How to Fix Minecraft LAN Multiplayer Not Working

To fix Minecraft LAN not working, match every player's edition and release, enable LAN hosting, and connect everyone to the same home network. If the world still will not appear or accept connections, check local network permissions and firewall access. Java players can also connect directly using the host's local IP address and active LAN port.

Check both the hosting device and the devices trying to join, following the instructions for your edition. The Windows steps use Windows 11 menus.

Match everyone's edition and release

Check that every player is using Java Edition, or that every player is using Bedrock Edition. Java and Bedrock cannot join each other's LAN worlds through built-in multiplayer. Update the host and guests to compatible current releases before trying again.

For Java, open Minecraft Launcher, select Latest Release, and launch the game on every computer. Avoid mixing a stable release with snapshots. For Bedrock, launch regular Minecraft instead of Minecraft Preview or a beta build, and update the other player's game too.

On Windows 11, open Microsoft Store, select Library > Get updates, and install available Minecraft updates. These steps cover Minecraft for Windows and Store-installed launcher components.

On iPhone or iPad, open App Store, tap your photo or tap My Account, then tap App Updates. Beside Minecraft, tap Update. For an Android installation from Google Play, open Google Play Store, tap the profile icon, and select Manage apps and device. Under Updates available, select See details, then select Update beside Minecraft.

On Xbox, open My Apps & Games, highlight Minecraft, and press the more-options button. Select Manage game & add-ons > Updates and install an available update. On PS5, highlight Minecraft on the games home screen, press Options, and select Check for Update. On PS4, highlight Minecraft in Library, press OPTIONS, and select Check for Update.

On Nintendo Switch, highlight Minecraft on the HOME Menu without starting it, then press the + button. Select Software Update > Via the Internet. Once everyone's updates are installed, have the host start the LAN session again.

Enable hosting and join from the right screen

In Java Edition 26.3, open the host's single-player world and press Esc. Select World Options, then under Multiplayer, enable LAN. Use Port to specify the listening port if needed, and leave the world running while guests connect.

The older Open to LAN and Start LAN World controls were replaced by the World Options multiplayer controls in Java 26.3. On the guest computer, select Multiplayer after the host has enabled LAN hosting. Select the automatically listed LAN game.

For Bedrock on a device supporting LAN, have the host select Play, then select the pencil icon beside the world. Select Multiplayer, turn on Multiplayer game and Visible to LAN Players, then select Play. Keep that world open while the other players join.

On the Bedrock guest device, select Play > Worlds and select the world displaying LAN beside its name. Check that you are choosing the LAN entry rather than a friend's online world. Minecraft friends who are both online default to online play. If you join that way, check the account, internet and subscription requirements for online play.

Put every player on the main home network

Connect the host and guests to the same local network. If someone is using a guest network, move that device to the router's main home network and retry. Guest networks can deliberately prevent access to computers on the main LAN, as on TP-Link TD-W9970 V2, V3 and V4 routers.

If your home network uses TP-Link Pharos access points, check client isolation. On that equipment, open Wireless > Advanced Wireless Settings and disable AP Isolation to permit wireless clients to communicate. When Multi-SSID is enabled, inspect the isolation setting for the relevant SSID. These paths apply to Pharos equipment; on other routers, move players to the main home network first.

Try a direct connection in Java

When Java's LAN list stays empty, try connecting to the host directly. You need the host computer's local IP address and the port used by its active LAN session. In Java 26.3, the host can specify that port through World Options under Multiplayer using Port.

On the guest computer, select Multiplayer > Direct Connection. Enter the address in the format host-IP:port, replacing both parts with the host's actual values, then select Join Server. Do not assume that the session uses port 25565, and do not enter localhost when joining from a different computer.

A direct connection bypasses automatic LAN discovery, but the host must still be reachable. If this attempt also fails, continue with local network and firewall permissions. Keep the host's world running throughout these checks.

Allow local network access on Apple devices

On iPhone or iPad, tap Allow when Minecraft requests local network access. To correct an earlier denial, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and turn on Minecraft. This permission applies to Bedrock and exists from iOS and iPadOS 14 onward.

For Java on macOS 15 or later, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network. Enable access for the listed program responsible for running Minecraft. Its displayed name can depend on the launcher and runtime, so check the relevant program rather than expecting one universal Minecraft label.

Allow Minecraft through the firewall

On a trusted home LAN in Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet. Select Wi-Fi and your connected network, or select Ethernet. Under Network profile type, select Private network, then make sure the game's firewall exception applies to that profile.

Open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall > Change settings. Allow the relevant game executable, using Allow another app when you need to add it. For Java, identify the runtime used by the running game; allowing the launcher alone may not be sufficient.

An incoming-connection override can block an otherwise allowed application. In Windows Security > Firewall & network protection, select the active network. Under Incoming connections, uncheck Blocks all incoming connections, including those in the list of allowed apps when that override is enabled.

On Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Network > Firewall > Options. Add the relevant app or service with the add button, then use its connection control to allow incoming connections. Respond to any firewall permission alert instead of leaving it unanswered.

If the Mac firewall's Block all incoming connections setting is blocking hosting, turn it off in the same Options screen. Keep the appropriate application exception for Minecraft's runtime.

For Java installations with a VPN, antivirus or another network filter, inspect that product's settings for blocked Minecraft traffic or local network restrictions. Correct the relevant exception using the product's documented controls.

If firewall settings are locked on a managed Windows device, contact the device or network administrator and request an approved exception for Minecraft's local traffic. Consumer firewall controls cannot override organization-enforced policy.

Check restricted multiplayer permissions

If a child account has multiplayer restrictions, have the parent review its permissions in Xbox Family Settings. To install it, open the Xbox Family Settings product page and follow its Android or iOS store link. Sign in to the app as the parent.

Select the child's tile, then select the Settings gear. Adjust the applicable multiplayer or cross-network permission to Allow; changes save automatically. Sign out of Minecraft and restart it after changing the permissions.

Test a world without mods or add-ons

For a modded Java installation, try an entirely unmodified environment using the official release installation and a test world. Attempt LAN play there before changing your existing world. If only the modified installation fails, report the problem to the mod creator.

In Bedrock, create a new test world and try LAN play to check whether the failure is limited to one world. For add-on troubleshooting, activate add-ons individually and retest to identify the pack associated with the failure.

Removing add-ons can alter their blocks and mobs, so back up the world first and test removals on a copy. Select Play, select the world's pencil icon, then open Resource packs or Behavior packs > Active. Select an optional add-on, select Remove, and test one removal at a time.

Check broader connection and app problems

For Java connection problems that persist, close Minecraft completely and reopen it. Restart the affected device if necessary, then recreate the host's LAN session. If the wireless connection is unstable, move the devices closer to the router and restart the router.

For Java on a supported computer, you can also connect an Ethernet cable between the computer and the same home router. On Windows 11, when the problem affects general network connectivity, open Get Help and run the Network and Internet troubleshooter. Follow its diagnostic results before changing advanced network settings.

If Minecraft or its launcher is malfunctioning on Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Open the More menu beside Minecraft or Minecraft Launcher, select Advanced options, then select Repair. Some packages do not expose these repair controls; when they are missing, continue with the connection diagnostics or the unmodified test-world check instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Goat error mean when joining a Bedrock world?

The Goat error can mean that the hosting player left the world. Ask the host to reopen it and remain in the game, then retry joining after LAN hosting is active.

Does Minecraft LAN play require a console subscription?

Minecraft says consoles may require a subscription, depending on the connection route. You should not assume that every console LAN route is subscription-free or that every local session requires a subscription.

Can you save a Java LAN address instead of entering it each time?

You can save the address through Add Server. Select Add Server, enter the host's local IP address and LAN port, select Done, then select Join Server. The saved address must match the host's active session.

Should you use the experimental Java online workaround?

Skip instructions that direct you to Multiplayer Options > Online as a LAN replacement. Mojang removed that experimental peer-to-peer feature before the Java 26.2 release.

What can help if a Windows Wi-Fi connection drops during play?

For adapters that expose Power Management, open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, and open the Wi-Fi adapter's Properties. Under Power Management, uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. If that tab is absent, use the connection troubleshooting steps instead.