What LAN Minecraft means and how it works
LAN (Local Area Network) Minecraft lets you play multiplayer with other people on the same Wi-Fi network or connected to the same router — without going through the internet or paying for a server. When you open a single-player world to LAN, other players on your network can see it in their server list and join directly.
This is different from online multiplayer servers. With LAN, the game runs on one person's computer (the host), and everyone else connects to that machine. It works best for playing with people in the same room, the same house, or anywhere on your home or office network. The connection is fast because data travels only across your local network, not through the internet.
LAN play works on Windows, Mac, and Linux versions of Minecraft Java Edition. Console versions (Bedrock on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox) use a different system called "split-screen" or "realm invites" instead. This guide covers Java Edition on PC and Mac.
Key Takeaways
- To host a LAN world, open a single-player world, press Esc, click "Open to LAN", choose your settings, and click "Start LAN World".
- Other players on the same network will see your world appear in their multiplayer server list within a few seconds.
- The host computer must stay running and in the game for other players to stay connected.
- If other players cannot see your world, check that everyone is on the same Wi-Fi network and that Windows Firewall or Mac firewall is not blocking Minecraft.
- LAN worlds close when the host quits the game, so save your progress before anyone leaves.
How to open your world to LAN
Start by loading the single-player world you want to share. Once you are inside the world, press Esc to open the pause menu. You will see a button labeled "Open to LAN" — click it.
A new screen will appear with two options. The first is "Allow Cheats" — toggle this on if you want players to be able to use commands like /give or /teleport. Leave it off if you want a pure survival experience. The second option is "Game Mode" — you can set it to Survival, Creative, or Adventure. This setting applies to all players who join, so choose what fits your group.
Once you have set these options, click "Start LAN World". Minecraft will tell you the port number (usually something like 25565) and confirm that the world is now open. Leave this screen open or press Esc to return to the game — either way, the world stays open as long as you remain in it.
How other players find and join your world
Players on your network do not need to do anything special to see your world. They open Minecraft, click "Multiplayer", and your world should appear in the server list within a few seconds. The world will show your player name and the world name.
They click on your world and then click "Join Server". That is it — they will load into your world at the spawn point. Multiple people can join at the same time, and there is no hard limit on how many can connect, though performance will slow down if too many people are playing at once.
If your world does not appear in their list, make sure everyone is on the same Wi-Fi network. If you are on 5 GHz Wi-Fi and they are on 2.4 GHz (or vice versa), they will not see it. Ask them to switch to the same band, or check your router settings to see if you can enable both bands on the same network name.
Troubleshooting when players cannot see your world
The most common reason a world does not show up is a firewall blocking Minecraft. On Windows, open Windows Defender Firewall, click "Allow an app through firewall", and make sure Minecraft Java Edition is checked for both Private and Public networks. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall Options and add Minecraft to the allowed apps list.
If the firewall is not the issue, restart your router. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully restart. Then open your world to LAN again. Sometimes the network needs to refresh to broadcast the LAN world properly.
Another possibility is that Minecraft is using an old or cached network connection. Have players quit Minecraft completely, restart their computer, and launch Minecraft again. Then have the host open the world to LAN. This forces Minecraft to scan the network fresh.
If you are using a guest network or a separate Wi-Fi band, LAN worlds will not work across those boundaries. Everyone must be on the same primary network. Check your router settings to confirm all players are connected to the same network name (SSID).
What to know about performance and stability
LAN worlds run on the host computer, so performance depends on that machine's power. If the host computer is slow or running other heavy programs, the world will lag for everyone. Close unnecessary programs before opening the world to LAN.
The host computer must stay in the game for other players to remain connected. If the host quits, closes the world, or loses internet connection, all other players will be kicked out immediately. Make sure everyone saves their progress before the host leaves.
LAN worlds are not saved to the cloud or backed up automatically. The world file lives only on the host computer. If that computer crashes or the world file gets corrupted, the world is lost. Back up your world folder regularly if you are playing a world you care about. On Windows, the folder is usually at C:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft\saves. On Mac, it is at ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves.
When to use LAN instead of other multiplayer options
LAN is best for small groups playing together in person or on the same home network. It is free, requires no server rental, and has almost no lag because everything stays local. If you want to play with friends who are far away or who are not on your network, you will need to use a different option like Realms (a paid subscription service) or a public server.
LAN is also good for testing mods or custom worlds before uploading them to a server. You can invite a few people to check things out without paying for server time. Once you know the world works, you can move it to a paid server or Realm if you want it to stay up permanently.
If you want a world that stays online even when you are not playing, LAN will not work — you need a server or Realm. But for casual play with people on your network, LAN is the simplest and fastest option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use LAN if I am on a different Wi-Fi network than my friends?
No. LAN only works on the same local network. If your friends are on a different Wi-Fi network, a different router, or connected through a VPN, they will not see your world. You would need to use a server or Realm instead.
What happens to the world when I close the game?
The world is saved to your computer, and all other players are kicked out immediately. The world itself does not disappear — you can open it again later and invite people back. But anyone playing at the moment you quit will lose their connection.
Can I play LAN on Minecraft Bedrock Edition?
Bedrock Edition (on Windows 10/11, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox) does not use LAN the same way. Instead, you can invite friends to your world through Xbox Live or use split-screen on the same console. Java Edition is the version that supports traditional LAN play.
How many players can join a LAN world?
Technically there is no hard limit, but performance degrades as more players join. Most people see playable performance with 4 to 8 players on a decent computer. If your host computer is powerful, you might support more. If it is older or slower, stick to fewer players.
Do I need to port forward to use LAN?
No. Port forwarding is only needed for servers that people access over the internet. LAN stays entirely on your local network, so no port forwarding is necessary.