Luckily, players who are looking to branch out from single player can take their mining experiences to the next level with LAN or online multiplayer worlds. These two world types have specific purposes and features, and we’ll show you how you can quickly connect to both.
LAN vs. Online Multiplayer
A LAN world is essentially a game that can only be reached by other members on your network/switch. It is not technically “online,” but it allows multiple people on a local network to play simultaneously in one world. A LAN world is ideal for players who live in the same household or at a physical get-together.
An online world is hosted on a server that supports remote online connections. Clients connect to the server via internet connection, and this allows players from virtually all over the globe to play together in one world.
Setting Up a LAN World
Getting started with a LAN world is simple and can be completed in just a few moments. You can configure your client to accept LAN connections before you play, or you can open your world to LAN connections while playing. These two methods are outlined below.
Method 1. Configure your game to accept LAN connections. Load into Minecraft, and select the “Options” button from the main menu. Ensure both “Multiplayer Game” and “Broadcast to LAN” are switched on. Lastly, select the world you want to play and proceed to load it.
Method 2. Open your current world for LAN connections. While in a single player world, pause your game and choose the “Open to LAN” option. In the following menu, you can make any necessary modifications to the world and enable cheats, if you wish. Be sure to copy the IP information of the world.
Connecting to a LAN World
When a world has been opened for LAN connections on your local network, other clients can connect to it. They can either use the IP information that was given at the time the world was opened to LAN connections, or they can easily scan for the world using their own clients. Connecting to a LAN world is as easy as navigating to the game’s main menu, selecting “Play,” choosing the “Friends” tab, and selecting the LAN world from the given list.
Connecting to a Server
Fortunately, connecting to an online server is just as simple as connecting to a LAN server, provided you have the details of the server in question. These are a few quick steps for playing in an online world.
Find a server. You might already have a server in mind, along with its details. In this case, you can skip to step five. However, you likely haven’t had time to locate a suitable server, but rest assured there are easy ways to do this.
Servers cannot be browsed from Minecraft, you must already know of an existing server, and its details must be given to the game in order to locate it. Therefore, it’s a good idea to start by researching websites with server listings. Some servers have their own websites, while others are simply features on server lists. The server you ultimately choose will come down to personal preference.
Begin the process of selecting a server. In an attempt to keep this section short, we’ll go over just a few factors you should consider when choosing a server. While some factors will be based entirely on taste, others will determine whether or not you can play on the server at all. These are things you want to keep in mind while searching for the perfect server.
Take note of the IP address. Each server has a unique IP address that the game can use to establish a connection to it. The IP address is often labeled, and you’ll notice it contains a small number of periods.
Mode of play – Some servers offer the basic gameplay that you’re used to, but others are designed with alternative styles of play in mind. Think about what you’re looking for in a server, and narrow your search to only servers that cater to your wants.
Whitelist requirements – If you see talks of a whitelist in relation to a specific server, an existing account is needed to play in that particular world. This often means an account will need to be made via the server’s site before you can make any connection. Further instructions will likely be included on the website to help you make a successful connection.
Player count – This statistic tells you how populated a server tends to be, as well as the maximum amount of players it can support. In some cases, large populations are divided among several servers, even though it appears that the entire population is attributed to one, single server.
PvP support – The term “PvP” stands for “player versus player,” and if you see this term used in relation to a specific server, it generally means that you will be able to attack other players on said server. Not everyone has a taste for PvP, so this will come down to general preference.
Server uptime – Uptime signifies how often an online server is available for play. Servers with anything less than 90-95% uptime should generally be avoided.
Take note of the game version. The server’s version number will be needed when the time comes to connect, so keep this information on hand for now.
Open the Minecraft launcher and edit your version details. In the lower right corner of your launcher, you’re given the option to change your client version. Choose “Edit Profile,” and match the game version to the one of the server. Make sure you hit “Save Profile” before finishing up.
If it helps, you can create specific profiles for various servers that you like. This way, you can easily switch version details on the fly if you plan on regularly playing on more than one server.
Add the server to your client’s server list. After launching the game and arriving at the main menu, choose the “Multiplayer” button. Choose the “Add server” button, and prepare the details that you previously recorded about your preferred server.
Enter the IP address into the “Server Address” field. For the server name, provide the server’s name. It doesn’t have to be exact, but it will help you recognize it later. Choose “Done” to confirm the server details and add the server to your list.
Join the server. Back on the main Multiplayer interface, you’ll now notice that the list has been populated with your new server. Joining the server is as simple as selecting it from the list and clicking the “Join Server” button.
At this time, your client will use the information you provided to establish a connection the server. If the information for the server was entered correctly, it will likely load in, and you’ll be able to immediately begin playing. If you receive error messages, check the server details a second time. If you receive a message about an incorrect client version, ensure that your client version matches that of the servers.
