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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →In Minecraft: Java Edition 26.2, open Friends, search for your friend’s Java profile name, and send a request. They accept it from Pending. Adding someone connects your Friends List accounts; it does not, by itself, let either of you join the other’s world. You’ll also need a multiplayer route, such as a Realm invitation or a Java server.
Send and accept a Java friend request
- Open Friends. From the title screen or pause menu, select Friends. The Java 26.2 notes also describe a keybind for opening the list; the exact key can depend on your settings. The feature is included in the Java Edition 26.2 release notes.
- Search the player’s Java profile name. Enter the name they use for their Java profile, check the spelling, then send the friend request. The official Friends List announcement describes adding Java players by searching their profile name. A name used on a console or in Bedrock may not be the right name to search.
- Have your friend accept it. They open Friends, go to Pending, and accept the incoming request. The list also supports declining incoming requests, cancelling outgoing ones, and removing friends.
Once accepted, you can use the list to see whether that friend is online or offline. A player added through Xbox can also appear in the Java Friends List if they own Java Edition, according to Minecraft’s feature announcement.
If you can’t find the option or send a request
- Check the edition and release. The Friends List feature shipped in Java Edition 26.2 after appearing in its snapshot series. Make sure both players are using Java Edition and a compatible, up-to-date release. The feature is not a way to join a standard Bedrock world: Java and Bedrock multiplayer are not cross-compatible. See Minecraft’s Java or Bedrock Edition explanation.
- Check account and in-game settings. Friends List settings and Microsoft/Xbox social or privacy settings can affect requests and visibility. For child accounts, multiplayer permissions also need to allow play. Minecraft’s multiplayer requirements cover account and connection prerequisites.
- Confirm the profile name. Ask your friend to verify their Java profile name and try that exact name rather than a display name from another edition or platform.
Choose how you’ll play together
A friend request and access to a multiplayer world are separate. Choose the connection method that fits who needs to host and whether the world should remain available when its owner is offline.
| Route | How it works | Persistence and setup | Cost or player limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java Realm | The owner invites players; recipients accept the invitation and select the Realm in Minecraft Realms. An invited player does not need their own Realms subscription. | Minecraft describes Realms as private and always online, so the owner does not need to be in the game for the world to be available. | Minecraft’s Realms page, accessed 2026-09-29, lists Java Realms at $7.99 USD monthly and supports the owner plus 10 simultaneous players. Prices and terms can change, and regional pricing may differ. See Minecraft Realms. |
| Java multiplayer server | Use a server address supplied by the host. In the game, choose Multiplayer, then Direct Connection or Add Server, enter the address, and select Join Server. | You do not need a Realms subscription to join. Whether the server is online, how it is set up, and its performance depend on the host or hosting provider. | Cost and simultaneous-player limit depend on the server; Minecraft’s server instructions do not state a standard price or cap. See Minecraft’s Java multiplayer server guide. |
| Locally hosted or open world | The host configures the world for the intended multiplayer scope and gives the other player a working way to connect. | Setup and availability depend on the chosen hosting and network arrangement; it is not a one-click consequence of adding a friend. | Not stated; it depends on the setup. |
Realms for Java supports Windows, Mac, and Linux; it does not provide cross-play into Bedrock. Minecraft’s Realms page lists the Java platform support and subscription details.
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What the Friends List does—and doesn’t do
The Java Friends List, introduced in the 26.2 snapshot series and included in the 26.2 release, lets players find one another by Java profile name, manage requests, and see online status. The early snapshot also experimented with peer-to-peer play, but that feature was removed before release. Don’t expect an accepted request alone to open a direct invitation into a friend’s world; arrange a Realm, server, or other compatible multiplayer connection instead. Minecraft’s Snapshot 7 notes describe the snapshot feature and its changes.
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- PLAY TOGETHER — Have a blast with friends, whether you’re sitting on the same couch in split screen or miles apart in cross-platform play for console, mobile, and PC.
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