The fastest way to play together in Minecraft Java
The simplest way to play multiplayer in Minecraft Java is to open your single-player world to other players on your local network using the LAN (Local Area Network) feature. Press Escape while in your world, click "Open to LAN", choose your game mode, and other players on the same WiFi network can join within seconds. This requires no setup, no server rental, and no technical knowledge — it works as long as everyone is in the same room or on the same home network.
If you want to play with friends who are not on your home network, you have two main paths: use a Realms subscription (which Minecraft hosts for you) or set up your own server (which you run yourself). Realms costs about $8 per month and handles all the technical work. A personal server is free but requires you to keep your computer running and manage the software yourself.
Key Takeaways
- LAN mode lets you play with anyone on your home WiFi when ready by pressing Escape and clicking "Open to LAN" — no setup required.
- Minecraft Realms costs roughly $8 per month and lets remote friends join your world without you running a server.
- A personal server is free but requires your computer to stay on while others play, and you must install and update server software yourself.
- Port forwarding lets friends join your personal server from outside your home network, but exposes your home IP address and requires router access.
- The server software file goes in a folder on your computer; you run it from the command line and players connect using your IP address or domain name.
Playing on your home network with LAN mode
LAN mode is the no-setup option. Open any world you have created in single-player mode, press Escape, and look for the button labeled "Open to LAN". Click it. A menu appears asking you to choose a game mode (Survival, Creative, or Adventure) and whether to allow PvP (player-versus-player combat). Once you confirm, the game tells you the port number — write this down or remember it.
Other players on your home WiFi can now open their Minecraft launcher, go to the Multiplayer tab, and they will see your world listed under "LAN Worlds". They click it and join. The world stays open as long as your game is running. If you close Minecraft, the world closes and they are kicked out.
LAN mode works best for a small group in one location — a family at home, a group of friends in the same house, or a classroom on the same school network. It does not work across the internet, so friends outside your home cannot join this way.
Using Minecraft Realms for remote friends
Realms is a subscription service run by Microsoft that hosts a world for you. You create or upload a world, set who can join, and your friends connect from anywhere in the world. You do not need to keep your computer running — the world exists on Microsoft's servers.
To start a Realm, open Minecraft Java, go to the Multiplayer menu, and click "Realms". If you do not have an active subscription, you can start a free trial. The subscription costs about $8 per month in the United States (prices vary by region and may change). You can invite up to 10 players at a time, and they do not need to own a Realm themselves — they just need a Minecraft account.
Realms handles backups automatically, so if someone accidentally destroys something, you can restore an earlier version. The world stays online even when you are not playing. The main trade-off is the monthly cost and the fact that you cannot modify the server software or install custom plugins.
Running your own server on your computer
A personal server is free and gives you full control. You read the server software from minecraft.net, run it on your computer, and players connect using your IP address. The catch is that your computer must stay on and connected to the internet while people are playing, and you are responsible for updating the software when Minecraft releases new versions.
Start by going to minecraft.net/read/server and downloading the server.jar file. Create a new folder on your computer (for example, "Minecraft Server"), put the server.jar file inside it, and open the command line or terminal in that folder. On Windows, you can right-click inside the folder and select "Open PowerShell window here" or "Open Command Prompt here". On Mac or Linux, open Terminal and navigate to the folder using the cd command.
Type this command and press Enter: java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar nogui. The server starts and creates several files, including a world folder and a file called eula.txt. Open eula.txt in a text editor, change eula=false to eula=true, save it, and run the command again. The server is now running and ready for players to join.
Letting friends join your personal server from outside your home
If your server is running on your home computer and you want friends outside your home network to join, you need to use port forwarding. This tells your router to send incoming connections on a specific port (the default is 25565) to your computer.
Log into your router's settings — usually by typing your router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1) into a web browser. Look for a Port Forwarding section (the exact location varies by router model). Create a new rule that forwards port 25565 (or whichever port your server uses) to your computer's local IP address on the same port. Save the settings.
Your friends can now join by entering your public IP address in the Minecraft server address field. You can find your public IP by searching "what is my IP" in a web browser. However, port forwarding exposes your home IP address to the internet, which is a security trade-off. If you want to avoid this, use Realms instead, or ask friends to use a tunneling service like Ngrok (which is free but more technical to set up).
Managing your server and keeping it updated
While your server is running, a command window stays open showing messages about players joining, leaving, and the server's status. You can type commands directly into this window — for example, typing stop and pressing Enter shuts down the server gracefully (players are warned and disconnected).
When Minecraft releases a new version, you need to read the updated server.jar file and replace the old one. Before you do, back up your world folder (the folder named "world" inside your server folder). read the new server.jar, replace the old file, and run the server again. It will update automatically on startup.
If you want to add mods or plugins, you will need to use a different server software like Spigot or Fabric instead of the vanilla server.jar. These are more complex to set up but allow you to customize the game. For a first server, stick with the vanilla server.jar unless you specifically want mods.
Choosing between LAN, Realms, and a personal server
| Option | Cost | Setup time | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAN mode | Free | 30 seconds | Playing together in one location | Only works on the same home network |
| Minecraft Realms | ~$8/month | 5 minutes | Remote friends, no maintenance | Monthly cost; no custom plugins |
| Personal server | Free | 15 minutes | Full control; long-term play | Computer must stay on; you manage updates |
For most players, LAN mode is the easiest starting point. If you want to play with distant friends and do not want to manage a server, Realms is worth the cost. If you want a free option that stays online and you do not mind keeping your computer running, a personal server is the right choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play multiplayer if I only have Minecraft Java Edition on one computer?
Yes, using LAN mode. Other players need their own copy of Minecraft Java, but they can join your world from the same network without any server setup. If they are not on your home network, you will need Realms or a personal server.
What happens to my world if I stop running my personal server?
The world file stays on your computer and does not disappear. Players are disconnected when you shut down the server, but the world is still there. You can start the server again later and the world will be exactly as you left it.
Do my friends need to own Minecraft Java to join my world?
Yes. LAN mode, Realms, and personal servers all require players to own a copy of Minecraft Java Edition. Players with Minecraft Bedrock Edition (the Windows 10/11 version or console versions) cannot join Java servers.
Is it safe to give my IP address to friends so they can join my server?
Sharing your IP address with trusted friends is generally safe, but it does expose your home network to the internet. If you are uncomfortable with this, use Minecraft Realms instead, which does not require you to share your IP address.
Can I use mods on a Realms server?
No. Realms only supports vanilla Minecraft. If you want to use mods, you need to run a personal server with Spigot, Fabric, or Forge software, which is more complex to set up.