How to host a Minecraft server for friends
Updated September 2026 · Four ways to play together. Which one fits depends on how many friends, how often, and whether you want mods.
The four options
| Option | Cost | Always online | Mods / plugins | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open to LAN | Free | Only while you play | Only what you have | Seconds |
| Realms | Subscription | Yes | No plugins or mods on Java | Minutes |
| Home server | Free (plus power) | Only while your PC runs | Yes | An evening |
| Hosted server | Monthly | Yes | Yes | Minutes |
Option 1: Open to LAN
Good for friends in the same house or on the same Wi-Fi.
- Start a single-player world.
- Press Esc and choose Open to LAN.
- Friends on the same network see the game in their multiplayer list.
Limits: it only works on your local network, the world is gone as soon as you close the game, and your PC runs both the game and the server. Fine for an afternoon, not for a shared world.
Option 2: Realms
Mojang’s own subscription. It is simple and always online, but on Java it runs vanilla only: no plugins, no mods, and a small player limit. If that is all you need, it works. If you want Paper plugins, a modpack or crossplay between Java and Bedrock, you need a real server.
Option 3: A server on your own PC
You download the server software and run it at home.
What you need:
- A PC that stays on whenever someone wants to play.
- Enough spare RAM. The server needs its own memory on top of whatever you run.
- Port forwarding on your router, so friends outside your home can connect.
The catches:
- Some internet providers use CGNAT, which makes port forwarding impossible.
- Your home IP address is visible to everyone you give it to.
- Your upload speed limits how many friends play smoothly.
- If you play on the same PC, the game and the server compete for the CPU.
The setup is covered step by step in how to make a Minecraft server, and the network side in port forwarding vs hosting.
Option 4: A hosted server
You rent a server in a data centre. It is online around the clock, friends join when you are not there, and there is no port forwarding.
On ShulkerHost the configurator asks what you play and how many join, then suggests the plan. The smallest plan, Wood, has 2 GB RAM and is sized for about 10 players. All plans and prices are on one page.
How to choose
- Two friends, same house, once a week — LAN.
- Vanilla only, don’t want to touch anything — Realms or a small hosted server.
- Plugins, mods or friends on Bedrock — home server or hosted server.
- Friends play at different times, or you want the world online without you — hosted server.
Setting up for friends (any server)
Once the server runs, do these five things before you share the address:
- Make yourself OP:
op YourNamein the console. - Turn on the whitelist:
/whitelist on, then/whitelist add Namefor each friend. - Set the rules in
server.properties: difficulty, PvP on or off, spawn protection. - Agree on the version. Everyone must use the same Minecraft version as the server.
- Make a first backup so you can undo mistakes.
Sharing the address
- Java: Multiplayer → Add Server → paste the address. If the server uses a port other than 25565, add it with a colon:
address:port. - Bedrock: Play → Servers → Add Server, address and port in separate fields.
- A nicer address: point your own domain at the server with an SRV record, so friends type
play.yourname.cominstead of an IP.
Friends on phones and consoles
A Java server can let Bedrock players in with Geyser and Floodgate. Set it up once and everyone plays in the same world — see crossplay with Geyser and Floodgate.