A fun way to play Minecraft with visitors at your house is to set up a LAN server for everyone. However, there is some misinformation about Minecraft servers that needs to be cleared up before we even begin. You will learn about LAN servers in this guide, as well as what they are, how they differ from Minecraft Realms multiplayer servers, and how to set one up.
Note: Players of the PC, Mac OS, and Linux version of Minecraft: Java Edition are the target audience for this guide.
- Open the pause menu.
- Click “Open to LAN”
- Optionally change the default game mode and/or whether players may use cheats.
- Click “Start LAN World”
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“New Server” only allows you to add one to the list of servers you frequently connect to; it does not actually create a server.
To create a server, you have to run the server executable, “Minecraft_Server.exe” or “minecraft_server.jar”. Detailed instructions can be found on the minecraft wiki if you need more help getting set up or run into performance issues. If you are running the server on the same machine as the client, you can connect to “localhost” as the server address, or your own IP address.
Create a single player world, choose Open to LAN from the pause screen, as shown below, and then connect it to your local area network to play with your friends who are also connected to the same network.
Five steps:
- Open to LAN
- It will give you a 5-digit port number
- Use the command prompt’s ipconfig to find your IPv4 address (type CMD into the search bar).
- If your IP address is 123. 456. 7. When you add together 8 and LAN, you get something like: 123. 456. 7. 8:80729.
- Use direct connect and connect to the game
Go to your game menu and press “Open to LAN”. Next, it will show your IP address. Once you’ve noted the IP address, return to the title screen and select multiplayer. Next, select “Add server,” give the server a name, and finally enter the IP address.
The following worked for me:
Locate your IP address by opening System Preferences > Network. Copy the IP address.
Alternatively, find your IP address from the terminal:
Start single player after that, and from the pause menu select “Open to LAN.” It will print a port number, say 51831. If your local IP address is 10. 0. 0. 217 then join the two with a :: 10. 0. 0. 217:51831. Give your friend this address and instruct them to use “Direct Connection” from the multiplayer start menu to connect.
- Start a Single-Player World If you haven’t done so already, the first thing to do is to start a single-player world. Choosing your game options after choosing “Create World” under the “Singleplayer” tab is fairly straightforward. Your world has no predetermined settings, so if your friend later decides to play, it won’t stop them.
- Once your single-player game has begun, press the “ESC” key on your keyboard (on a PC) to bring up the pause menu. Then choose “Start LAN World” in the lower left corner after customizing the multiplayer options in the lower right corner. A 5-digit LAN number will then appear in chat. Make sure that you remember it.
- If you’re not sure what this is or how to find it, there are many helpful articles and videos on the web (should look something like 192.168.1.1). Find Your IPV4 Address in Settings How to Find your IPV4 Address Windows and MAC 168. x. xx, numbers will vary).
- Call your friend and ask them to choose the “Multiplayer” option on the home screen by selecting “Direct Connect” to Server of the Direct Connect button in Multiplayer Tab. The next step is to select “Direct Connect” from the menu at the bottom of the screen. Tell them to enter your IPV4 address (with periods and everything) after they have the Direct Connect screen open. After they have done so, add a colon immediately after this string of characters. They must enter the LAN number you generated earlier after the colon and after you chose “Open to LAN” (there must be no spaces between any of the numbers or characters). When you’ve finished the aforementioned steps, instruct them to choose “Join Server” at the very bottom and watch the magic happen!
You will frequently encounter an error message similar to this when attempting to play with your friends via LAN. As this has occurred to me far too frequently, it can be extremely annoying. There are a few ways to try and avoid this obstacle;
First off, give “Direct Connect” at least 45 seconds to fully load after you have launched it. I understand that there isn’t a loading indicator, but if you enter all the necessary information and attempt to join your friend’s game before the “Direct Connect” page has fully loaded, you will receive an error.
Second, the firewall, particularly if you use Windows, can significantly interfere with your ability to play with friends. Try turning off your firewall, and try this again.
**** REMEMBER TO TURN IT BACK ON AFTERWARDS! ****
Lastly, you might want to try re-installing Minecraft. The main cause of this not working is that your computer pings for the host after you “Direct Connect” to the server; if it finds them, great, you can join them. You will, however, be unsuccessful if this LAN number or IPV4 address is not associated with any computers or users. By re-installing Minecraft, you can restart this process.
A more detailed description of this process found here.
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How to Make a LAN Minecraft Server
FAQ
How do I connect to LAN with IP in Minecraft?
For LAN games, you use your own router or modem and open the required ports so that any other player using the same hardware can access the game. In both Java and Bedrock Editions, a game can be opened to LAN via menus or by using the /publish command in Java Edition.
How does a Minecraft LAN server work?
In Minecraft, there are three different ways to play with others, two of which are free. You can buy a Minecraft Realm, start your own, or join a public server. For local multiplayer in Minecraft, you can set up a LAN server if your friends are connected to the same network.
