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If you mean without setting up a separate dedicated server, use Open to LAN: load a world, open it to your local network, and have friends on that same network join through Multiplayer. This hosts the session from your game; it does not make the world available to friends over the internet.
How do I play Minecraft Java multiplayer without a server?
Open to LAN is Minecraft Java Edition’s built-in way to let nearby friends join a world without creating a separate server. Minecraft describes LAN play as being for people connected to the same network. [Minecraft guide]
- Confirm everyone is playing Minecraft: Java Edition. Java players can join Java Edition hosted games; Java and Bedrock multiplayer are separate. [Minecraft Help]
- Load or create the world. The player whose world it is should start the game and enter that world.
- Open the pause menu and select Open to LAN.
- Choose the game mode and command settings. Decide whether commands (cheats) will be allowed. If you do not know what the port setting means, Minecraft’s guide says you can leave it at its default. [Minecraft guide]
- Select Start LAN World.
- Have friends open Multiplayer and join the LAN world if it appears in the list.
The host must keep the world open for the session to remain available. Closing the world or leaving the game ends this session; Open to LAN is not a persistent world that friends can enter while the host is offline.
What if friends are in a different location?
Open to LAN is documented for players on the same local network, not as an internet-wide invitation method. For friends in different locations, use an existing online server or Java Realms. Both involve a server: Realms is Minecraft’s hosted, always-online server service rather than a way to play without any server. [Minecraft guide] [Minecraft Realms]
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| Option | Best for | How availability works | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open to LAN | Friends on the same local network | Start the world from the game; it is available while the host’s session is running. | Not intended for friends connecting from elsewhere or when the host is offline. |
| Existing online server | Joining a friend’s server or a multiplayer community | Connect using the server address. | You are joining a server, so this does not remove the server requirement. Minecraft says an online server supports two or more players without a Realms subscription. [Minecraft Help] |
| Java Realms | A private world invited friends can access at different times | Realms is always online, so invited players can join while the owner is offline; invited players do not need their own Realms subscription. [Minecraft Help] | It is a hosted server with a recurring subscription. The Minecraft Realms page listed Java Realms at US$7.99 per month when accessed October 8, 2026; price and plan details can change. The page listed up to 10 invited friends playing simultaneously in addition to the owner. [Minecraft Realms] |
Why can’t friends see or join the LAN world?
- Check the edition. Everyone needs Java Edition for a Java-hosted game; a Bedrock player cannot join it as a Bedrock client. [Minecraft Help]
- Check that everyone is on the same local network. The LAN method is for people connected to the same network. It does not by itself connect players across separate homes. [Minecraft guide]
- Check the game version and connection. Minecraft recommends using the latest release and a strong, stable internet and/or LAN connection. [Minecraft Help]
- Make sure the host’s world is still open. Friends can only join while the host is running the LAN session.
How do I join an existing Java server instead?
If your group is playing remotely and already has a server address, Minecraft Help’s route is to launch the game, choose Multiplayer, then use an existing server entry or choose Direct Connection or Add Server. Enter the server’s IP address or URL and select Join Server. [Minecraft Help]
For Realms, the owner invites players to the Realm. Minecraft Help says invited Java players can join even when the owner is offline, and the invited player does not need to buy a Realms subscription. Minecraft also recommends avoiding mods for the best Java Realms experience. [Minecraft Help]
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