There are four ways to play Minecraft with friends, and the right one depends on where they are and which edition they own. A LAN world works when everyone is on the same Wi-Fi or router. A direct-connect server works when a friend is anywhere with internet, as long as one of you hosts it. A Realms subscription hosts the world for you, no port forwarding required. And if some of your friends are on Java Edition while others are on Bedrock, the crossplay rules below decide whether they can even be in the same game.
Play on the same network with a LAN world
A LAN world is the fastest way to play together when everyone is physically on the same network, a house, a dorm, or a shared office Wi-Fi. It needs no server, no account setup, and no router changes.
- 1.Load the single-player world you want to share.
- 2.Press Esc during play and choose Open to LAN.
- 3.Set the game mode and toggle cheats if you want them, then select Start LAN World.
- 4.Friends on the same network see the game appear in their Multiplayer list within a few seconds, or can join directly using the IP address and port shown on screen.
Bedrock Edition has its own version of local play. Devices signed into Xbox Live on the same network list each other automatically on the Friends tab, no IP address required. It only finds other Bedrock devices, though, so it will not surface a Java Edition LAN world or the reverse.
Direct connect to a self-hosted or dedicated server
When friends are not on your network, the LAN option stops working and you need a server that stays reachable over the internet. That can be a vanilla server, or Paper or Spigot if you want plugins later, running on your own PC or on a rented host.
- A server jar or install running somewhere that stays online while people play.
- The server's IP address and port, shared with friends outside your network.
- Port forwarding on your router, usually port 25565, if the server runs from a home connection. LAN traffic never reaches the wider internet on its own.
- A stable, always-on machine or a paid host, since the world goes offline the moment the hosting computer or server process stops.
Invite friends through Realms
Realms is Mojang's paid subscription hosting. It keeps a world online without you running a server or opening a single port, which is what most groups actually want once the novelty of self-hosting wears off.
On Java Edition, the Realm owner opens the Realms menu, invites a friend by their Microsoft account username, and that friend can join any time the Realm is running, no invite link needed for return visits. On Bedrock Edition, the owner adds a friend's Xbox gamertag from the Friends tab or sends a one-time invite link that opens straight into the game.
A Java Realm only accepts Java players, and a Bedrock Realm only accepts Bedrock, console, and mobile players signed into Xbox Live. Realms does not let you install bridge plugins on either type, so picking Realms does not get around the Java and Bedrock split covered next.
The Java and Bedrock crossplay reality
Bedrock Edition has real crossplay built in. PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile all share one multiplayer pool through a Microsoft account signed into Xbox Live, so those friends can be in the same LAN world, direct-connect server, or Realm without any extra setup.
Java Edition and Bedrock Edition are different games under the hood, not just different skins on the same one. They run on separate engines, save worlds in different formats, and use separate mod and add-on systems, so a Java world never appears to a Bedrock friend and a Bedrock world never appears to a Java friend, no setting fixes that on its own.
The practical bridge is Geyser, a free plugin installed on a Java server that translates Bedrock's network protocol so Bedrock players can join it directly, using their existing Bedrock account and no Java Edition purchase required.
Frequently asked questions
Can you play Minecraft Java with Bedrock friends?
Not directly. Java Edition and Bedrock Edition run on different engines and cannot join each other's worlds on their own. The common workaround is Geyser, a plugin installed on a Java server that lets Bedrock players connect to it. There is no equivalent for the other direction, so a Java player still cannot join a Bedrock world or Bedrock Realm.
How do I invite friends to my Minecraft Realm?
On Java Edition, open the Realms menu and add a friend by their Microsoft account username. On Bedrock Edition, add a friend's Xbox gamertag from the Friends tab, or send them a one-time invite link. Either way, the friend needs the same edition as the Realm, since Java Realms and Bedrock Realms do not mix.
How do I open a LAN world in Minecraft?
Load your single-player world, press Esc, and choose Open to LAN. Set a game mode and cheats if you want them, then start it. Anyone on the same Wi-Fi or router sees the game appear in their Multiplayer list within a few seconds, or can join with the IP address and port shown on screen.
Do I need a Microsoft account to play Minecraft with friends?
For Bedrock crossplay and for Realms on either edition, yes, since both run through Xbox Live sign-in. A LAN world is the exception: it works on the local network without any account, because it never leaves your Wi-Fi.
Is Realms or a self-hosted server better for playing with friends?
Realms costs a monthly subscription but needs no port forwarding, no always-on PC, and no server maintenance. A self-hosted or rented dedicated server costs more effort up front but gives you plugins, mods, and full control over who joins and how the world runs. Small, casual groups usually prefer Realms; groups that want mods or a permanent public server usually prefer hosting it themselves.
