Minecraft server address: our subdomain or your own domain

Instead of an address like 203.0.113.10:25600, your players can type mujserver.stormhost.eu or mc.example.cz – no port, and easy to remember. This guide covers both options: a subdomain from us, which takes a minute to set up, and your own domain configured with A and SRV records.

Which address to choose#

How the game resolves the address#

• Java Edition: when a player enters an address without a port, the game first asks DNS for an SRV record named _minecraft._tcp.<ADDRESS>. If it exists, the game takes the target address and port from it. If it doesn't, the game uses the A (IPv4) or AAAA (IPv6) record and the default port 25565.
• If the player types the port (mc.example.cz:25600), SRV isn't used.
• Bedrock Edition doesn't use SRV records at all. Players always have to enter the address and port separately.

Our servers usually don't run on port 25565 (one IP address hosts several servers). That's why an address without a port needs an SRV record. Our subdomain creates it for you.

Option A: a subdomain from us#

1. In the customer area, open My services, click your Minecraft server and go to the Domain tab.

   If you don't see the tab, the feature isn't enabled for you yet, or you don't have the Network and rDNS permission. Use your own domain instead.

2. In the Address name field, type a name, for example mujserver. Rules:

   • 3–⁠32 characters,
   • lowercase letters a–z without accents, digits and hyphens,
   • no hyphen at the start or end, and no two hyphens in a row at positions 3 and 4,
   • some names are reserved because our website, mail or infrastructure uses them (for example www, mail, api, status, podpora, mc, play, minecraft, admin, test and many more); offensive words aren't allowed either.

   Below the field you'll see whether the address is free (This address is available.). This guide uses the form <name>.stormhost.eu; the exact address shown in the Domain tab is always the one that counts.

3. Click Create address.

   You'll see the message The address mujserver.stormhost.eu is active. The records reach your players within 5 minutes at most.

4. Copy the address for your players with the Copy button next to Address for players.

What you'll see in the Domain tab#

We create two records for the address, with a time to live (TTL) of 300 seconds:

Changing, repairing and removing the address#

• Change name – enter a new name and confirm. The customer area warns you: The old address … will stop working. Let your players know the new one.
• Repair – writes the records again using the server's current IP address and port. Use it whenever the status is anything other than Active.
• Remove address – deletes the records. Players can no longer connect through the address.
• Automatic updates: when the server's IP address or port changes (for example when the server is moved), the records are brought back in line the next time you open the Domain tab. You'll see the message The server has a new IP address or port — the records were updated.
• Limits: you can create, rename or remove an address at most 5 times per hour per server and 20 times a day per account. The Repair button works at most 10 times per hour. The address can only be changed while the service is active.

Connecting through the subdomain#

• Java: in Multiplayer › Add Server, enter just mujserver.stormhost.eu in Server Address, without a port.
• Bedrock: enter mujserver.stormhost.eu in Server Address and the server port in Port (you'll find it under Details › Bedrock and direct connection). If Geyser runs on a separate port, enter that one (crossplay).

Option B: your own domain#

You'll need the server's IP address and port. You'll find them in the Network tab as Connection address, for example 203.0.113.10:25600 (the IP address comes before the colon, the port after it).

The examples use the subdomain mc.example.cz. Replace example.cz with your own domain.

Server on port 25565: an A record is enough#

If the server runs on the default port 25565 (typically on your own VPS), a single record is enough:

Server on a different port: A and SRV records#

Replace <PORT> with the port from the Network tab, without the angle brackets, for example 25600.

What the SRV fields mean:

The steps depend on where your DNS is hosted:

Advanced: your own domain pointed at our subdomain#

When the server's IP address changes, you have to update the A record of your own domain. You can avoid that by pointing your domain at our subdomain, which we keep up to date:

• Create our subdomain first (option A).
• The CNAME says “mc.example.cz is just another name for our subdomain”, so we take care of the IP address.
• The SRV points straight at our subdomain (a name with an A record), so the game gets the right IP address and port.
• The port in the SRV record is yours to maintain. If the server's port changes, update it (the current port is shown in the Network tab).
• A CNAME can't be used on the bare domain without a subdomain (example.cz). Use an A record with the IP address there.
• In Cloudflare, set the CNAME to DNS only (gray cloud).

Verification#

Check the records with a command on your computer. Replace mc.example.cz with your address (for our subdomain, use the full address, for example mujserver.stormhost.eu).

nslookup -type=SRV _minecraft._tcp.mc.example.cz 1.1.1.1
nslookup mc.example.cz 1.1.1.1

dig +short SRV _minecraft._tcp.mc.example.cz @1.1.1.1
dig +short mc.example.cz @1.1.1.1

dig +short SRV _minecraft._tcp.mc.example.cz @1.1.1.1
dig +short mc.example.cz @1.1.1.1

Then:

1. Enter the address in the Minecraft Status tool. It shows where the address leads (including SRV) and whether the server responds.
2. In the game, open Multiplayer › Add Server, enter the address without a port in Server Address and click Done. The server description (MOTD) and player count appear in the list.

Bedrock and domains#

Bedrock doesn't know SRV. Players enter the domain (for example mc.example.cz) in Server Address and the server port, or the Geyser port, in Port. For the domain to work for Bedrock too, it needs an A or CNAME record – an SRV record alone isn't enough.

Propagation and TTL#

• TTL says how long DNS servers and computers remember an answer. Our records use 300 seconds (5 minutes).
• For your own domain, a change takes effect according to the TTL of the previous record. If your TTL was 1 hour, the old value can stick around for another hour.
• Changing nameservers at your registrar (for example when moving to Cloudflare) can take up to 24–⁠48 hours.
• If your computer or the game holds on to an old answer, restart the game. On Windows you can clear the DNS cache with ipconfig /flushdns.

Troubleshooting#

Can't resolve hostname#

The game couldn't find the address in DNS. Check the address for typos, make sure an A (or CNAME) record exists and that the TTL has run out. Check with nslookup or dig (see Verification).

The IP address and port work, the domain doesn't (Can't connect to server)#

The domain points to the right IP address, but the game tries port 25565. The SRV record is missing, has a different port, or has the wrong name (a common mistake is a doubled domain: _minecraft._tcp.mc.example.cz.example.cz). Check it with the command from Verification.

The domain points to a different IP address (Cloudflare)#

The A or CNAME record has Proxied turned on (orange cloud), so nslookup returns Cloudflare's addresses. Switch it to DNS only.

The DNS panel won't accept the SRV record#

The SRV target is an IP address. Enter a name with an A record instead (for example mc.example.cz). Some panels need a trailing dot (mc.example.cz.).

Our subdomain shows Records missing or Records out of sync#

Click Repair. If the status doesn't improve, contact us.

This address is already taken. / This name is reserved, please choose another one.#

Another server uses the name, or it's reserved. Pick a different one.

You are changing the address too often, please try again later.#

You've hit the change limit (5 per hour per server, 20 a day per account). Wait and try again.

Custom server addresses are not available yet.#

Our subdomain feature isn't enabled yet. Use your own domain.

The server address is not public, so no DNS record can point to it. / The server has no default IP address and port.#

The server has no public address a record could point to. Contact support.

The address stopped working after the server was moved#

For our subdomain, open the Domain tab – the records sync on their own. For your own domain, update the A record (and the port in the SRV record, if needed) to match the current Connection address in the Network tab.

Further reading#

• Setting up a server and the SRV record on the Minecraft Wiki (opens in a new window)
• DNS record types in the Cloudflare docs (opens in a new window)
• Proxy status in the Cloudflare docs (opens in a new window)