How to play Minecraft with your friends

1. LAN: same house, same Wi-Fi

In a single-player world, open the pause menu and choose Open to LAN (Java), or turn on Visible to LAN players (Bedrock). Others on the same network see it in their server list. It only works while the host is playing, and only on the same network.

2. Realms: Mojang's subscription

Realms is a small server run by Mojang. Invite friends from the game and they join from the Realms tab. It's simple, but it's a monthly subscription, vanilla only on Java, up to 10 friends at once, and Java and Bedrock Realms are separate. More in our Realms alternative comparison.

3. Join an existing server

Public servers (Hypixel, survival SMPs and so on) let you play with friends straight away: Java players add the address under Multiplayer, Bedrock players under Servers. You play by their rules and can't change the world.

4. Make your own server (free)

Your own server is always reachable, runs your rules, and can have plugins or mods.

1. On the Jump home page, pick Java or Bedrock. Bedrock servers also let Java players in, so pick it if your group is mixed.
2. Type a name and create it. It's online in under a minute.
3. Send friends the address, like yourname.play.jumphosting.cloud (Bedrock players also need the port from the panel).
4. Turn on the whitelist and add their names, so only your group can join.

It's free, needs no card or port forwarding, and wakes up when anyone joins. The joining guide covers consoles, which need an extra step to add a server.

Mixed groups: PC, phone and console

Java Edition (PC and Mac) and Bedrock (phones, consoles, Windows) can't play together on their own. A Java server with Geyser bridges them, and Jump's Bedrock servers have it set up already. See letting Bedrock players join a Java server.

Questions