If you’ve spent hours building a hidden base or mining enough diamonds for a full set of armor alone, you’ve probably wondered how to do multiplayer in Minecraft so you can share those moments with friends. I’ve been playing Minecraft since the early beta days, and I still get a kick out of loading up a world with a group to take on the Ender Dragon or build a floating city together. The process looks different depending on what platform you’re on and how many people you want to play with, but none of the methods are as complicated as you might think. This guide breaks down every common multiplayer option, so you can pick the one that fits your budget, group size, and technical comfort level.
How to Do Multiplayer in Minecraft for Local In-Person Groups
The easiest way to learn how to do multiplayer in Minecraft for local groups is to use the built-in LAN play feature, which works for both Java and Bedrock editions across every platform. LAN play is totally free, requires no extra subscriptions or setup beyond being on the same Wi-Fi network, and has almost zero lag, making it perfect for sleepovers, family game nights, or group hangs with friends in the same space. If you’re playing on the Java Edition, you can adjust the LAN game settings to toggle PvP on or off and set a game mode for all new players before you open the world.
To start a LAN world, just load up your single-player save, open the pause menu, and select “Open to LAN” (Java) or “Start LAN Game” (Bedrock). All other players on the same network will see the world pop up in their “Friends” tab or multiplayer server list automatically. I used this method all the time in college when my roommates and I would play after class, and we only ever ran into issues when we tried to use the dorm’s public guest Wi-Fi instead of the private resident network.
The only real downside of LAN play is that it only works for people in the same physical location. You also need to make sure every player is running the exact same version of Minecraft, or they won’t be able to see the world in their server list.
Setting Up a Realms Server for Consistent Remote Play
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of local play, learning how to do multiplayer in Minecraft with Realms is the most low-effort option for remote groups. Realms are Mojang’s official hosted servers, which means you don’t have to mess with port forwarding, server files, or keeping your personal device turned on 24/7 to let other players access the world. Many new players start with Realms when they first learn how to do multiplayer in Minecraft, because it removes all the technical work of hosting a server yourself.
Realms support up to 10 concurrent players, work across all Bedrock edition platforms (console, mobile, PC) or Java edition players exclusively, and automatically back up your world every day so you never lose progress if something goes wrong. You don’t need to keep your personal device turned on to let other players access the world, which is a huge plus if you want to let friends log on to build while you’re at work or school.
The biggest downsides of Realms are the monthly subscription fee and limited customization options. You can’t install most mods or custom plugins on standard Realms, and you don’t get access to advanced server settings like custom resource packs or permission levels for specific players. Realms are best for casual groups that play 2-3 times a week and don’t want to spend time troubleshooting server issues.
Joining Public Multiplayer Servers for Large Group Play
Once you’re comfortable with small group play, learning how to do multiplayer in Minecraft on public servers lets you connect with hundreds of other players around the world. Public servers are run by independent creators, and most are totally free to join as long as you follow the server rules. You can find servers for almost any play style imaginable, from competitive minigames to casual creative building worlds to strict roleplay servers with custom lore. Always avoid sharing personal information like your real name or location when playing on public servers with strangers, and stick to servers listed on trusted directory sites to avoid malicious servers that can steal your account data.
Some of the most popular server types to try include:
- Minigame servers: Offer short, competitive games like Bed Wars, SkyWars, and TNT Run that are perfect for quick play sessions with friends or random players
- Survival multiplayer (SMP) servers: Let you play regular survival mode with dozens or hundreds of other players, often with custom plugins for land protection and economy systems
- Creative servers: Give you unlimited resources to build with large groups, perfect for collaborative mega build projects like full-scale cities or theme parks
- Roleplay (RP) servers: Let you take on a character and participate in a shared story world, with rules for in-character interaction and custom world lore
If you’re curious about how to do multiplayer in Minecraft with larger groups, public servers are the only option that can support dozens or even thousands of concurrent players. Most large servers also have linked Discord communities where you can find groups to play with, report issues, and suggest new features for the server.
Troubleshooting Common Minecraft Multiplayer Connection Issues
Even if you’ve read every guide on how to do multiplayer in Minecraft, you’ll probably run into a connection error at some point – it’s totally normal for new and experienced players alike. Most issues are easy to fix once you know what to look for, so you won’t have to spend hours troubleshooting before you can jump in and play with friends. The number one cause of failed multiplayer connections is all players not running the exact same version of Minecraft, so always double check that everyone has installed the same update before you try to connect.
If you’re hosting a LAN world and other players can’t see it, check that Minecraft is allowed through your device’s firewall, and make sure everyone is connected to the same private Wi-Fi network. Public Wi-Fi networks often block the ports Minecraft uses for LAN play, so you’ll have to use a different connection or switch to a Realm if you’re playing from a coffee shop or library.
If you’re playing on console and can’t connect to any remote servers, the most common issue is a missing online subscription. Double check that you have the correct online subscription for your console before trying to join any remote multiplayer sessions – you’ll need Xbox Live for Xbox, PlayStation Plus for PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch Online for Switch, even if you’re joining a friend’s free public server. If you get an “invalid session” error when trying to join a server, just log out of your Minecraft account and log back in, that fixes the issue 90% of the time.
Most of these problems are easy to fix once you know what to look for, so you won’t have to spend hours troubleshooting before you can use the tips you learned for how to do multiplayer in Minecraft.
At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong way to play Minecraft with other people – the best method depends entirely on who you’re playing with and how often you plan to connect. If you’re just hanging out with friends at your house, LAN play is totally free and takes 30 seconds to set up. If you want to play with friends across the country a few times a week, a Realm is worth the small monthly fee to avoid technical headaches. If you want to meet new people and try custom game modes, public servers have something for every play style. Now that you know all the different methods for how to do multiplayer in Minecraft, you can pick the one that fits your group’s needs perfectly. The only thing left to do is load up your favorite world and invite your friends to join.