Everything you need to know about PocketHost. Can't find your answer? Reach out on Discord.
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PocketHost is a free Android app that turns your phone into a Minecraft server. It runs a real PaperMC Java Edition server on the device, lets Bedrock players join through Geyser crossplay, supports plugins, and gives your friends a public address to connect to without port forwarding. You can get it on Google Play or as a direct APK from pockethost.online.
No! PocketHost runs entirely on your Android phone. You don't need a computer, laptop, or separate server. All you need is an Android device and an internet connection.
PocketHost is 100% free forever. There are no credit cards required, no monthly subscriptions, no coin or credit grinding systems, and no paywalls. You get unlimited player slots, instant server starts with zero queue times, and complete plugin and mod support without paying anything.
There is no catch! Traditional hosting services (like Aternos or paid hosts) charge money or enforce 30+ minute waiting queues because they must rent and power expensive cloud datacenters. PocketHost runs the server engine directly on your Android phone's processor and RAM. Your phone does the hosting locally, eliminating cloud server rental costs entirely.
Yes! With built-in GeyserMC cross-platform support, players on Minecraft Bedrock (Android, iOS, Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch) can seamlessly join your Java Edition server. It works out of the box with zero complex setup.
Yes. PocketHost runs as an optimized Android background service. Once your server starts, it keeps running even if your screen is locked or you switch to other apps, letting your friends play uninterrupted.
PocketHost sets no artificial player caps or slot paywalls (unlike Minehut's 10-player limit). Capacity depends entirely on your phone's hardware. Most modern Android devices handle 10–25+ players comfortably.
Yes! PocketHost provides full support for PaperMC, Bukkit, and Spigot .jar plugins, as well as Bedrock add-ons (.mcpack/.mcaddon). You can drop custom .jar files directly into your plugins folder or use our built-in modpack browser.
Your world files stay safely stored directly on your phone's storage. Unlike free cloud hosts that wipe servers after a few weeks of inactivity, PocketHost will never delete your worlds. You can also create automated local backups or sync to Google Drive.
No! PocketHost features built-in encrypted relay tunneling. Friends can connect from anywhere over Wi-Fi or mobile data with zero router configuration or port forwarding needed.
No. PocketHost at pockethost.online is the Android app for hosting Minecraft servers on your phone. pockethost.io is a separate, unrelated service for hosting PocketBase databases. The two only share a name.
Google now supports Preferred Sources across Google Search, Top Stories, and AI Overviews. Click the 'Star on Google Search' button on this page or search for pockethost.online in Google's Source Preferences tool (google.com/preferences/source). Whenever you search for Minecraft hosting, plugins, or server setups, Google will prioritize PocketHost's verified guides.