In order for a player to join your Minecraft server, they need to have your server address to enter on their Minecraft client.
By default, a server address looks something like this: 192.168.1.2:25463
but it can be confusing. An easy way to have a server address that is easy to remember is to use a domain (e.g shockbyte.com) or subdomain (e.g. play.shockbyte.com).
# Which is Best for You?
- Custom Domain - This allows you to use the domain itself (e.g. shockbyte.com) as your server address. This option is best if you do not have a domain yet.
- Custom Subdomain - If you already own a domain but you cannot use this as your server IP, you may instead use a custom subdomain (e.g. play.shockbyte.com). A subdomain as a server IP is ideal to use if the main domain is pointing to your server's website.
- Free Subdomain - Since most domains require for you to pay for its registration, you may opt for a free alternative using subdomain creators. This allows you to use a subdomain as your server IP without having to pay for the domain itself. You can create one for your server using Shockbyte's Subdomain Creator.
If you choose to use a custom domain or subdomain, you will need to create an A and SRV (optional) record through your domain registrar's DNS manager.
If you do not have a domain yet, you can register one from a reputable domain registrar. A few notable registrars are Namecheap, GoDaddy, and Squarespace.
Once your domain is ready, please refer to our tutorials below depending on your specific domain registrar or DNS manager:
- Creating a Custom Server IP with Cloudflare
- Creating a Custom Server IP with cPanel
- Creating a Custom Server IP with GoDaddy
- Creating a Custom Server IP with NameCheap
If your registrar isn't listed above, the steps to configure your DNS will always be similar to one these providers. So feel free to follow along with one of the guides above, google a more specific tutorial for your registrar, or feel free to contact our 24/7 support team for additional help.
# Creating an A Record
On your domain's DNS manager, create a new A Record with the following specifications:
Note
You must have full access to manage your domain's DNS settings.
# Creating an SRV Record (For servers without a Dedicated IP)
By default, a custom domain/subdomain points to Minecraft's default port (25565). If your server doesn't have a Dedicated IP you need to create an SRV record to ensure that your custom domain/subdomain points to the correct server IP and port combination.
Below are the values for your SRV record:
If you encounter difficulties setting up your custom domain or subdomain, feel free to contact our support team!