Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft PC players wanting to connect and play with friends online or locally.
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Setting Up Multiplayer in Minecraft PC
Playing Minecraft with friends on PC offers several options depending on your setup and preferences. The easiest method is joining an existing server, while hosting your own gives you complete control over the experience.
Joining Public Servers
The simplest way to play with friends is through public servers. Launch Minecraft Java Edition, click “Multiplayer,” then “Add Server.” Enter the server address your friend provides, and you’ll both connect to the same world. Popular servers like Hypixel or Mineplex host thousands of players simultaneously.
Creating a LAN World
For local play, open your single-player world and press Escape. Click “Open to LAN” and choose your game mode settings. Minecraft will display a port number that friends on the same network can use to join through the multiplayer menu.
Using Minecraft Realms
Realms provides the most seamless experience for small groups. This official subscription service hosts your world 24/7, allowing up to 10 friends to join anytime. Purchase a Realms subscription through the game launcher, create your world, and invite friends via their usernames.
Port Forwarding for Private Servers
Advanced users can host dedicated servers by downloading the server software from Minecraft.net. This requires configuring port forwarding on your router (typically port 25565) and sharing your external IP address with friends. While more complex, this method offers unlimited customization options.
Third-Party Solutions
Services like Hamachi create virtual private networks, making your computer appear on the same local network as your friends. This bypasses port forwarding requirements but may introduce connection stability issues.
Each method has trade-offs between convenience, cost, and control, so choose based on your group’s technical comfort level and how often you plan to play together. For those looking to explore different gaming experiences beyond traditional Minecraft, there are many creative alternatives available.
TL;DR
Join public servers for instant multiplayer, use LAN for local play, or subscribe to Realms for persistent worlds. Advanced users can host private servers with port forwarding.
