The fastest way to join a friend's world
The simplest way to play together on Minecraft PC is through Realms, which is a subscription service that lets you invite friends into a world you own. When you start a Realm, Minecraft generates a link you can send to friends—they click it, and they join your world. No port forwarding, no server setup, no technical knowledge needed. If your friend owns the Realm, you just accept their invite and you're in.
If neither of you wants to pay for Realms, you can join a friend's world for free using LAN (Local Area Network) if you're on the same WiFi network, or through a third-party server if you want to play across the internet without a subscription. Each method has different steps and different limits on how many people can play together.
Key Takeaways
- Realms is the official paid option that works anywhere—your friend creates a Realm, sends you an invite link, and you join in seconds.
- LAN mode is free but only works if you and your friend are on the same WiFi network in the same location.
- Third-party servers like Aternos or Minehut let you host a free world online, though they have player limits and may shut down if nobody logs in for a while.
- Java Edition and Bedrock Edition have different joining methods—check which version you own before inviting friends.
Joining through Realms (the easiest paid option)
Realms requires one person to own a subscription (around $8 per month) and the other person to have a free Minecraft account. The owner creates a Realm, and Minecraft gives them an invite link. They send that link to you through Discord, email, or any chat app. You click the link, and Minecraft opens and adds the Realm to your world list. The next time you launch the game, you see the Realm in your worlds and click to join.
The owner can invite up to 10 people at once, though only a few can play simultaneously depending on your internet speed. The world stays online even when the owner is not playing, so you can log in whenever you want. If the owner stops paying, the world closes but they can read it and move it to a different hosting option.
Realms works on both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, but you cannot mix them—a Java Realm only accepts Java players, and a Bedrock Realm only accepts Bedrock players. Check which version you own before asking a friend to invite you.
Joining through LAN (free, same WiFi only)
LAN mode lets you play together for free if you are on the same WiFi network. The person hosting the world opens it to LAN by pausing the game, clicking "Open to LAN," and choosing a game mode. Other players on the same network see the world appear in their multiplayer list automatically. They click it and join—no password, no invite link, no setup.
LAN only works if everyone is physically in the same location or connected to the same home or office WiFi. If your friend is across the country, LAN will not work. The world closes when the host quits the game, so everyone has to be playing at the same time. This method works on Java Edition only—Bedrock Edition does not support LAN joining this way.
Joining through a free third-party server
Aternos and Minehut are the most common free hosting services. One person creates an account, starts a server, and gets a server address (a string of numbers and letters). They share that address with you. You open Minecraft, go to Multiplayer, click Add Server, paste the address, and join. The server stays online as long as someone logs in regularly—if nobody plays for a few days, it shuts down to save resources.
Aternos is completely free but limits you to 20 players at once and shuts down after 30 minutes of inactivity. You have to manually start the server each time you want to play. Minehut is also free for up to 10 players but offers paid plans if you want more slots or always-on hosting. Both services work on Java Edition only.
The downside of free servers is that they can be slow, especially during peak hours, and you have less control over the world than you do with Realms. But if cost is the main concern and you do not mind a little lag, they work.
Java Edition vs. Bedrock Edition—which one do you have
Minecraft Java Edition is the original version, sold through the Minecraft launcher. Bedrock Edition is the newer version sold through the Microsoft Store and comes pre-installed on Windows 11. The two versions cannot play together, and their joining methods are different.
Java Edition supports LAN, third-party servers, and Realms. Bedrock Edition supports Realms and some third-party servers, but not LAN in the traditional sense. If you and your friend own different versions, you cannot join the same world—you would need to both own the same version first.
To check which version you own, launch Minecraft and look at the title screen. It says "Minecraft: Java Edition" or just "Minecraft" (Bedrock). If you are unsure, you can own both versions on the same account—Java Edition and Bedrock are separate purchases.
Troubleshooting common joining problems
If you cannot see a friend's world in your multiplayer list, the most common causes are a firewall blocking the connection, a mismatch between Java and Bedrock versions, or the server being offline. Ask your friend to restart their world or server and try again. If you are using a third-party server, check that the server address is typed correctly—even one wrong number will prevent you from joining.
If you can see the world but cannot connect, your internet connection may be too slow or unstable. Try moving closer to your WiFi router or restarting your router. If the problem persists, ask your friend to check their internet speed—if their upload speed is below 5 Mbps, the world may lag or disconnect players.
If you are on a school or work network, the network may block Minecraft multiplayer. Try connecting to a mobile hotspot instead. If you are using a VPN, disable it temporarily—some VPNs interfere with game connections.
Comparing your options at a glance
| Method | Cost | Player Limit | Requires Same Location | Versions Supported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Realms | ~$8/month | 10 invites, fewer simultaneous | No | Java or Bedrock (separate) |
| LAN | Free | Unlimited | Yes | Java only |
| Aternos | Free | 20 players | No | Java only |
| Minehut | Free (10 players) | 10+ with paid plan | No | Java only |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I join a friend's world if they are offline?
Only if they are using Realms or a third-party server. With LAN, the world closes when they quit. With Realms, the world stays online all the time, so you can log in whenever you want. With Aternos or Minehut, the server stays up as long as someone has logged in recently.
What if my friend and I own different versions of Minecraft?
Java Edition and Bedrock Edition cannot play together. You would both need to own the same version. If you own Java and your friend owns Bedrock, one of you would need to purchase the other version separately. Check which version you own before inviting friends.
Is Realms worth the money compared to free servers?
Realms is worth it if you want a world that is always online, straightforward to invite people to, and backed by Minecraft's official support. Free servers are worth it if you do not mind occasional lag, manual server restarts, and less reliable uptime. If you play casually with one or two friends, LAN is free and works fine as long as you are in the same location.
Why does my friend's server say "outdated server" when I try to join?
Your Minecraft version and the server version do not match. Ask your friend to update their server software, or update your Minecraft launcher. Both should be running the same version number—check the launcher's version in the bottom left corner.
Can I play Minecraft multiplayer on a school or work network?
Most school and work networks block multiplayer connections. Try connecting to a mobile hotspot on your phone instead. If that works, the network is blocking Minecraft. Talk to your network administrator if you need multiplayer access on that network.