If you just want to play with a friend or two tonight — no Docker, no port forwarding, no monthly hosting fee — Minecraft has built-in ways to do exactly that. The options differ depending on whether you’re on Java or Bedrock Edition, so here’s how each works.

LAN Play (Same Network, Both Editions)

If everyone is on the same Wi-Fi network — like a LAN party or everyone in the same house — this is the simplest option available, and it works on both Java and Bedrock.

How to do it:

1. Open your single-player world
2. Pause the game and select “Open to LAN”
3. Choose your game mode and whether cheats are allowed
4. Click “Start LAN World”
5. Friends on the same network will see your world appear automatically under their Multiplayer tab

Limitations:

• Only works while everyone is on the same local network — doesn’t help if a friend is playing from home while you’re elsewhere
• Some guest Wi-Fi networks or mesh router setups isolate devices from each other, which can prevent LAN worlds from being discoverable — try switching to the main network (not a guest network) if it’s not showing up
• The world only exists as long as your game session stays open

Best for: Same-room or same-house play, like siblings, roommates, or a LAN party.

Bedrock Edition: Friends List

Bedrock Edition has a proper built-in friends system tied to your Microsoft/Xbox account, making it the easiest way to play together across different locations.

How to do it:

1. Make sure you’re signed in with a Microsoft account
2. Go to Play > Friends
3. Search for your friend’s gamertag and send a friend request
4. Once they accept, open your world, enable multiplayer, and select “Invite to Game”
5. Choose your friend from the list and send the invite

Limitations:

• Works across Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and mobile — but everyone needs a Microsoft account and compatible game version
• Typically limited to smaller groups (check current player limits for your specific setup)
• The host’s game needs to stay open for others to remain connected

Best for: Casual play across different locations, especially for groups mixing consoles, PC, and mobile.

Java Edition: Friends List

For a long time, Java Edition lacked a built-in friends system entirely — players had to rely on LAN, servers, or Realms. That changed with the 26.2 snapshot, which introduced an official Friends List for Java.

How to do it:

1. Update to the 26.2 snapshot or later
2. Click the Friends icon from the main menu
3. Search for your friend’s Java profile name and send a friend request
4. Once accepted, they’ll appear in your friends list, and you can invite them to compatible local worlds

Limitations:

• This is a newer feature, so functionality may still be expanding — check current patch notes for the latest capabilities
• Doesn’t replace dedicated servers for larger or longer-running worlds with mods/plugins

Best for: Java players who want a quick way to play together without setting up a server, now that this feature exists.

Quick Comparison

Method	Editions	Same Network Required?	Setup Difficulty
LAN	Java & Bedrock	Yes	None
Bedrock Friends List	Bedrock	No	Very low
Java Friends List	Java	No	Very low (requires recent update)

When Built-In Multiplayer Isn’t Enough

These built-in options are great for casual, short-term play, but they share a common limitation: the host has to keep their game running, and the world only exists on the host’s device. If you want a persistent world that’s always online — even when you’re not playing — you’ll eventually want to look at either paid hosting or self-hosting instead.

For the full picture of every option, see our comparison of every method to play Minecraft with friends, or jump straight to our guide to setting up your own Minecraft server at home if you’re ready for something more permanent.