How to Join a LAN Game in Minecraft: Everything You Need to Know

Minecraft's LAN (Local Area Network) feature lets players on the same network jump into the same world without setting up a dedicated server. It's one of the simplest ways to play together — but "simple" doesn't always mean straightforward, especially once you factor in versions, devices, and network configurations.

What Is a LAN Game in Minecraft?

A LAN game is a session hosted directly from one player's game client and made available to other devices on the same local network — typically the same Wi-Fi or wired router. No external server is required. The host's world is shared temporarily, and it disappears from the network list when that player closes their game or ends the session.

This is different from:

• Dedicated servers, which run independently and are always available
• Realms, which are Mojang's subscription-based hosted worlds
• Online multiplayer, which connects players across the internet

LAN play is best suited for small groups in the same location — friends at home, a classroom setting, or a local gaming session.

How to Open a World to LAN (Java Edition)

On Minecraft: Java Edition, the host follows these steps:

1. Open an existing world or create a new one
2. Press Escape to open the pause menu
3. Select "Open to LAN"
4. Choose your preferred game mode and whether to allow cheats
5. Click "Start LAN World"

A message will appear in chat confirming the port number the game is broadcasting on. Other players on the same network open Minecraft, go to Multiplayer, and the world should appear automatically in the server list under "Local Network."

If it doesn't appear automatically, players can click "Direct Connect" and enter the host's local IP address along with the port number shown in their chat (formatted as 192.168.x.x:port).

How to Join a LAN Game (Java Edition — Joining Player)

1. Launch Minecraft: Java Edition
2. Click Multiplayer from the main menu
3. Wait for the world to appear under "Local Network" — this usually takes a few seconds
4. Click the world name and select Join Server

🖥️ If the world doesn't appear, both players should confirm they're on the same network, not on separate guest or mobile hotspot connections.

LAN Play on Bedrock Edition

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition — which covers Windows 10/11, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android — handles LAN differently, and the process is slightly more automated.

On Bedrock:

• A world hosted on one device is automatically visible to other Bedrock players on the same network
• The host simply opens a world and other players can find it under the "Friends" tab or "LAN Games" section in the multiplayer menu
• There's no manual "Open to LAN" button — the world is shared as long as it's open and the "Visible to LAN Players" setting is enabled in world settings

Cross-Platform Considerations on Bedrock

Bedrock Edition supports cross-play between platforms, but LAN specifically is more limited. Two players on the same Wi-Fi network with different Bedrock devices (say, a Switch and an Android phone) may or may not see each other's worlds depending on the network configuration. Cross-platform LAN is less reliable than cross-platform online play through Xbox accounts.

Java vs. Bedrock: Key LAN Differences

Java and Bedrock cannot join each other's LAN sessions — they use different networking protocols and are fundamentally separate versions of the game.

Common Reasons LAN Isn't Working 🔧

Even when both players are on the same network, LAN discovery can fail. The most frequent causes include:

• Different network segments: Some routers separate wired and wireless clients, or have guest networks that don't communicate with the main network
• Firewall blocking: Windows Firewall or third-party security software may block Minecraft's broadcast signal. Allowing Minecraft through your firewall is usually the fix on Java
• VPN interference: Active VPNs on either device can redirect traffic away from the local network, making LAN discovery fail entirely
• Different Minecraft versions: Even minor version mismatches between Java players (e.g., one on 1.20.4 and one on 1.21) will prevent joining
• Antivirus software: Some security suites block local UDP broadcasts that Minecraft uses to announce LAN games

The Version Matching Requirement

On Java Edition, every player must be running the exact same game version to join. If versions don't match, the world either won't appear in the list or will display an incompatibility warning.

On Bedrock Edition, version matching is also required, though updates often roll out simultaneously across platforms — reducing this friction somewhat.

What Affects Your LAN Experience

Several variables shape how smooth the experience actually is:

• Host machine performance: The host is running both the game and serving the world to other players. A low-spec machine may struggle with multiple players loaded in
• Network quality: Even on a local network, a congested or slow router can introduce lag — especially with wireless connections
• World complexity: Large worlds with many active chunks, redstone contraptions, or entities increase the load on the host
• Number of players: LAN is designed for small sessions. Performance tends to degrade noticeably beyond 3–4 players without a dedicated server

The host's hardware, network setup, and the world itself all interact in ways that produce very different experiences depending on the specific combination in play.