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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A Minecraft LAN connection timeout means the guest did not complete a connection to the host; it does not, by itself, identify the cause. Check edition and version first, then confirm the world is open and the guest is using the host’s current LAN address. After that, investigate Windows Firewall and whether devices on the network can communicate locally.
1. Confirm everyone is using the same Minecraft edition
Java Edition and Bedrock Edition multiplayer are not interchangeable. Verify the edition on the host and every guest before changing network settings. Minecraft’s multiplayer guidance says players need the matching edition to join one another.
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2. Match the game version
Update the host and guests to the same current release where possible. Minecraft recommends using the latest release to avoid multiplayer errors. If you are joining a Bedrock Dedicated Server, its setup documentation specifically warns that mismatched protocol versions can prevent clients from joining; synchronize client and server versions.
3. Make sure the host has opened the world to LAN
For Java Edition’s Open to LAN play, the host must open the existing single-player world to LAN before guests try to connect. If the host has left the world or closed the session, guests cannot join that session. Have the host reopen the world and share the connection details shown for the new session.
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4. Try the server list, then Direct Connection
If the LAN world does not appear automatically in the Multiplayer list, use Java’s Direct Connection option and enter the address supplied by the host. Minecraft’s Java joining instructions describe the server list, Direct Connection, and Add Server options, and note that a server address can be an IP address or URL.
For an Open to LAN session, ask the host for the current local address and the port Minecraft displayed when the session was opened. These details can change when the host starts a new session, so do not rely on an old address.
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- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
5. Use the host computer’s local address
The guest needs the LAN address of the computer running the world—not the guest’s own address or the host’s public internet address. Ask the host to verify the address on the device hosting Minecraft and send it along with the current session port. A wrong or stale address can leave the guest attempting to reach a device that is not hosting the world.
6. Check Windows network and firewall permissions
On a Windows host, check that Windows recognizes the network as the appropriate profile for the connection and that Minecraft or the relevant Java application is allowed through Microsoft Defender Firewall. Microsoft’s Windows Firewall guidance recommends allowing a blocked app rather than turning the firewall off. The exact screens can differ between Windows 10 and Windows 11.
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If a firewall prompt appears, allow the game only on the network profile you trust and need. Do not disable the firewall as a routine troubleshooting step.
7. Prefer an app exception over opening a port
If you are considering a firewall change, start by checking the app allowance rather than creating a broad inbound port rule. Microsoft says it is generally safer to add an app to the allowed list than to open a port, because an open port allows traffic and may reduce device security. Its firewall risk guidance explains this distinction.
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8. Check that the devices can communicate over the LAN
For Bedrock LAN play, Minecraft requires LAN-capable devices connected to the same network. Confirm that host and guests are actually on the same local network, rather than, for example, one device using a separate guest network. Minecraft’s Bedrock multiplayer troubleshooting guidance describes the same-network requirement.
If the devices are on the same trusted home network but still cannot see one another, check whether the network has a device-isolation setting that blocks local device-to-device traffic. Router menus vary, so consult the router’s documentation before changing network security settings.
9. Distinguish Bedrock Dedicated Server from a LAN world
A Bedrock Dedicated Server is a separate setup from Java Open to LAN and Bedrock LAN play. Microsoft’s Bedrock Dedicated Server guide covers its own firewall, port, loopback, and version configuration. In that documented setup, the default ports are 19132 and 19133; those values are specific to Bedrock Dedicated Server and should not be treated as Java LAN ports.
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If you are troubleshooting a dedicated server, follow the instructions for that server and edition rather than applying steps meant for a temporarily shared LAN world. The guide was last updated June 25, 2025.
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