Minecraft is an excellent video game that allows the single user to spend hours of pure fun, however the 'solo' game mode may be too lonely after a while and, most likely, at this point you may feel the need for something. more intense. In this case, it's time to experience Minecraft's multiplayer mode which will allow you to play with other people. Fortunately, thanks to how the game was designed and built, connecting with other users is a very simple operation. There are several ways to play Minecraft multiplayer, so you just have to choose the best option for you and your friends.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Play Multiplayer on Computer
Step 1. Find the server you want to connect to
In order to play with other users within a Minecraft world, you need to find a server to connect to. It is not possible to analyze a list of available servers directly from the Minecraft GUI, so you will first need to search the web using an internet browser. There are special websites whose purpose is to catalog Minecraft servers; many of the most popular and used servers have their own website. Below is a list of the best sites to find a Minecraft server:
- MinecraftServers.org;
- MinecraftForum.net (you need to access the section dedicated to servers);
- PlanetMinecraft.com (you need to access the section dedicated to servers).
Step 2. Find the server address of your interest
You will need to look for an address that complies with one of the following formats mc.wubcraft.com or 148.148.148.148. The address may also contain the communication port to be used. In this case, you will find it shown at the end of the address in the format :25565. In order to connect to a server, you will need to know its URL or IP address.
The IP address or URL of a server is comparable to your home address. For example, when you want to visit someone, you must necessarily know the address of their home, otherwise you will not know how to reach them or how to contact them. The same goes for computers, you will not be able to contact the server you have chosen unless you know its address within the network
Step 3. Choose which server is right for you
In this case, you will have to pay attention to various aspects in order to make a correct choice. Different servers will offer hugely different gaming experiences, and many provide users with a description of what they offer that you can consult before connecting. Before choosing a server, please refer to some very important details:
- Gameplay - while some servers offer the standard Minecraft game modes, many others offer all types of gameplay that exist which can range from the classic "capture the flag" or "capture the flag", up to "RPG" mode, then you can never be without choice.
- Server Withelist - some servers require the user to register by creating an account before they can connect and, in this scenario, you will need to create a profile with username and password before you can use this type of server.
- Users or population - this is the number of people who are currently using the server to play Minecraft multiplayer. Normally there is also the maximum number of users who can connect to the server at the same time. It should be noted that you cannot play multiplayer with all users who are currently connected, because often the community is divided equally on multiple servers.
- PvP - this is an acronym that means "Player Vs. Player" and indicates the ability to play with other users in a competitive manner. In this case, users will be able to fight each other. If this is your first time playing multiplayer in Minecraft, this game mode may be difficult and a little frustrating at first.
- Uptime - how long the server has been online and available for connection. If you are planning on playing for a long session, then you will need to focus on servers that have 95% or higher uptime.
Step 4. Copy the IP address or URL of the server you have chosen
In order to connect to a server you will need to know this information. The IP address or URL of a server is clearly displayed in the list of available ones. An IP address or URL is made up of groups of numbers and / or letters separated by periods. Select the address and copy it to the system clipboard.
Step 5. Check the version of Minecraft installed on the server
Very often the servers use older versions of Minecraft than the most up-to-date one available online, since all the tools and plugins made available by the servers must be updated in turn in order to be compatible with the latest version of the game. Take note of the version of Minecraft installed on the server to know in advance if it is compatible with the one installed on your computer. This information should be clearly stated in the server description.
If to use a specific server you need to create a new Minecraft installation, click on the "Installations" tab, click on the "New" button, choose the "Versions" item, click on the "Create" button and finally access the "" tab. Plays"
Step 6. Start the Minecraft launcher and select the correct version of the game
Before starting Minecraft, the launcher window will appear where you can make a note of the current version visible in the lower right corner. If the version of Minecraft is different from the one installed on the server you have chosen to use, you will need to edit your game profile so that you can set the correct version.
- Click on the Edit Profile or Edit Profile button (depending on the launcher in use) located in the lower right corner of the window.
- Click on the "Use version" or "Use version" drop-down menu, then choose the same version on the server. At this point, click on the Save Profile or Save Profile button to save the changes.
- Consider creating a specific profile to be used only for that specific server. If for different reasons you find yourself using multiple servers that use different versions of Minecraft, it may be useful and beneficial to create a profile for each server. In this way, the connection procedure to the server will be easier and faster.
Step 7. Launch Minecraft and click on the "Multiplayer" button
It is visible between the "Single Player" and "Minecraft Realms" buttons. The "Multiplayer" menu will appear.
Step 8. Click the "Add a Server" button and paste the IP address of the server you have chosen
Name the server by typing it in the "Server Name" text field. You can use any name, but using the actual server name will help you identify it better and faster when you need to play.
- Click the "Done" button to save the new server information. The latter will be displayed in the list of servers you have configured.
- If the new server does not appear, make sure the address entered is correct.
Step 9. Select the server you want to connect to and click the "Join Server" button
Minecraft will try to connect to the indicated server and load the corresponding game world. If you get a message that a different version of Minecraft is running on the server, make sure you have selected the correct version for the profile you are using.
Step 10. Start playing
Most servers will redirect you to a welcome section where you can view the rules and instructions to follow in order to play, along with the information you need to join the rest of the users.
When playing on a public server, be sure not to damage other users' creations. This behavior, in addition to being considered incorrect and rude, will most likely lead to your account being banned from most servers
Step 11. You can start chatting with other users by pressing the "T" key on your keyboard
This will bring up the Minecraft chat window where you can enter your messages. Remember that when you are playing on a public multiplayer server, you are communicating with strangers, so avoid giving out any personal or sensitive information.
At this point you are ready to play Minecraft with your friends around the world
Method 2 of 6: Play Multiplayer on Mobile Device
Step 1. Launch your device's internet browser
You can play Minecraft with friends and other people by connecting to servers through the game's app. However, in order to locate the server to use, you will need to search the web. Minecraft multiplayer servers can use all available game modes and mods, creating a unique experience every time. There are tons of websites listing the most popular Minecraft servers. Here is a short list:
- Mineplex;
- InPvP;
- Lifeboat.
Step 2. Launch the Minecraft app and press the "Play" button
The game world list will be displayed. You can choose an existing one or you can create a new one.
The Minecraft app, which used to be known as "Minecraft PE", has now been renamed to "Minecraft"
Step 3. Select the "External" button, then press the "Add Server" button
This way, you will have the option to enter connection information to a new server. If you have copied them before, you will simply have to paste them into the corresponding fields.
Step 4. Fill in the fields with the necessary information
At this point you will have to fill in all the fields displayed in the form and press the "Add server" button. The new server will be added to the list of existing ones. Remember that you will only need to perform this step once to add a server, however you will need to repeat it for all the servers you want to add to the list.
- Server name: you can enter any name, however remember that this information will be used to identify the server in the list of all those you have registered, so it is useful to use a descriptive name.
- Server address: Enter the IP address or URL of the server.
- Port: Enter the communication port number of the server. The port number is the numeric value that appears in the server address or URL after the colon:.
Step 5. Select the new server just registered to start the connection procedure
The game will attempt to contact the server. When the connection is established, you will be greeted by the welcome screen.
- If the connection is not established, there could be a variety of causes. The server may have reached the maximum number of concurrent active users and, in this case, you will not receive any notification or the server may be offline for any reason. The connection may also have been refused because a player already logged in with the same username as you.
- You can change your username directly from the Minecraft "Settings" menu.
Method 3 of 6: Play Local Via LAN
Step 1. Make sure all computers are connected to the same LAN
Minecraft allows you to play multiplayer quickly and easily, if all players are connected to the same LAN with their devices. If you are at home, most likely you and your friends will already be connected to the same LAN network. If you are at work or school, you may need to set up a LAN.
- A LAN network, from the English "Local Area Network", represents a network of computers that are physically located in the same area and that is managed by the same network device (router, modem, switch or hub).
- If you need to connect computers located in different geographical areas together, you can use a VPN connection (from the English "Virtual Private Network"). It is an ideal solution for playing with your friends remotely without the need to create a dedicated server.
Step 2. Make sure all players are running the same version of Minecraft
Decide which computer will be managing the game world and acting as host, then use the Minecraft profile editor on each computer to select the correct client version. If players aren't all running the same version of Minecraft, they won't be able to connect to the host and enter the game world.
- Click on the Edit Profile or Edit Profile button (depending on the launcher in use) located in the lower right corner of the window;
- Click on the "Use version" or "Use version" drop-down menu, then choose the version of the game you will be using. At this point, click on the Save Profile or Save Profile button to save the changes.
Step 3. Start the game on one of the computers
At this point, the chosen computer will automatically become the host. The choice should always fall on the most powerful machine of the group. Load one of the worlds from "Single Player" mode to the host.
Step 4. Press the "Esc" key to pause the game and bring up the main menu
Once the game world is loaded, you will be able to access the Minecraft menu and scroll down until you find the "Open in LAN" option.
Step 5. Click the Open in LAN button
This will start the LAN game setup process and a new menu will appear.
Step 6. Configure the multiplayer game settings
You can choose between "Survival", "Adventure" and "Creative" modes. Additionally, you can choose whether or not to enable the use of in-game controls. Click on the corresponding buttons to switch between the options.
Step 7. Click the Start the World on LAN button to start the game in multiplayer mode
At this point, all other players connected to the network will be able to join the game. You will need to use the "Multiplayer" menu to be able to select the game you have created.
Step 8. Launch Minecraft on the second computer, then click the Multiplayer button
Make sure the machine in question is connected to the LAN and is running the same version of Minecraft running on the host. The program will scan the network for all active games. The Minecraft game running on the host computer should appear in the list of available ones.
If the host computer does not appear in the list, click the Direct Access button, then enter the host's local IP address
Step 9. Select the game from the list and click the Join Server button
LAN World should be visible above the name of the world you have chosen to create the game. After selecting the game and logging into the server, you will have access to the game world and can start playing.
Step 10. Gather all the players together
After all players in the game have access to the game world, they may find themselves away from the player who manages the host computer, especially if the host has already explored a large portion of the game world. At this point, the host player can decide to group all the other players together so that you can have fun together.
- Using the host computer, press the "T" key on your keyboard to open the chat window, type the command / tp player_name host_player_name and press the "Enter" key. In this way, the player indicated by the player_name parameter will be "teleported" to the same position as the player who is using the host. You will have to repeat the step for all other players.
- Make sure all player characters connected to the game are lying in a bed in the new location they were teleported to. In this case you will be sure that, if for any reason they die, they will be automatically regenerated at this point in the game world.
Method 4 of 6: Create a Private Server to Play with Friends
Step 1. Download the server version of Minecraft to the computer that will act as the server
Creating a Minecraft server allows you to always have a game world that you and your friends can access and play at any time. The server will be private, so only your friends will be able to connect to the game. In addition, you can customize the game world by installing all the mods you want.
- The server version of Minecraft is free and its installation file can be downloaded from the following URL minecraft.net/download. Download the minecraft_server. X. X. X.exe file.
- The purpose of this section is to allow the user to create a Minecraft server for Windows systems quickly and easily. If you want to create a server using a Linux computer, a Mac or if you want to create it manually on a PC, refer to this guide.
Step 2. Create the Minecraft server version installation folder
All files needed to create and start the server will be copied to the indicated folder. Create the new folder directly on the desktop or somewhere else on the disk that is easily accessible, then name it "Minecraft Server" (or something similar). Copy the minecraft_server. X. X. X.exe installation file into the folder you created.
Step 3. Run the installation file
Inside the folder you will see some files appear, after which the installer will close automatically. Don't worry: this is a completely normal procedure.
Step 4. Edit the parameter
eula = false in eula = true.
Open the text file.eula.txt. You find it inside the Minecraft server installation folder. At this point, save your changes and close the file. In this way you will have accepted the terms and conditions to be able to use the licensed program.
Step 5. Start the Minecraft server
If the Windows firewall window appears, click on the Allow access button. Many other files will be created inside the Minecraft server version installation folder. Now close the Minecraft server management window because you will need to make some configuration changes.
Step 6. Click on the file
server.properties with the right mouse button and choose the "Open with" option.
Choose the "Notepad" program from the list of applications that appeared. The Minecraft server configuration file will open within the Windows "Notepad" text editor and you will be able to edit its contents.
Step 7. Find the parameter
white-list = false.
Change it to white-list = true, so as to create a list of users who will be able to connect to your server, that is, only your friends. Anyone not included in the list will not be able to connect to the server, so the latter will actually be for the exclusive use of you and your friends.
Inside this file there are other parameters that can change the game configuration, but for the moment save and close the document
Step 8. Start the server and add all the names of players who can connect to the server "white-list"
You will need to get all your friends' Minecraft usernames and add them one by one to the list using the following command: whitelist add player_name.
Step 9. Activate "port forwarding" on port number 25565 so that other players can join the game
At this point, the server is up and running and all your friends have been added to the "white-list". Now you need to configure the network router to allow all players to connect and join the game. Specifically, you will need to enable port forwarding on a specific port.
- Log in to the configuration web page of your network router. Normally, you will need to open an internet browser on your computer and type one of the following IPs into the address bar: 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.2.1. This is the local IP address of the network router which varies by device brand and model.
- In order to log in, you will need to provide the administrator username and password. Check your router documentation for default login credentials, provided you haven't customized them.
- Access the "Port Forwarding" section of the router configuration page. It may be located in the "Advanced" or "Admin" tab.
- Create a new rule using as a base the local IP address of the computer on which you have installed the Minecraft server. You will need to enable "port forwarding" on port "25565" for both "TCP" and "UDP" protocols.
Step 10. Log in to the Google web page using the computer on which you have installed the Minecraft server, then search using keywords
my IP address.
The public IP address of your network router should appear at the top of the results list. Copy it to the system clipboard or make a note of it. Tell your friends that they will need to use it in order to connect to the server.
Note: If you have a dynamic public IP address as is usually the case, it may automatically change over time. If this happens, you will simply have to communicate to your friends the new IP that has been assigned to you by the ISP that manages your connection to the web. You can solve the problem by setting up a dynamic DNS. Generally, you need to subscribe to a paid service that will automatically redirect all users who will use your domain to the currently active corresponding public IP address
Step 11. Connect to the Minecraft server you just created
At this point your server is up and running, the "white-list" of people who can connect is ready and the "port forwarding" has been configured correctly. Now your friends will be able to connect to your Miencraft server using the IP address you gave them. However, you will need to use a different IP address to connect.
Access the Minecraft "Multiplayer" menu. The game you configured on the server should appear in the list of available ones; if not, click on the "Add a server" button. If you are using the same computer as the server, you will need to use the IP address 127.0.0.1. If you are using a different computer connected to the same network as the server, you will need to use the server's local IP address (the same one you used in the "port forwarding" rule). If, on the other hand, you are connected to a different network than the one to which the server is connected, you will have to use the public IP address of the server, the same one you have communicated to your friends
Method 5 of 6: Playing in Splitscreen (Xbox / PlayStation)
Step 1. Make sure you are using a high definition TV
In order to play shared screen games on the same TV, it is recommended that you use a graphics resolution of at least 720p, which requires a high-definition TV and an HDMI or component connection cable. Most modern TVs are high definition and come with HDMI ports, so there's a very good chance you're ready to continue.
- If your television does not clearly have HDTV or HD-Ready printed on it, it is most likely not a high-definition television. CRT TVs are not high definition.
- Make sure your console is configured to use 720p resolution. Access the "Settings" menu, choose the "System" item, select the "Console Settings" option and finally choose the "Display" item.
Step 2. Start a new game using an existing game world or creating a new one
You can play in splitscreen using any existing game world. Uncheck the "Play Online" option.
If you are not signed in with your Minecraft account, you will need to do so now
Step 3. Press the "Start" button on the second controller
The login window will appear. At this point, the second player will need to log in with their Minecraft account or will need to create one if they haven't already.
The console will automatically save your login information so you can save time in subsequent games
Step 4. You can add more players by connecting multiple controllers to the console
Each of the players will need to log in using their Minecraft account. Remember that a maximum of 4 users can play in this mode.
Depending on the screen size of your TV, it may be difficult for more than two people to play the split screen game
Method 6 of 6: Minecraft Server Troubleshooting
Step 1. The host name cannot be resolved:
this means that the program cannot locate the host computer you are looking for. In this case, open the "Command Prompt" window on the computer you are using to play the game, then find the host name of the server. Type the command "nslookup" into the "Command Prompt" window and press the "Enter" key. Copy the address that will be displayed on the screen and paste it into the Minecraft text field relating to the IP address of the server.
If this solution doesn't work, there may be a problem with the server's network connection
Step 2. Can't connect to a game:
this means that the local Minecraft client is unable to contact the indicated server. In this case, as a quick and easy solution, you can try restarting your computer and trying to connect again.
If the problem persists even after rebooting, try to whitelist the person who has the problem, then add it again
Step 3. Some people are able to connect to the server and others cannot:
most likely the cause is the firewall, which means that their computer is blocking the connection to the server. Check their computer's firewall configuration by going to the "Control Panel" and viewing the list of app connections and Windows features allowed through the Firewall, then look for the "javaw.exe" program in the list. At this point select the "Private" and "Public" check buttons of the "javaw.exe" program.
- In this way, the Minecraft client installed on your friend's computer should be able to communicate with the outside world and therefore also with your server.
- Before trying again, they may need to restart their computer for the new settings to take effect.
Step 4. "Disconnect.spam" error message:
this occurs when a user is connected to a third party Minecraft server and sends messages too fast. In this case the program is tricked into thinking that the person is sending spam messages to other players. To fix this, try connecting to the server again and sending chat messages slower.
If you have been banned from the server, you will see the following error message: "You are banned from this server". In this case the only solution is to contact the server administrator or wait for the ban to expire automatically
Advice
- Some servers implement add-ons to enhance and extend the end user's gaming experience. This scenario cannot be replicated when playing in single player mode unless mods are installed.
- Some mods you have installed on your Minecraft client may also work in multiplayer mode when you connect to the server. However, you will only find out once you connect to the server in multiplayer mode.
- In some cases, the server name will be related to the service and content offered. Some are PVP servers (from English "Player Vs Player"), ie they allow users to fight each other, others offer different gameplay, for example "Free Building", "Roleplay", "Endless" and so on.
