How to Connect a Custom Domain to your Minecraft Server

This guide shows you how to let players join your FernHost server using a domain like play.yourdomain.com instead of an IP and port or subdomain.

You will need:

• A registered domain (e.g. Namecheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Porkbun, etc.)

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1. Find your FernHost server IP and port

1. Log in to your FernHost panel.
2. Open the server you want to connect a domain to.
3. Find:
   • The IP address (top left).
   • The port (click the network tab on the left).

Keep this page open, you will copy these into your DNS later.

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2. Decide how players will connect

You have two common options:

• Option A: play.yourdomain.com:PORT

  • Simple setup: only create an A record.
  • Players must still type the port.

• Option B: play.yourdomain.com without a port

  • Recommended for public servers.
  • Requires an A record + SRV record.
  • Hides the port from players.

You can choose either option. The DNS steps below cover both.

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3. Create the A record (points domain → server IP)

1. Log in to the website where you manage your domain’s DNS (e.g. Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.).
2. Open the DNS or DNS Management / Zone page.
3. Add a new record:
   • Type: A
   • Name / Host:
     • Use play if you want play.yourdomain.com, or
     • Use @ if you want the root domain yourdomain.com to go directly to the server.
   • Value / Target: your FernHost server IP address only (no port).
   • TTL: leave default (Auto or 5–30 minutes is fine).
4. Save the record.

After this propagates, play.yourdomain.com (or your chosen host) will point to your server IP. It can take up to 24 hours to apply.

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4. (Optional) Add an SRV record to hide the port

Add an SRV record so players can still join with just play.yourdomain.com.

1. In your domain DNS settings, add a new record:

   • Type: SRV

2. Fill in the SRV fields (exact names vary by provider, but the values are the same):

   • Service: _minecraft
   • Protocol: _tcp
   • Name / Host:
     • For play.yourdomain.com, many providers expect _minecraft._tcp.play, or they split it into fields:
       • Service: _minecraft
       • Protocol: _tcp
       • Name/Host: play
   • Priority: 0
   • Weight: 5 (or 0 if that’s the default; it doesn’t matter for a single server).
   • Port: your FernHost server port (e.g. 25570).
   • Target: the hostname from your A record, e.g.:
     • play.yourdomain.com
     • or mc.yourdomain.com if that’s what you used for the A record.

3. Save the SRV record.

Now, even if your server is on a custom port, players can connect using only play.yourdomain.com.

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5. Wait for DNS to update

DNS changes are not instant.

• Most changes apply within a few minutes, but it can take up to an hour or more in some cases.
• While waiting, avoid changing the same records too often; that can make troubleshooting harder.

You can test if your records are visible using external DNS lookup tools from your domain provider or third‑party DNS checkers.

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6. Join your server using the domain

Once DNS has propagated:

1. Open Minecraft.
2. Go to Multiplayer → Add Server.
3. In Server Address, enter:
   • play.yourdomain.com (if you followed this guide), or
   • play.yourdomain.com:PORT if you chose Option A and kept the port visible.
4. Click Done, then select your server and Join.

If it does not connect, double‑check:

• The A record IP matches your FernHost server IP.
• The SRV record (if used) points to the correct host and port.
• Your server is online.

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Example configurations

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