What a LAN server is and how to find one
A LAN server is a Minecraft world that runs on someone's computer on the same local network as yours — usually the same WiFi or wired connection in your home or office. When someone opens their world to LAN, other players on that network can see it in their server list and join without needing a password or an internet account beyond their Minecraft username.
The server appears in your multiplayer menu automatically when you open Minecraft, as long as you are on the same network. You do not need to type in an IP address or read anything extra. If you do not see a server listed, the person hosting it may not have opened their world to LAN yet, or you may be on a different network.
LAN servers work best for small groups in the same physical location — a classroom, a home, a local gaming cafe. They are faster than internet servers because data travels only across your local network, and they cost nothing to run.
Key Takeaways
- LAN servers show up in your multiplayer menu automatically when someone on your network opens their world to LAN — you do not need to search for them.
- You must be connected to the same WiFi or wired network as the person hosting the server, or the server will not appear in your list.
- Joining a LAN server requires only your Minecraft username; no password or Microsoft account sign-in is needed beyond your normal game login.
- The host can pause the game, change game rules, and remove players at any time, since the server runs on their computer.
How to open your world to LAN so others can join
If you are the one hosting, open Minecraft and load the world you want to share. Press Escape to open the pause menu, then look for the button labeled "Open to LAN". Click it.
A window will appear asking you to choose a game mode — Survival, Creative, or Adventure — and whether to allow cheats. These settings explore only to players joining your LAN server; they do not change your own world. Pick the mode you want guests to play in, then click "Start LAN World".
Your world is now open. Other players on your network will see it in their multiplayer menu within a few seconds. The server stays open as long as you keep Minecraft running and the world loaded. If you close Minecraft or load a different world, the LAN server closes and players are kicked out.
Steps to join a LAN server on your computer
Open Minecraft and click "Multiplayer" from the main menu. Your game will search your local network for open LAN worlds. Within a few seconds, any available servers will appear in the list below.
Click on the server name to select it, then click "Join Server". You will enter the world when ready. Your username appears to other players in the chat and above your character's head.
If no servers appear in the list, check that you are connected to the same network as the host. If you are on a different WiFi network, a wired connection while the host is on WiFi, or on a network that blocks local discovery, the server will not show up. Ask the host to verify they have opened their world to LAN and that you are both on the same network.
Joining a LAN server on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox
Console versions of Minecraft handle LAN differently than the computer version. On Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, you cannot browse a list of LAN servers. Instead, the host must invite you directly through the console's friend system or by sending you a join code.
Ask the host to start their world and then invite you through their console's party or friends menu. You will receive a notification to join their game. Accept it, and you will enter their world. The process varies slightly by console — on Switch it uses the friend list, on PlayStation it uses the party system, and on Xbox it uses Xbox Live — but the result is the same.
If you are playing Minecraft Bedrock Edition on a computer (the version from the Microsoft Store, not Java Edition), you can see LAN servers in your multiplayer menu the same way Java Edition players do.
What to do if you cannot see the LAN server
The most common reason a LAN server does not appear is that you are not on the same network. Check that both your computer and the host's computer are connected to the same WiFi network, or both plugged into the same wired network. If one person is on a guest network or a different WiFi band (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz), they may not see each other.
If you are on the same network, ask the host to check that they actually clicked "Open to LAN" and that Minecraft is still running with the world loaded. Closing Minecraft or switching to a different world closes the server when ready.
Some networks — particularly school networks, corporate networks, or networks with strict firewall rules — block local discovery and prevent LAN servers from appearing. If you are on a restricted network, you may not be able to see LAN servers at all, even if the host has opened their world. In that case, you would need to join an internet server instead, which requires the host to set up a server through a third-party service.
Game rules and permissions on a LAN server
The host controls what happens on a LAN server. They can pause the game at any time by pressing Escape, and the world pauses for all players. They can also change game rules — like whether mobs spawn, whether PvP is on, or whether players can break blocks — at any time through the pause menu without restarting the server.
The host can remove a player by clicking their name in the player list and selecting "Remove Player". That player is kicked out when ready and returns to the main menu. The host can also set the world to Creative or Survival mode for new players joining, though this does not change the mode for players already in the world.
If the host wants to make changes permanent or create a more stable server, they can save the LAN world as a regular single-player world and then open it to LAN again later. This does not affect players currently in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Microsoft account to join a LAN server?
You need to be logged into Minecraft with your username, but you do not need to sign in with a Microsoft account or provide a password to join a LAN server. Your username is all that is required. If you are already in Minecraft, you are already logged in.
Can I join a LAN server if I am on a different WiFi band?
It depends on your router. If your router broadcasts both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands under the same network name, devices on either band can usually see each other. If they are separate networks with different names, devices on one band cannot see LAN servers on the other. Check your router settings or ask your network administrator.
What happens to my stuff if the host closes Minecraft?
Your inventory and any blocks you placed are saved to the host's world file. When you rejoin the LAN server later, everything you left behind is still there. However, you are kicked out when ready when the host closes Minecraft or loads a different world, so you will lose any unsaved progress in your current location.
Can I join a LAN server on my phone?
Minecraft on mobile devices (iOS and Android) does not support LAN servers in the same way. You can play multiplayer on mobile through Realms or by joining an internet server, but not by browsing local LAN worlds. You would need to use a computer or console to join a LAN server.
Is a LAN server the same as a private server?
No. A LAN server is local and free, running on someone's computer. A private server usually means a world hosted on the internet through a service like Realms or a third-party host, which costs money and can be joined from anywhere. LAN servers are faster and cheaper but only work for people on the same network.