What LAN means and how it works in Minecraft

LAN stands for Local Area Network. In Minecraft, a LAN world lets you play on the same game with other people connected to your home network — no internet server needed, and no Minecraft Realms subscription. One person opens their world to LAN, and others on the same WiFi or ethernet connection can join directly from their own game.

The person who opens the world is the host. Their computer stays running the whole time you play together. If the host closes Minecraft or shuts down their computer, the world closes and everyone gets kicked out. LAN works best when everyone is in the same room or building, since you all need to be on the same network.

LAN is different from playing on a server or Realm. You do not need to pay anything, and you do not need a Microsoft account for the other players (though Java Edition does require accounts). The trade-off is that it only works when everyone is physically near the same router.

Key Takeaways

  • The host opens their world to LAN from the pause menu, then other players see the world listed in their multiplayer menu automatically.
  • Everyone must be connected to the same WiFi network or plugged into the same ethernet — LAN does not work across the internet.
  • Java Edition requires all players to have a Microsoft account, but Bedrock Edition does not.
  • The host's computer must stay on and running Minecraft the entire time you play, or the world closes.
  • If other players cannot see the world, restart your router and make sure everyone is on the same network band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).

How to open your world to LAN on Java Edition

Start Minecraft Java Edition and load the world you want to share. Once you are inside the world, press Escape to open the pause menu. Look for the button that says "Open to LAN" — it is usually in the middle of the menu.

Click "Open to LAN". A small window pops up with options. You will see a dropdown for "Game Mode" (Survival, Creative, Adventure) and a toggle for "Allow Cheats". Choose the game mode you want other players to experience. If you turn on "Allow Cheats", players can use commands like /give and /teleport. Click "Start LAN World" at the bottom.

Your world is now open. You will see a message in the chat that says something like "Local game hosted on port 25565" — that port number can change, but you do not need to remember it. Other players on your network will see your world appear in their multiplayer menu within a few seconds.

How to open your world to LAN on Bedrock Edition

Load your world in Minecraft Bedrock Edition (the version on Windows 10, Windows 11, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox). Once you are inside, press Escape or the menu button to pause. Look for "Invite to Game" or a similar option — the exact wording depends on your platform.

On Windows, click "Invite to Game" and select "Invite to Realm" or "Invite Friends". On console versions, go to the pause menu and find the multiplayer or invite option. Other players on your network will see a notification that you have opened the world and can join from there.

Bedrock Edition handles LAN differently than Java — it uses your Microsoft account to manage who can join, but you do not need to set a password. Anyone on your network can see the world and request to join.

How to join someone else's LAN world

Make sure your device is connected to the same WiFi network as the host. Open Minecraft and go to the main menu. Click "Multiplayer" (Java) or "Play" then "Friends" (Bedrock). Wait a few seconds — the host's world should appear in your list automatically.

Click on the world name and then click "Join Server" (Java) or "Join" (Bedrock). You will load into the host's world. If you do not see the world listed after 10 seconds, ask the host to check that they opened it to LAN correctly. If it still does not appear, try restarting your router and reconnecting to WiFi.

On Java Edition, you must have a Microsoft account to join. On Bedrock, you need a Microsoft account only if you want to join Realms or use certain features — local LAN worlds can be joined without one, though you will still need a profile name set up in the game.

Troubleshooting when players cannot see the world

The most common reason a world does not show up is that someone is on a different network. Check that everyone is connected to the same WiFi network name. If you have a dual-band router (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), make sure everyone is on the same band — some devices default to 5 GHz while others pick 2.4 GHz, and they cannot see each other.

Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait for it to fully boot up before trying again. On Java Edition, restart Minecraft on both the host and the joining player's computer. On Bedrock, close the game completely and reopen it.

If one player is on a wired ethernet connection and another is on WiFi, that is fine — they are still on the same network. However, if your router has a guest network enabled, make sure everyone is on the main network, not the guest one. Guest networks are isolated and cannot see each other's games.

What to do if the world closes unexpectedly

If everyone gets kicked out suddenly, the host's computer likely crashed, lost power, or closed Minecraft. The host needs to reopen the world to LAN from the pause menu. Everyone else will see it reappear in their multiplayer list.

If the host put their computer to sleep, the world closes too. Make sure the host's computer stays awake the entire time you play. On Windows, you can disable sleep mode in Settings > System > Power & Sleep. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Energy Saver and uncheck "Put hard disks to sleep when possible".

If you want to keep playing together for a long time without worrying about the host's computer shutting down, consider switching to a Realm instead. Realms cost a small monthly fee but run on Minecraft's servers, so the world stays open even when everyone logs off.

LAN versus Realms versus servers: which one to use

LAN is free and works instantly with no setup, but only works on your home network and requires the host's computer to stay on. Realms costs about $8 per month but lets you play with up to 10 people from anywhere in the world, and the world stays open when you are offline. Servers are run by third parties and can be free or paid, and they support many more players but require more technical knowledge to set up.

If you are playing with friends in the same house or building, LAN is the easiest choice. If you want to play with friends who live far away, or you want the world to stay open when nobody is playing, Realms is worth the cost. Servers are best for large communities or if you want advanced features like custom plugins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play LAN across the internet?

No. LAN only works on a local network — everyone must be connected to the same WiFi or ethernet. If you want to play with people over the internet, you need a Realm, a server, or a third-party tool like Hamachi that creates a virtual local network. Those options are more complicated but let you play from anywhere.

Do I need a Microsoft account to join a LAN world?

On Java Edition, yes — all players need a Microsoft account. On Bedrock Edition, you do not need one to join a local LAN world, though you do need a profile name set up in the game. If you want to join a Realm instead, all players need a Microsoft account.

What if my router does not show up in the network list?

Make sure WiFi is turned on on your device. If it is, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If the network still does not appear, check that your router is powered on and the WiFi light is lit. If you just set up the router, wait a few minutes for it to fully boot before trying again.

Can console players join a LAN world with PC players?

On Bedrock Edition, yes — any Bedrock device (Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch) can join the same LAN world. On Java Edition, only PC players can join. If you want to play Java Edition across different platforms, you need a server or Realm instead.

How many people can join a LAN world?

Technically, as many as your network can handle, but in practice it depends on your router and the host's computer. Most home networks support 4 to 8 players smoothly. If you try to add too many, the game may lag or the host's computer may struggle. If you need more players, a Realm or server is a better choice.