Connecting to LAN worlds in Minecraft Bedrock Edition allows you to play with friends on the same local network without needing complex server setups. This guide covers the process for the latest versions, addressing common issues and providing helpful tips.
What is a LAN World?
A LAN (Local Area Network) world in Minecraft Bedrock is a single-player world that you can open up for other players on your local network to join. This means anyone connected to the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet as you can play together without needing an external server or internet connection beyond your local network.
How to Host a LAN World
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to host a LAN world in the latest Minecraft Bedrock Edition:
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Open your Minecraft World: Launch Minecraft Bedrock and open the world you wish to share. Make sure the world is already created; you can't host a LAN world from the main menu's "Create New World" option.
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Open to LAN: Once in your world, pause the game. Look for an option that says "Open to LAN." The exact wording might vary slightly depending on the version, but it's consistently located within the pause menu.
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Choose Your Game Settings: A window will appear, allowing you to customize game settings for the LAN world. You can adjust difficulty, game modes (Survival, Creative, Adventure, Spectator), cheats, and more. These settings will apply to all players joining your LAN world.
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Start the LAN World: Select "Start LAN World." Your world is now open to players on your local network.
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Find Your World's IP Address: While not always necessary, knowing your IP address can be helpful for troubleshooting. You can usually find this information in your router's settings. However, for LAN worlds, players typically don't need the IP; they'll find your world directly through the "Servers" list.
How to Join a LAN World
For players joining a LAN world:
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Launch Minecraft Bedrock: Open Minecraft Bedrock Edition on your device.
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Find the LAN World: On the main menu, you should see a list of available servers. Your friend's LAN world should appear there automatically, assuming both devices are on the same network. Click on it to join.
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Connect and Play: Minecraft will connect you to the LAN world. You'll be loaded in and ready to play with your friend!
Troubleshooting Common LAN World Connection Problems
Q: My friend can't see my LAN world.
- A: Ensure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Firewalls or network restrictions might also prevent connection. Try temporarily disabling firewalls on both devices. Restarting your router and Minecraft on both devices can also resolve connectivity issues. Make sure both players are using the same version of Minecraft Bedrock Edition.
Q: I'm getting a connection error when trying to join a LAN world.
- A: This could be due to network issues, conflicting IP addresses, or port forwarding problems (though less likely with LAN worlds). Check your internet connection, router settings, and try restarting your devices. If you're still having trouble, it might be helpful to temporarily disable any VPNs or network proxies.
Q: Can I play a LAN world with different versions of Minecraft Bedrock?
- A: No, all players must be running the same version of Minecraft Bedrock to connect to a LAN world. Version discrepancies will prevent successful connection.
Q: How many players can join a LAN world?
- A: The number of players that can join a LAN world depends on your device's processing power and the complexity of the world. While there's no strict limit, performance might degrade with a large number of players.
Q: What happens if I close the LAN world?
- A: Closing the LAN world will disconnect all players. They will be unable to reconnect until the host reopens the world to LAN.
By following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you and your friends should have no trouble connecting to and enjoying your Minecraft Bedrock LAN worlds. Remember to keep your game versions updated for optimal performance and compatibility.
