The Tool Desk
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Confirm both players are on the same edition
Bedrock and Java are separate games, and they don’t join each other’s worlds. Minecraft’s multiplayer requirements page states that Bedrock players join Bedrock-hosted worlds, servers, Realms, and LAN games, and Java players join Java-hosted games. Two devices on the same Wi-Fi network will not bridge the two editions. If one player is on Java, neither the LAN listing nor a direct connection will work until both players run the same edition.
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Match the game versions
Both players need the current release. Minecraft’s multiplayer connectivity troubleshooting article identifies outdated versions as a common cause of failed connections and recommends the newest official release for everyone. Preview or beta builds can differ from the release version, so a player on a preview build may not see a release-version world. Update every device, including the host, before testing again.
Confirm the devices are truly on the same local network
Bedrock LAN depends on the devices being on the same local network connection, as described in Minecraft’s local multiplayer guide. Sharing an internet connection is not the same thing. Devices on separate guest Wi-Fi networks, isolated access points, different routers, or separate VLANs may still reach the internet while being unable to discover each other on the local network. Minecraft’s official steps do not diagnose those setups specifically, so treat them as likely explanations to test rather than confirmed causes. A simple test is to move both devices onto the same main network with no guest or isolated mode enabled and see whether the world appears.
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Enable LAN visibility on the host
The host sets up the world, not the joining player. According to the official Bedrock LAN steps, the host should:
- Open the world’s settings and edit the world you want to share.
- Turn on Multiplayer game.
- Turn on Visible to LAN Players.
- Save the settings and start the world.
If the host skips either toggle, the world will not appear to other devices on the network, even when everything else is correct. Make sure the world is running before the other player checks.
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Find the LAN world from the joining device
The joining player should open Play → Worlds and look for the entry labeled LAN. Select that entry to join. If it’s missing, go back through the checks above: edition, version, same network, and host settings. The Worlds list shows only LAN-visible worlds that the device can detect, so a missing entry usually points to one of those four causes rather than a problem inside the world itself.
Account permissions and console subscriptions
Account and subscription requirements apply mainly to online multiplayer rather than same-network LAN. Minecraft’s connectivity troubleshooting article notes that Bedrock account multiplayer permissions may need to be enabled and that some consoles require an active online subscription for online play. The same article lists Xbox Game Pass Core, PlayStation Plus, and Nintendo Switch Online as the services that cover online console multiplayer. These checks are relevant if you see a message saying multiplayer is disabled or if you’re trying to join over the internet. A console subscription is not a general requirement for same-network LAN play.
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Keep LAN and online friend joining separate
Bedrock can also let you join a friend’s world over the internet, which uses a different flow from LAN. The friend must start an online world so that it appears to their friends. You then find it under Play → Friends → Joinable Friends. Minecraft’s guide to joining a friend’s Bedrock world online covers this path. If you are on the same network but the world is only showing under Friends, you’re using the online route, and the LAN checks above don’t apply.
| Check | Bedrock LAN | Bedrock online friend world |
|---|---|---|
| Network | Both devices must be on the same local network | Both players need an internet connection |
| Host action | Enable Multiplayer game and Visible to LAN Players, then start the world | Start an online world so friends can see it |
| Where the joiner looks | Play → Worlds, entry labeled LAN | Play → Friends → Joinable Friends |
| Account or subscription checks | Not required for same-network LAN in the official steps | Account multiplayer permissions apply; some consoles need an online subscription |
| Edition | Bedrock joins Bedrock | Bedrock joins Bedrock |
Network settings: check these only after the basics
Minecraft’s connectivity guidance states that custom DNS settings and open-port configurations can conflict with multiplayer. If you’ve changed either, try reverting them temporarily to test. The official material does not give a specific port number, firewall rule, or router setting for LAN play, so avoid applying a generic port or router change you found elsewhere. Don’t disable your firewall or other security software as a fix; if you need to adjust firewall permissions, make the narrowest change your system allows and turn it back afterward. Minecraft’s Multiplayer Support index links to network connection articles and to Java LAN and Windows LAN troubleshooting for more detailed steps.
What the official guidance does not cover
Minecraft’s help pages do not show publication dates, and platform requirements change over time. Check the official article for your edition and device before following any step, and treat anything beyond the checks above as a case to troubleshoot with Minecraft Support rather than a fix that applies to every network.
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