The simple yet limitless game of Minecraft has millions of players, so its easy to find friends to play with. However, its not always clear how to play multiplayer with your friends.
How you play multiplayer Minecraft will vary depending on whether you have the newer, console-friendly Bedrock edition, or the classic Java edition. Whichever edition you have, you can only play with friends who have the same version.
If that version is Java, there are few different ways to go about playing with your friends.
Whether you feel up to the task of joining a public server or creating your own server (which is less scary than it sounds), want to host a local LAN server, or would prefer to use the paid “Realms” server-hosting option, hosting a multiplayer Minecraft game should only take a short time.
Quick tip: In order to play with others, you must all be playing the same version of Minecraft.
How To Play Minecraft with Your Friends on PC (Java Edition)
How to Play Minecraft with Friends on PC
In Minecraft, you have the ability to connect with friends through LAN. This will be accessible only to others within your local network. For example, if your friend is over at your house and connected to your wifi, you can create a LAN world to join.
How to make a LAN world
How to join a LAN world
Typically, you can join a server by copying the server’s IP address you wish to join. Then, navigate to the multiplayer screen in your Minecraft client and click on Direct Connection or Add server. Here, you have to paste the IP address into the Server Address box and click Join Server.
Minecraft is one of the most popular and sought-after games. Gaming enthusiasts always have a blast when playing this game as they get to build and craft according to their preferences. But if you want to play the game with your friends, you need to have the same game version as your friends and be on the same server version. If your game version is different from the server version, you have to update or change the game version.
Minecraft Bedroom Edition (BE) is slightly different. You have to start Minecraft BE > click Play > head to Worlds and select Create New > select Create New World again > click Creare on Realms from the left pane > choose two to ten players for your Realm.
After you’ve opted for the free trial or have the subscription plan, open Minecraft and select Minecraft Realms. Click to start your new Realm if this is your first time creating a Realm. You can name your Realm and even enter a description before selecting the world type. You can choose between uploading a previously saved world, generating a new world, or exploring the world templates, experiences, and adventures of the Realm.
Hopefully, the steps and tips mentioned above have cleared your doubts on how you can play Minecraft with your friends on PC. The easiest method would be to join a Minecraft server and connect with hundreds of online players. But if you want complete privacy, you can set up a LAN connection to only invite people with who you want to share the game.
Using LAN Multiplayer Mode
Minecraft has an option to turn your singleplayer world to multiplayer with a click of a button. In short, you can turn on the LAN for your world, and your friends in the same network can join in your world.
You can manually activate LAN multiplayer in the Java Edition of the game. However, it is already on by default in the Bedrock Edition. But if it is not, you can follow the steps below to make sure that LAN visibility is active by the following steps.
Joining a LAN game in Bedrock Edition is also a different process.
If you are the host, the Save File for the world you opened to LAN will be on your PC. You can always play offline in the same world as well. Your friends can join the world where you, as the host, will leave the game.
FAQ
Can you invite friends to Single Player Minecraft PC?
How do you Play multiplayer on Minecraft PC single player?
- Choose a host computer. …
- Launch the game and click Single Player.
- Create a new world or open an existing one.
- Inside that world, press the Esc key, and click Open to LAN.
- Choose a game mode to set for the other players.
Can other players join a single player world in Minecraft?
How do you Play 2 player on Minecraft PC offline?