What a LAN game is and how to find one
A LAN game (Local Area Network) is a Minecraft world that someone on your same WiFi network or wired connection is hosting from their computer. When you open Minecraft and look at the multiplayer menu, you will sometimes see a world listed under "LAN Games" — that means someone nearby is running a server you can join without typing an IP address or port number.
LAN games only work when both computers are connected to the same network. If you are at a friend's house on their WiFi, or at a LAN party where computers are plugged into the same router, you can see and join their world. If you are trying to play with someone across town or across the country, LAN will not work — you would need a different method, like a Realms subscription or a third-party server.
The person hosting the LAN game must have Minecraft open and their world set to allow LAN connections. If they close the game or turn off LAN mode, the world disappears from your list when ready.
Key Takeaways
- LAN games only appear in your multiplayer menu if the host has Minecraft open with LAN enabled on the same network as you.
- On Java Edition, the host opens their world to LAN by pressing Esc, clicking "Open to LAN", and choosing a game mode.
- On Bedrock Edition, the host invites you through the game menu or you join through the world settings if LAN is enabled.
- If you do not see a LAN game listed, check that both computers are on the same WiFi network and the host has LAN mode turned on.
- LAN games end as soon as the host closes Minecraft or disables LAN mode, so progress is only saved if the host saves the world.
How the host sets up a LAN game on Java Edition
The person hosting the world needs to open Minecraft Java Edition, load the world they want to share, and then press Esc to open the pause menu. They will see a button labeled "Open to LAN" — clicking it opens a small window with two choices: game mode (Survival, Creative, or Adventure) and whether to allow cheats.
Once they click "Start LAN World", the game tells them the port number (usually something like 25565). They do not need to tell you the port number unless you are joining from outside the local network, which LAN does not support anyway. The world now appears in your multiplayer menu under "LAN Games" as long as you are on the same network.
The host can close this window and keep playing. The LAN world stays open until they close Minecraft entirely or press Esc again and click "Close to LAN". If the host's computer goes to sleep or loses WiFi connection, you will be kicked out of the world.
How to join a LAN game on Java Edition
Open Minecraft Java Edition and click "Multiplayer" from the main menu. The game automatically scans your network for LAN worlds. If the host has set up a LAN game, you will see it listed with the world name and the host's username. Click on it and then click "Join Server".
If you do not see any LAN games listed, wait a few seconds — the scan sometimes takes time. If nothing appears after 10 seconds, check that you are on the same WiFi network as the host. Ask them to verify that Minecraft is open, the world is loaded, and they have clicked "Open to LAN".
Once you join, you play like you would on any multiplayer server. You can build, break blocks, and interact with the world according to the game mode the host chose. If the host set the world to Survival, you can die and respawn. If they set it to Creative, you have unlimited blocks and cannot take damage.
How to set up and join a LAN game on Bedrock Edition
Bedrock Edition (the version on Windows 10, Windows 11, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox) handles LAN differently than Java Edition. The host opens a world, pauses the game, and goes to "Game" in the settings menu. They toggle "Multiplayer Game" to on. This makes the world visible to other players on the same network.
On your device, open Minecraft Bedrock Edition and go to "Play". Under "Friends" or "Available Networks", you should see the host's world listed. Tap or click on it to join. If you do not see it, make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network and the host has toggled multiplayer on.
Bedrock LAN worlds also end when the host closes the game or turns off the multiplayer toggle. Progress is saved to the host's world file, so any blocks you place or break will be there the next time the host opens that world — but only if the host saves before closing.
Troubleshooting: Why you cannot see a LAN game
The most common reason is that you and the host are not on the same network. Check that you are both connected to the same WiFi network name. If one person is on WiFi and another is plugged into ethernet, they should still be on the same network — but if one is using a mobile hotspot or a different router, LAN will not work.
The second reason is that the host has not opened their world to LAN yet, or they closed it. Ask them to open Minecraft, load the world, and on Java Edition press Esc and click "Open to LAN". On Bedrock, they should pause, go to Game settings, and toggle Multiplayer Game on. Wait 10 seconds and refresh your server list.
If you are on Java Edition and still do not see the world, try clicking "Direct Connection" and asking the host for their IP address. They can find it by opening Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) and typing ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig (Mac), then looking for the address that starts with 192.168 or 10.0. Type that address plus the port number (like 192.168.1.5:25565) into the Direct Connection box.
What happens to your progress when the LAN game ends
When the host closes Minecraft or disables LAN mode, you are kicked out of the world when ready. Any blocks you placed, items you collected, or structures you built are saved — but only if the host saved the world before closing it. Most versions of Minecraft auto-save every few minutes, so your work is usually safe. However, if the host's computer crashes or loses power, unsaved changes are lost.
If you want to make sure your progress is saved, ask the host to pause the game and wait for the auto-save to finish (you will usually see a message or hear a sound). On Java Edition, the host can also press Ctrl+S to force a save. On Bedrock, the game saves automatically when you pause.
LAN games versus other ways to play together
LAN is the simplest way to play together if you are on the same network, because it requires no setup, no account linking, and no subscription. You just open the world and join. However, it only works when you are physically near the host or on their network.
If you want to play with people far away, you have other options. Minecraft Realms is a subscription service (around $8 per month) where you rent a world that stays online even when you are not playing. Minecraft servers run by third parties let you join worlds hosted on the internet. Some are free, some charge a monthly fee. LAN is free and when ready, but it only works locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I join a LAN game if I am on a different device than the host?
Yes, as long as both devices are on the same network. A Java Edition player can join a Bedrock player's LAN world only if you are using a third-party tool — the two versions do not connect directly through LAN. But a Java player can join another Java player, and a Bedrock player can join another Bedrock player, regardless of whether they are on PC, Mac, console, or mobile.
What if the host's computer goes to sleep while I am playing?
You will be kicked out of the world. The host's computer must stay awake and running Minecraft for the LAN world to stay open. If the host needs to step away, they should pause the game or close the world to LAN mode so you know it is ending.
Can I play a LAN game on a school or work network?
It depends on the network's rules. Some networks block LAN traffic or peer-to-peer connections. If you cannot see a LAN world even though the host has it open, ask your network administrator whether LAN gaming is allowed. If it is blocked, you would need to use Realms or a public server instead.
Do I need to be friends with the host on Minecraft to join their LAN game?
No. LAN games do not require a Minecraft account connection or friendship status. As long as you are on the same network and the host has opened the world to LAN, you can join. You do not even need to know their username in advance.
Will my progress save if the host does not manually save the world?
Usually yes. Minecraft auto-saves every few minutes on both Java and Bedrock, so your blocks and items are typically saved even if the host does not manually save. However, if the computer crashes or loses power suddenly, the last few minutes of changes may be lost.