The Quick Way to Make a LAN Server in Minecraft and Why It Sometimes Fails

So, you’re sitting in the same room as your friend, laptops open, snacks ready, and you just want to build something together without paying for a Realm or messing with server hosting. It should be easy. Honestly, learning how to make a LAN server in Minecraft is one of those things that sounds like a thirty-second task but occasionally turns into a two-hour troubleshooting nightmare.

Minecraft was built on the idea of shared worlds. Long before massive public servers like Hypixel or Mineplex existed, people were just hooking up via Local Area Network (LAN). It’s the purest way to play. No lag from a data center halfway across the country. Just raw, local speed. But if your IP addresses aren't talking to each other, or Windows Firewall decides to be a jerk, you're stuck staring at a "Scanning for games on your local network" screen that never finds anything.

Let's get you into the game.

Opening Your World: The Basics of a LAN Server

First, pick who has the beefiest computer. That person is the host.

The host loads into their single-player world. It doesn't matter if it's a world you've played in for years or a fresh spawn. Once you're standing in the grass, hit Escape. You’ll see a button that says Open to LAN. Click it. You get to choose if you want Cheats on and what game mode the visitors will start in. Hit Start LAN World, and you’ll see a message in the chat: "Local game hosted on port 12345" (or some other five-digit number).

Now, your friend just needs to go to the Multiplayer menu. Ideally, your game pops up at the very bottom under the LAN section. They click join. Done.

But tech is rarely that kind.

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When the "Scanning" Loop Never Ends

If the game doesn't show up for the second player, don't panic. It's usually a discovery protocol issue. Basically, the two computers are in the same room but they aren't "shaking hands" because your router or your OS is blocking the greeting.

You’ll need to do a "Direct Connect." This involves finding the host's internal IP address. On Windows, you type cmd in the search bar, open the Command Prompt, and type ipconfig. Look for the IPv4 Address. It usually looks like 192.168.1.15.

The person trying to join should click Direct Connection in their Minecraft Multiplayer menu. They need to type that IP address, then a colon, then the port number shown on the host's screen.

It looks like this: 192.168.1.15:12345.

If that doesn't work, 90% of the time it’s the Windows Defender Firewall. You have to ensure that "javaw.exe" (Java) is allowed to communicate through the firewall on both Public and Private networks. I've seen countless people pull their hair out over this only to realize a single checkbox in the Control Panel was blocking the entire session.

The Version Mismatch Trap

Minecraft is picky. If you are running version 1.20.1 and your friend is on 1.21, it’s not happening. No amount of "Direct Connect" magic will fix a version mismatch.

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Check the bottom left corner of your main menu. Ensure both players are on the exact same release. If you're using mods—say, a specific version of Forge or Fabric—both players must have the exact same mod list and the same version of those mods. Even a slight discrepancy in a configuration file can sometimes boot a player before they even see a block.

What About Minecraft Bedrock?

If you're playing on a console, phone, or the Windows 10/11 "Bedrock" edition, things are slightly different. Bedrock is actually a bit better at LAN discovery because it uses Xbox Live services to help bridge the gap. As long as you are friends on Xbox Live and on the same Wi-Fi, the world should simply appear in the Friends tab.

Wait. There's a catch.

You cannot "cross-play" a LAN server between Java Edition and Bedrock Edition natively. If you're on a MacBook (Java) and your friend is on an iPad (Bedrock), you won't see each other. You would need a proxy like GeyserMC to bridge that gap, which is way more advanced than a standard LAN setup.

Optimizing the Experience

Once you're actually in, you might notice the host is lagging. Or maybe the guest is.

When you host a LAN server, your computer is doing double duty. It's rendering the game for you, and it's calculating the physics, mob AI, and block updates for everyone else. If your PC is struggling, try lowering your Render Distance. Surprisingly, the host's render distance affects the server's internal "tick" speed. If you set it to 32 chunks, your friend's connection might turn into a slideshow.

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Using Essential Mod for Easier Connection

If you find the manual IP entry annoying, there is a very popular mod called Essential. It basically overhauls the social features of Minecraft Java Edition. It allows you to invite friends to your single-player world just like you would in a modern console game. It bypasses the need for port forwarding or fiddling with ipconfig. It's a great "quality of life" fix for players who play together frequently.

Troubleshooting Checklist for Persistent Issues

If you've tried the IP address and the firewall, and it's still failing, check these specific things:

• Network Profile: Is your Wi-Fi set to "Public" or "Private" in Windows settings? It must be set to Private. Windows blocks most local sharing on Public profiles to keep you safe at coffee shops.
• AP Isolation: Some routers have a setting called "AP Isolation" or "Client Isolation." This prevents wireless devices from talking to each other. You’ll have to log into your router's admin panel to turn this off.
• Multiple Network Adapters: If the host has a VPN active or a VirtualBox network adapter enabled, Minecraft might be trying to host the LAN party on the "virtual" network instead of the physical Wi-Fi. Disable your VPN before starting the LAN world.
• The "0.0.0.0" Bug: Sometimes Minecraft says the game is hosted on port 0.0.0.0. This is a glitch. It just means it's listening on all interfaces. Use your actual local IP as described earlier.

Moving Beyond LAN

LAN is great for a weekend. But if you want to play when you aren't in the same house, you'll need to look into Port Forwarding (specifically port 25565) or using a service like Essential or Tailscale. Tailscale creates a "Virtual LAN" that makes your computers think they are in the same room even if they are miles apart. It's much safer than opening ports on your router if you aren't tech-savvy.

Realistically, if you just want to play today, stick to the basics. Get on the same Wi-Fi, open to LAN, and use the Direct Connect method if the auto-discovery fails. Most of the "how to make a LAN server in Minecraft" problems are just small configuration hurdles.

Actionable Next Steps

To get your game running right now, follow these steps in order:

1. Sync Versions: Ensure everyone is running the exact same version of Minecraft.
2. Host Check: Have the host open the world and click "Open to LAN." Take note of the Port number in the chat.
3. Firewall Pass: On both PCs, go to Windows Firewall settings and "Allow an app through firewall." Ensure Java (TM) Platform SE binary is checked for Private networks.
4. The IP Move: If the game isn't in the list, use ipconfig to find the host's IP and use the Direct Connect button.
5. Adjust Settings: If the guest is lagging, have the host reduce their render distance to 12 or 16 chunks to free up CPU cycles for the server thread.

Once you're connected, the world is yours. No subscriptions, no lobby queues, just the game as it was meant to be played.