uqc / Make a server / Minecraft / How to play Minecraft with friends
How to play Minecraft with friends
There are four ways to play Minecraft with friends. Here’s which one to use.
Your options
Same network: Open to LAN
If you’re in the same house, open your world to LAN and friends on the same Wi-Fi can join.
Realms
Mojang’s paid subscription. Easy, but vanilla only, with a small player cap.
Host it yourself
Run the server on your own PC. Free, but it’s only online while your PC is, and you’ll need to port forward.
A hosted server
Always online, supports mods and plugins, and you just share an address. This is what I use.
Which one should you use?
If you only play together now and then, in the same house, LAN is all you need. If friends want to play when you’re not online, or you want mods, plugins or more than a handful of players, a hosted server is the one that doesn’t get in the way.
Questions
Can Java and Bedrock friends play together?
Yes, on a Java server with the Geyser plugin. Realms and LAN don’t mix editions.
Do my friends need their own copy of Minecraft?
Yes. Every player needs their own account for the edition the server runs.
Ready to start your server?
The host from my Minecraft guides.