Can You Play Nintendo Switch Minecraft with PC?

Wondering if you can build in your Minecraft world while on the go? Minecraft is available on Nintendo, but can you play it with PC players? Is it cross-platform? Let’s find out.

It would be awesome if you can play Minecraft cross-platform in handheld mode!

Can You Play Nintendo Switch Minecraft with PC Players?

Yes, the Minecraft Bedrock version is cross-platform with Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile devices, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Other versions of Minecraft, such as the Java version, are not cross-platform.

You need to double-check that the PC player is running Minecraft Bedrock edition because it’s the only one that supports cross-platform play.

The good news is if you already bought Minecraft you can get access to the Bedrock version for free.

Make sure to download it from the Windows store or Xbox Game Pass. 

On that note, every console version of Minecraft has been updated to the Bedrock edition.

But before you head over there, there are a few things we need to cover first.

Helpful Links:

Link Your Microsoft Account to Minecraft on Nintendo Switch

Before you can start building with your friend in Minecraft, you need to link your Minecraft account to your Microsoft account.

When you open Minecraft on your Nintendo Switch, a prompt will appear asking you to sign in to your Microsoft account.

Minecraft on Switch uses a Microsoft account for cross-play; it doesn’t use your Nintendo account.

Create a Microsoft account or sign in to an existing one, and wait for it to link with Minecraft.

If everything goes smoothly, you should be signed in, and you’ll be able to access your friend list.

Add Microsoft Friends

To add a friend, open Minecraft, select the Friends tab, select Add Friend, and type in your friends’ Microsoft Gamertag.

The easiest way for your friend on PC to find his or her gamer tag is to open the Xbox app and check the top left corner, under the profile picture.

You can also check your Gamertag by signing in to Xbox.com and checking the user details.

Once they accept your friend request, you should be able to join their realms in Minecraft from your Switch, and vice versa.

You can also join their realms by typing in the realm Invite Code.

Can’t Find Microsoft Friends on Nintendo Switch Minecraft

Successfully linked your Microsoft account but none of your friends is appearing in the friend list? It’s a common bug!

Here are some things to try:

  • Check your NAT type, it should be OPEN or MODERATE. Forward ports if necessary.
  • Start a Minecraft world. Enable multiplayer. Open the menu and click on Invite to Game, and select your Microsoft friends from the list.
  • Force shutdown Minecraft and open it again.
  • Restart Nintendo Switch.

Make Sure You Have a Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

To play Minecraft online, you need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

You can think of Nintendo Play as Xbox Live, it allows you to access online servers and other features.

It only costs a few dollars a month and it’s essential for online games. If you don’t have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription, Minecraft won’t work online.

How Does Minecraft Run on Nintendo Switch?

The Nintendo Switch version of Minecraft runs at a steady 60 frames a second.

There are some performance issues, such as low view distance, frame rate dips, and long load times. For the most part, Minecraft is perfectly playable on the Switch.

You can configure graphics settings to get the performance you want. You can also increase the FOV in the Minecraft video settings.

Bottom Line

You can play Nintendo Switch with PC players only if they’re running the Bedrock version, available at the Microsoft store

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