Minecraft is nix curt of a phenomenon, but what truly enhances the game is playing with friends. Multiplayer makes the unabridged experience amend. Thanks to crossplay capabilities, players on PC, mobile, and consoles tin all join together to build magnificent worlds — or duke it out in PvP combat.

Yous can play Minecraft together by setting up a dedicated server (called a Realm) in Minecraft, or you can open a simple peer-to-peer game through the multiplayer bill of fare. There are benefits and downsides to both methods, and different ways to connect to your friends depending on your platform.

How to Play Minecraft on PC Through the Multiplayer Carte du jour

When you launch Minecraft on your PC, you can choose to play Singleplayer, Multiplayer, or Minecraft Realms.

  1. Select Multiplayer. As soon as you do, the game will search for games on your local network.
  1. If there is a game available, select information technology and and then select Join Server.
  1. If no game is available, select Direct Connect.
  1. Enter the server accost and and then select Join Server.
  2. If you are hosting the game, select Add server.
  1. Enter the server proper name and the server accost, then select Done.
  2. Finally, select the server you added and select Bring together Server.

How to Bring together A Realm on a PC

Joining a Realm through a PC is easy, as it's a defended card choice rather than an option institute below a carve up tab.

  1. Select Minecraft Realms.
  1. Select the server yous wish to join and and then select Play.

Information technology'south a very straightforward procedure. Yous'll join the game after a brief load time and can start edifice right abroad, or immediately greet your friends with lava on their roof.

How to Play Minecraft With Friends on Mobile

If you're playing Minecraft through a mobile device, you tin hands join a Realm or a friend'southward game.

  1. Tap Play.
  1. Under the Worlds tab, but tap an bachelor Realm and yous will automatically bring together it.
  1. Under the Friends tab, beneath the Joinable Friends heading, tap the game you want to join.

That'due south all y'all have to do. You will automatically bring together the game, assuming there is yet room (not more than than seven other players.)

If you wish to join a game on a Realm, all you lot have to practise is tap the game beneath Joinable Realms heading and you will automatically be added to the game.

How to Bring together a Minecraft Server on Mobile

You tin can simply as easily join a Minecraft server every bit y'all can a multiplayer game. There are benefits to this, besides. Servers have much college player counts and oft include a lot of customization you might not detect in a base vanilla game.

  1. Tap Play.
  2. Tap the Servers tab.
  1. Tap the server you wish to join on the left side of the screen and tap Join Server.

If at that place are external resources packs needed, the server will automatically download them. This can take several minutes depending on your connection speed, merely it will so add you to the game, no further steps needed.

How to Play Minecraft Multiplayer on Console

Joining a Minecraft game with friends on a console is no different than joining on PC or mobile.

  1. Select Play.
  1. Navigate to the Friends tab.
  1. Select the game you want to join and printing the confirmation button on your controller.

It's basically the aforementioned every bit joining a multiplayer game on any other platform.

How to Join a Minecraft Server on Console

Y'all can join a server to play Minecraft with friends (and make new friends) directly from your console.

  1. Select Play.
  1. Navigate to the Servers tab.
  1. Select the server you want to join and printing the confirmation button on your controller.

Servers take higher player counts and are often themed around specific activities, although you can besides find sandbox-way servers that let yous build and explore just like a normal game.

Troubleshooting Minecraft Multiplayer

As with whatever game that involves numerous connections from unlike sources, Minecraft volition sometimes run into errors. You might get booted from a server, lose your connectedness, or a variety of other issues. Here are a few steps you should take if you encounter any of these issues.

Restart Your Computer/Console

One of the kickoff steps you should take is restarting your console or your computer. Corrupted data and other glitches can forestall you from connecting to friends and experiencing the game the mode it was meant to be played, but a quick restart can fix most issues.

Cheque Your NAT Type

Your NAT blazon plays a huge function in how you connect to other players. If your NAT type is Closed or Moderate, you won't be able to play with other people. You lot volition need to change your NAT to open up, although the method for doing so differs depending on your ISP.

Bank check Your Privacy Settings

If you're playing on Xbox, your privacy settings might restrict you from playing Minecraft with other people. You lot can change these settings within the panel itself, or you can tweak them on Xbox.com.