provider and record TTL. After propagation, Java Edition players can connect with play.example.com.
Troubleshooting
- Remove
http://,https://, paths, and port numbers from DNS target fields. - Make sure the SRV port is the external port shown in the instance panel.
- Confirm the target hostname has a valid A record.
- Disable proxying for Minecraft records when using a DNS provider whose proxy supports only web traffic (e.g., Cloudflare).
- Bedrock Edition does not use Java-style SRV discovery; players may still need the hostname and port.
Limitations
Custom DNS SRV is currently incompatible with auto-start. DNS SRV only works when the server is online, otherwise you may experience connection issues.