What a LAN game is and how to start one

A LAN game (Local Area Network) is a Minecraft world that runs on one player's computer and that other players on the same WiFi network can join directly, without going through Minecraft's servers. The person whose computer hosts the world opens it to LAN, and nearby players see it appear in their server list within seconds.

LAN games work only on Java Edition, not Bedrock Edition. All players must be on the same WiFi network — either your home network, a school network, or any other shared connection. The host's computer must stay running and in the world the entire time others are playing; if the host quits or closes the game, everyone gets disconnected.

LAN is the fastest way to play together if you are in the same room or building. There is no lag from distant servers, no account setup needed beyond Minecraft itself, and you can play on worlds that are not published online.

Key Takeaways

  • The host opens their world to LAN by pressing Escape, clicking Open to LAN, and choosing a game mode before other players can join.
  • Other players on the same WiFi network will see the world appear in their Multiplayer server list within a few seconds.
  • The host's computer must stay in the world for the entire game session, or all players will be disconnected.
  • LAN games work only in Java Edition; Bedrock Edition requires a Realm or a third-party server instead.

How the host opens a world to LAN

Start by loading the world you want to share. Once you are inside the world and can see the game, press Escape to open the pause menu. Look for the button labeled Open to LAN — it appears near the top of the menu, below the world name.

Click Open to LAN. A small window will appear asking you to choose a game mode: Survival, Creative, or Adventure. Pick the mode you want other players to experience. If you want them to be able to break blocks and gather resources, choose Survival. If you want them to build freely without hunger or damage, choose Creative. Once you click a mode, the world is now open.

You will see a message that says something like "Local game hosted on port 25565" (the port number may vary). This confirms the world is broadcasting. Leave this message on screen — do not close it or press Escape again, because that will close the LAN session. Your computer is now the host.

How other players find and join the world

On any other computer or laptop on the same WiFi network, open Minecraft Java Edition and click Multiplayer. The game will automatically scan for LAN worlds. Within a few seconds, the host's world will appear in the server list with the world name and the host's player name.

Click on the world name to highlight it, then click Join Server. You will load into the world at the spawn point. If the world does not appear after ten seconds, make sure you are on the same WiFi network as the host — not a different network, a guest network, or a mobile hotspot. If you are on the correct network and still do not see it, ask the host to close and reopen the LAN session.

Once you join, you can move around, break blocks, place blocks, and interact with the world just like the host can. Other players who join will see you and you will see them in real time.

Troubleshooting when players cannot see the world

The most common reason a world does not appear is that players are not on the same network. Check that everyone is connected to the same WiFi name. School networks, office networks, and guest networks sometimes block LAN discovery — if you are on a restricted network, LAN may not work at all, and you will need to use a Realm or a public server instead.

If everyone is on the same network and the world still does not show up, try this: the host should press Escape, click Open to LAN again, and choose a game mode again. This restarts the broadcast. Other players should go back to the Multiplayer menu and wait ten seconds for the world to reappear.

If the world appears but players get a "Connection refused" error when they try to join, the host's firewall may be blocking the connection. On Windows, search for "Windows Defender Firewall" in the Start menu, click "Allow an app through firewall," find Javaw.exe in the list, and make sure both Private and Public are checked. On Mac, this is less common, but you can check System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall Options.

What happens when the host leaves or closes the game

If the host presses Escape and clicks Close to LAN, or straightforward quits Minecraft, all other players will be disconnected when ready. They will see a message saying "Disconnected from server" and will return to the main menu. Any changes they made to the world in the last few seconds before the disconnect may not be saved.

To avoid losing progress, agree with other players on a time to stop playing. Give a five-minute warning so everyone can finish what they are doing, then have the host close the world. When the host reopens the world to LAN, all the changes everyone made will still be there.

LAN versus Realms and public servers

LAN is free and requires no setup beyond opening the world, but it only works when all players are on the same network. If you want to play with friends who are not in your building, you need a different option.

Minecraft Realms is a subscription service (around $8 per month) that lets you host a world on Minecraft's servers so friends can join from anywhere. Public servers are free worlds run by other players or organizations that anyone can join. Both Realms and public servers stay online even when you are not playing, so other players can log in whenever they want.

If everyone is in the same room or on the same network, LAN is the best choice. If you need to play with distant friends, Realms or a public server is necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use LAN on Bedrock Edition?

No. LAN is only available in Java Edition. Bedrock Edition (the version on Windows 10, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile) does not support LAN. Bedrock players can use Realms or join public servers instead.

Do I need to be in the same room to use LAN?

No, but you must be on the same WiFi network. You can be in different rooms of the same building, or even in different buildings if they share the same network. You cannot use LAN across different networks or the internet.

What if my WiFi network has a guest network — can players join from there?

Usually not. Guest networks are often isolated from the main network for security reasons, so LAN discovery will not work. Ask your network administrator if guest networks can see the main network, or connect everyone to the main network instead.

Can I save the world after other players join?

Yes. The world saves automatically, and all changes made by all players are saved. You do not need to do anything special. When you close the world and reopen it later, everything will be there.

How many players can join a LAN world?

Technically up to several dozen, but performance depends on your host computer's power. Most computers handle 4 to 8 players smoothly. If you have more players or a slower computer, you may notice lag or stuttering.