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Minecraft
Genre: Open-World-Survival
Studio: Mojang
Publisher: Mojang
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Genre: Open-World-Survival
Studio: Mojang
Publisher: Mojang
Rent a Minecraft Server

Multiplayer: How to Play Minecraft with Friends

Playing Minecraft is awesome. But for many people, playing Minecraft with their friends is even better. This is called ‘multiplayer’ and is a staple for many games. So, would you like to play Minecraft with friends? No problem! Let us show you the many possibilities you have when it comes to Minecraft multiplayer – both online and offline. Build a castle together, dodge the traps of a desert temple or explore the biomes of the world at large. There are plenty of benefits to playing Minecraft together with your friends! We’ll introduce you to the most important ones here.

How to Play Minecraft in Multiplayer

Generally, there are 4 ways to play Minecraft together with friends:

Online:

  • online server
  • Minecraft Realms

Offline:

  • split screen (console only)
  • LAN (Local Area Network)

Before we go into detail for each option, there are some basic rules you will have to follow:

  • all players must have the same game edition (e.g. 1.21)
  • and the same game version (e.g. Bedrock or Java) 
  • all players must have the same mods installed (e.g. Aether, Spigot, Paper)
  • ensure that everyone has a sufficient internet connection
  • read the server’s rules and follow them to avoid being kicked

Now that your preparations are done, it is time to go into detail for the different ways to play together in Minecraft.

TipUse voice chat like teamspeak for communication.

Minecraft Online Multiplayer

An ideal way to play Minecraft with friends is to rent an online server, e.g. a Minecraft server from G-Portal. Your own server is set up quickly and the slots can be flexibly expanded for you and your friends. Another advantage of a G-Portal server is that you can expand it with unlimited mods. This is how you play modded Minecraft with friends, if you want to do it easily and efficiently. We also offer you a selection of over 200 mods. So, regardless of your location, you can play Minecraft alone, with a few friends or with all your friends at any time. G-Portal also provides you with free storage for backups, savegames and configs. If there should be a problem, our support team will help you.

How to Create Minecraft Multiplayer with GPORTAL

A quick and very easy way to play Minecraft multiplayer with your friends without much effort is to rent a server at G-Portal. It works like this:

  1. Go to our Minecraft server page.
  2. Click on the ‘Order now’ button.
  3. Choose the number of slots you need.
  4. Now choose a rental period – tip: you can save a lot if you rent for a longer period!
  5. Choose the server location and click on ‘Next’.
  6. Register as a customer or log in to G-Portal.
  7. Choose a payment method.
  8. Activate your G-Portal product.
  9. Configure your server.
  10. Copy the IP address from the Gamecloud overview and send it to your friends.
  11. Start Minecraft, click on multiplayer and enter the IP address at ‘join directly’.

Recently, we also integrated BungeeCord into our servers, so you can play on multiple servers at once, too!

How Your Friends can Join the Server in Minecraft Java Edition

  1. They need to connect and log into a multiplayer server.
  2. To do this, you need to download the server folder (for your own server), for example here on GPORTAL or connect to a teammate’s server.
  3. To join a teammate’s server, go to the multiplayer menu, click on ‘Add Server’ and add the IP address of the server.

Attention!The game version must match that of the server. You can also change your own game version to avoid any conflict!

Enjoying Minecraft Multiplayer Mode on Public Servers

Over time, the number of Minecraft multiplayer servers has shot through the roof so that there are now thousands of public servers you can join. Some of the most notable ones include Bedrock servers, such as Mineplex, CubeCraft, The Hive, Galaxite or Pixel Paradise. The most popular in Java include the following:

  • Hypixel
  • Wynncraft
  • Complex-Gaming
  • PirateCraft

Just click on it and off you go! It is also possible to use external servers via the ‘Add Server’ button.

Minecraft Realms

Minecraft Realms is a Minecraft online multiplayer option directly from Mojang, the game’s developers. Multiplayer mode is the basis for this product. Here you can experience small games and adventures together with up to 10 friends. However, it does cost extra to use.

Minecraft Realms for Java Edition

  1. An invitation is required to join.
  2. To invite others, click ‘Configure Realms’ and go to the ‘Players’ tab.
  3. Then go to the ‘+’ icon and type in the username of the player you want to invite. The invitation will then be sent.
  4. The player will get a small message in the Realms menu with ‘New invitation’. When clicked, the realms they were invited to will be displayed.

Minecraft Realms for Windows 10, Xbox or Mobile

  1. Again, this requires an invitation.
  2. You yourself can invite others at the ‘pencil’ icon, on the ‘members’ option. Then click on ‘share’, which will generate a link that you can then send to your fellow players.
  3. This will invite them to log in and add them to the realm’s ‘whitelist’. Then they can join via one click.

Minecraft Offline Multiplayer

As mentioned earlier, it is also possible to play in offline multiplayer. Just as with the online option, there are different ways to connect with your friends.

LAN (Local Area Network)

When playing via LAN (= Local Area Network), you use a local network (e.g. your home network). All players must be logged into the same network. Many people still look back fondly to the famous LAN parties of the 2000’s and have a lot of nostalgia for that time. While setting up a LAN can be difficult, the reward is a stable network where only you and your friends can play Minecraft multiplayer together.

Multiplayer in Minecraft Java Edition via LAN

  1. First, you must choose a host computer. On it, single player mode is then selected, and you open or create a world.
  2. After that, click on the ESC key and click on ‘Open for LAN’. After that you choose in which mode you want to play (Survival is mostly default, but experienced players can even try to go for hardcore mode).
  3. After that you click on ‘Start LAN’ and the locally hosted game appears. The other players can now go to ‘Multiplayer Mode’ and join the game.

Multiplayer in Minecraft for Windows 10, Xbox or mobile.

  1. Press ‘Play’ and then ‘Open/Create World’ on the pencil icon.
  2. In multiplayer mode, check if LAN is visible to everyone.
  3. Press ‘Play/Create’.
  4. Your Minecraft friends can search for the available LAN game via the ‘Friends’ tab in the game menu.

Split screen

This is the essential Minecraft multiplayer experience. You and one other player of your choice sit together and play Minecraft. This option exists only for consoles, though, unless you use a mod. It allows a shared Minecraft game and is automatically created when the respective controllers log in after starting the game (one player/window section per controller). Similar to the LAN multiplayer, this version of multiplayer isn’t really the most efficient way to play Minecraft multiplayer but its charme lies in the nostalgia factor.

Conclusion: Minecraft Multiplayer

In conclusion, Minecraft multiplayer offers a vast and dynamic world of possibilities, allowing you to connect, collaborate and compete in countless ways. Whether you’re teaming up with friends on a private Minecraft Server from G-Portal, diving into the vibrant communities of public servers or exploring new adventures through mods and custom game modes, there’s a multiplayer experience for everyone. From casual minigames to expansive role-playing and intense PvP battles, Minecraft brings people together across platforms, fostering creativity and connection in an endless sandbox. No matter how you choose to play, Minecraft multiplayer promises endless fun, memorable moments, and the opportunity to be part of a global community of players.

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