Popularity Minecraft The gaming industry is steadily growing, and many players are faced with the desire to team up with friends in the same world. Often, situations arise where a wired connection or a full-fledged dedicated server isn't possible. In such cases, local area network (LAN) technology comes to the rescue. Wi-FiThis allows you to create a gaming space directly on one computer, while providing access to other devices within range of the router.
However, the simplicity of the concept is often shattered by the technical complexities of setting up network protocols. Users may experience connection errors, high latency, or complete ignoring of the server by other devices. In this article, we'll discuss how to set it up correctly. local network, which ports need to be opened and how to ensure stable gaming without connection interruptions.
The success of your event directly depends on the quality of your wireless equipment and the correct settings. Even a slight misconfiguration in your firewall settings can render your server invisible to other participants. We'll walk you through a step-by-step guide to help you avoid common mistakes and quickly launch your multiplayer game.
Preparing equipment and checking the network
The first and most important step is to ensure a stable connection between all devices. All computers, smartphones, or tablets that plan to participate in the game must be connected to the same Wi-Fi networkIf one device is connected to a mobile internet connection and the other to a home router, connection is impossible without the use of complex tunnels.
Signal quality plays a critical role in the gaming experience. For the host (the computer that creates the world), it is advisable to use a frequency 5 GHz, which provides higher throughput and lower latency compared to the 2.4 GHz standard. Make sure the router isn't overloaded with other tasks, such as downloading large files or streaming 4K video.
⚠️ Note: If your router supports AP Isolation, the server will not be visible to other devices. This feature must be disabled in the router settings.
Check the IP addresses of all devices. They should be on the same subnet, typically 192.168.1.X or 192.168.0.X. If the addresses are significantly different (for example, 10.0.0.X and 192.168.1.X), the devices are on different networks and won't be able to see each other.
Creating a local server on a computer
The process of launching a world for friends begins with opening the game on the main computer. After loading and selecting the desired save or creating a new world, go to the pause menu. This is where the button that converts the single-player game to multiplayer is hidden.
Click the button Settings for everyone (or Open to LAN (in the English version). In the window that opens, select the game mode (Survival or Creative) and enable cheats if desired. After confirming, the system will display a message indicating that the local server is running on a specific port, for example: "Local game hosted on port 25565."
Remember or write down this port number. It uniquely identifies your current game session. Without this number, other players won't be able to connect, even if they know your IP address. In a default configuration, Minecraft often uses the port 25565, but it may change with each launch.
☑️ Server Launch Checklist
Setting up a firewall and security
The most common reason why friends can't access your world is that the built-in Windows firewall or antivirus software is blocking the connection. By default, the operating system considers incoming connections from Java applications to be potentially dangerous and blocks them.
To resolve this issue, you need to create an exception rule. Open the firewall control panel and go to "Advanced Settings." Create a new inbound rule, selecting "Program" as the type. Specify the path to the executable file. javaw.exe or minecraft.exe.
In the next window, select "Allow the connection." Be sure to check all network profiles: private, public, and domain. This ensures that the network is recognized correctly, regardless of how Windows classifies your current network. Wi-Fi.
What should I do if my antivirus is blocking my connection?
Some antivirus programs (Kaspersky, ESET, Avast) have their own firewalls that ignore Windows settings. In this case, you should temporarily disable network protection in the antivirus interface or add Minecraft to the list of trusted applications in your security software's settings.
Connecting players to the server
Once the host has configured the game and firewall, other players can join. Select "Multiplayer" from the game's main screen menu. The system will automatically scan the local network for available servers.
If the server doesn't appear in the list automatically, you can add it manually. Click the "Add Server" button and enter the host IP address obtained earlier in the address field, followed by a colon and the port. The format should be as follows: 192.168.1.55:25565.
It is important to use the local IP address, which can be found by entering the command ipconfig in the command line on the host computer. Using an external IP or a localhost address from other devices will not work.
| Parameter | Value for Host | Value for the Client |
|---|---|---|
| IP address | 192.168.xx (own) | 192.168.xx (host address) |
| Port | Issued by the game (e.g. 25565) | Matches the host port |
| Game version | Any (e.g. 1.20.1) | Strictly identical to the host version |
| Mod set | Full list | Exactly the same list of mods |
⚠️ Important: All players must have the same game version. Even a single decimal point difference (e.g., 1.16.5 and 1.16.4) will prevent you from connecting to the server.
Solving visibility and lag issues
Even with proper settings, performance or server visibility issues may still occur. If the game is choppy, try lowering the graphics settings on all devices, especially the chunk draw distance. Wireless connections are sensitive to load, and a high draw distance can choke your connection.
If the server is simply not visible, try rebooting your router. Sometimes the DHCP server assigns addresses from different subnets or an IP address conflict occurs. Temporarily disabling antivirus software on all computers for diagnostic purposes also helps.
If you are using a modded version of the game, make sure everyone on the team has the same mods and versions installed. Forge or FabricMissing even one mod file on the client will result in a connection error or game crash.
Alternative ways to play online
If playing over local Wi-Fi is impossible due to geographical distance between friends, there are other solutions. You can use programs to create a virtual local area network, such as Hamachi or Radmin VPNThey emulate the connection of all devices to a single network via the Internet.
In this case, all participants install the program, create a room, and connect to it. The Minecraft setup principle remains the same: the host opens the world to the network, and clients connect using the IP address assigned by the emulator.
Another option is renting a dedicated server from a hosting provider. This is a paid option, but the most stable, as it doesn't require keeping your computer on 24/7. However, for occasional games with friends, local Wi-Fi remains the fastest and free solution.
Why do I get the error "Connection refused: no further information"?
This error means that the client computer cannot reach the host port. The most common cause is the Windows Firewall on the host computer, which is blocking Java. Another possible cause is an incorrectly entered IP address or port. A third cause is an antivirus program blocking network activity.
Is it possible to play via Wi-Fi between a phone (Android/iOS) and a PC?
Yes, this is possible, but only if both devices have Bedrock Edition installed (versions for Windows 10/11, Android, iOS, and consoles). Java Edition on a PC and Bedrock Edition on a phone are not directly compatible without the use of special bridge plugins.
How to find out your local IP address?
Press Win+R, enter cmd and press Enter. In the black window, enter the command ipconfigFind the "IPv4 Address" line under your wireless adapter. This is your address for connecting your friends.