Trying to play Minecraft with friends on the same network? A smooth Minecraft LAN multiplayer setup starts with one important check: everyone must use the same edition. Java players can join a Java LAN world, while Bedrock players can join a Bedrock LAN world, but the two editions cannot connect to each other.
The host’s steps depend on the edition. In Java, pause your world and select Open to LAN. In Bedrock, open the world settings and enable Multiplayer Game and Visible to LAN Players. Your friends can then find the world in the Java Multiplayer menu or under Play → Worlds in Bedrock.
Key Takeaways
- All players must use the same Minecraft edition and a compatible game version: Java players can join Java LAN worlds, while Bedrock players can join Bedrock LAN worlds, but Java and Bedrock cannot connect to each other.
- Connect every device to the same private home network, avoiding guest Wi-Fi, and ensure the host keeps the world open because the LAN session ends when the host leaves.
- To host a Java game, pause the world and select Open to LAN; to host a Bedrock game, enable Multiplayer Game and Visible to LAN Players in the world settings.
- If the world does not appear, verify the network, edition, version, firewall permissions, account multiplayer settings, and the correct joining menu before restarting the game or router.
Prepare The Same LAN Network
Connect every computer, console, or mobile device to the same home network before opening Minecraft. You can use the same Wi-Fi network on every device, or connect some devices with Ethernet cables to the same router. Avoid guest Wi-Fi because it may prevent devices from finding one another. Ask one player to host a shared Survival world, then have everyone else join that world.
Check that every player is using the same Minecraft edition and a matching game version. Java Edition players can join only a Java LAN world on Windows, macOS, or Linux computers, while Bedrock Edition supports LAN play across compatible computers, consoles, phones, tablets, and other Bedrock devices. Java players cannot join a Bedrock world, even when they use the same Wi-Fi. Sign in to the required account on each device before trying multiplayer, especially when Minecraft asks you to verify online or multiplayer access.
When the network and editions match, have the host open the chosen Survival world. In Java Edition, pause the world, select Open to LAN, and start the LAN world. In Bedrock Edition, open the world settings and turn on Multiplayer Game and Visible to LAN Players. Other Java players can look under the Multiplayer menu for the LAN game, while Bedrock players can check the Play screen under Worlds for a world marked LAN. Keep the host’s device and world running while everyone plays because the local world closes when the host leaves it.
Open A Java LAN World
Open your Java Edition world and press Esc to bring up the Pause Menu. Select Open to LAN, then choose the game mode you want guests to use, such as Survival or Creative. You can also turn on Allow Cheats if you want to use commands like /time set day or /gamemode creative. When your settings are ready, select Start LAN World. Minecraft will show a message confirming that the world is available on your local network.
Other Java Edition players on the same home network can join by opening Minecraft and selecting Multiplayer from the main menu. After a short scan, your world should appear under LAN Games, usually with your Minecraft username and the world name. They can select that entry and choose Join Server to enter your world, where everyone can explore, build, and share resources together. All players must use Java Edition and a compatible Minecraft version.
If the LAN world does not appear, first confirm that everyone is connected to the same Wi-Fi or wired network and has loaded the same Java Edition version. Have the host close and reopen the world with Open to LAN, then ask the joining player to return to the Multiplayer menu and scan again. A computer’s firewall may also block Minecraft, so allow the game through the firewall when prompted, or check the network permissions. As a final option, the host can share the port shown in the chat message. The other player can then select Multiplayer, choose Direct Connection, and enter the host’s local IP address followed by that port.
Enable Bedrock LAN Multiplayer
On the Bedrock host’s device, open Minecraft and select the world you want to share. Choose the pencil icon beside the world, open the Multiplayer settings, and turn on Multiplayer Game and Visible to LAN Players. Save the settings, then start the world so your friends on the same home network can find it. Make sure everyone is using the same edition of Minecraft because Java players cannot join a Bedrock LAN world.
Friends can join by selecting Play, opening the Worlds tab, and choosing the host’s world when it appears as available on the LAN. This works on Bedrock devices such as computers, consoles, phones, tablets, and laptops, as long as each device is connected to the same local network. If the world does not appear, check that everyone is using the same Wi-Fi or wired network, then close and reopen the Worlds tab. The host must keep the world open for others to play, and the LAN session ends when the host leaves.
Fix Minecraft LAN Connection Issues
If the LAN world does not appear, first confirm that every player is using the same Minecraft edition and version. Java Edition players can join only a Java LAN world, while Bedrock Edition players can join only a Bedrock LAN world. Have everyone reconnect to the same home network, then close and restart Minecraft on each device. On Java, the host should pause the world and choose Open to LAN. Bedrock hosts should enable Multiplayer Game and Visible to LAN Players in the world settings. The joining player can then check the Java Multiplayer screen for LAN games or the Bedrock Play screen for a world marked LAN.
Network settings can also hide a world even when everyone is connected to the same Wi-Fi name. Guest Wi-Fi often uses device isolation, which prevents players from seeing one another, so move everyone to the main network instead. Restarting the router can help if devices received unusual network addresses or lost their connection. On a computer, allow Minecraft, Java, or the game launcher through the firewall, especially on your private home network. If a firewall prompt appears, choose the option that permits local network access instead of blocking the game.
Console players should check their account privacy and family settings to make sure multiplayer and, when required, cross-network play are allowed. Each player may also need to sign in with an account, including players using Bedrock on consoles, phones, or computers. If a child account is involved, the family account holder may need to change these permissions before the LAN world can be joined. Finally, Java-to-Bedrock LAN play does not work because the two editions use different network systems and game code. Everyone must install and launch the same edition, such as Java on every computer or Bedrock on every supported device, to play together locally.
Set Up Minecraft LAN Multiplayer
A simple Minecraft LAN multiplayer setup starts with everyone joining the same home network and using the same edition of Minecraft. Java Edition players should pause the host’s world and select Open to LAN, then friends can look under the Multiplayer menu for the available LAN game. In Bedrock Edition, the host should open the world settings, enable Multiplayer Game and Visible to LAN Players, and friends can join from Play, then Worlds, where the world is usually marked LAN. Java and Bedrock players cannot join the same LAN world, so check the edition before troubleshooting anything else.
Before you begin a long Survival adventure, test the connection with a small Creative world. Place a few blocks, open a chest, and have each player move around to confirm that everyone can see the same world and interact normally. If the world does not appear, verify the network, edition, host settings, and the menu you are using to join. Once the test works, you can start building, exploring, and surviving together without setting up a public server.