Minecraft is a fantastic game to play both alone and with others, but if the option to play on other servers or with friends isn’t available, players may be disappointed. Some players may notice that the “Multiplayer” and “Minecraft Realms” buttons on the title menu are disabled, especially on the Java Edition of Minecraft. The message “Multiplayer is disabled” will appear when the mouse cursor is over these buttons. Please check your Microsoft account settings. Although it may seem difficult at first, fixing this problem should only take two minutes. Learn how to activate multiplayer in Minecraft Java Edition by reading on.
- Make sure every player is connected to the same network, then choose a host device.
- Select Play.
- Select the Pen icon to create a new world or edit an existing one.
- Select Visible to LAN Players.
- Select either Create or Play and continue as normal.
Local Area Network (LAN)
When playing Minecraft with friends on the same network as you, local area network, or LAN, is the preferred method. Depending on the version you’re playing and whether you’re hosting or joining, the steps you must take will vary.
Minecraft: Java Edition
Hosting
- Start the game on a PC with sufficient processing power to support both the game and a player-joining server.
- The pen icon can be used to create a new world or edit an existing one.
- Once everything has loaded, select “Open to LAN” by pressing Esc.
- Select a game mode: Survival, Creative, or Adventure
- Select ‘Start LAN World’
- Now, other players on the same network can join your game.
Joining
- Join the player’s network by connecting to the same one they are using.
- Navigate to the ‘Play’ menu
- Select ‘Multiplayer’ and search for any available LAN games
Minecraft: Windows 10
- Make sure every player is connected to the same network and using the same game version.
- Decide who will be the hosting player
- Choose “Play,” then use the pen icon to make a new world or edit an existing one.
- In the World Settings, select ‘Visible to LAN Players’
- Select either ‘Create’ or ‘Play’
- Through the “Friends” tab, other players on the same network can now join your game.
Joining an online server or setting up your own for others to visit is a useful way to play with friends online. However, if you want to try to create your own server for Minecraft: Java Edition, you’ll first have to download this file. If you simply wish to join a server, do the following:
Minecraft: Java Edition
- Start the game and select ‘Multiplayer’
- Enter the server’s IP address or website address after choosing “Add Server”
- Start playing
Minecraft: Windows 10
- You can join any of the three official Minecraft servers by default: Lifeboat, InPvP, and Mineplex.
- Select “Add Server” and enter the server’s details to add an external server.
- Start playing
You and up to 10 other players can play together in private servers managed by Minecraft Realms, a paid, subscription-based multiplayer service developed by Mojang.
Even when you log out, realms are always online and available to other players. Depending on the number of players in your group and the game version, there are various options.
Minecraft: Java Edition
- Start the game and select ‘Minecraft Realms’
- Select ‘Create and Configure Your Realm’
- Create and give your Realm a name, or begin with one that already exists.
- To begin in Survival mode, double-click your Realm
Minecraft: Windows 10
- Start the game and navigate to ‘Play’
- Select ‘Create New’ then ‘New Realm’
- Create and name your Realm
- Invites friends to join your Realm
You might be unsure if split-screen support exists for Minecraft on PC. Unfortunately, the PC versions of the game lack the ability to simultaneously play with up to four local players as it is a console-only feature.
But if you’re using a console, just start the game and connect the controllers for each player, and Minecraft will handle the rest.
How to Play Minecraft Windows 10 Edition Multiplayer LAN OFFLINE | Quick & Easy Tutorial
FAQ
How do you play Minecraft 2 player on PC?
Join a serverLaunch Minecraft and select Multiplayer. Open the multiplayer menu. Click Add Server. Enter the host server’s address in the Server Address box, then click Done. This might be an IP address, or a URL. Wait for the server to connect, then click Join Server when it appears in the list.
How can my friend join my Minecraft world Windows 10?
In Minecraft, click on the “Multiplayer” tab. You should see a message that reads, “Scanning for games on your local network,” if you scroll to the bottom of the list. You will see a listing called “LAN World” with your friends’ usernames and the world name underneath once it locates the world.
Can you play multiplayer on Windows 10?
Some multiplayer games allow for cross-network play (also known as cross play), allowing Xbox consoles and Windows 10/11 devices to play alongside PCs, Nintendo consoles, Playstation consoles, and other devices.
Can Windows 10 Minecraft play with Java multiplayer?
These two versions were created independently and have different features, making them incompatible with one another. Players of Minecraft: Java Edition are unable to access Windows 10 (and above) Realms, console games, mobile games, or other platforms.