Last updated: 11 July 2026

Minecraft Multiplayer Realms Guide — Play with Friends on Any Platform

Whether you want a private server just for your friend group, same-couch LAN play, or a budget self-hosted world, Minecraft has a multiplayer option to match. This guide covers every route: Minecraft Realms (Mojang's official hosted servers), the Realms Core vs Realms Plus split for Bedrock, why Java and Bedrock cannot play together on Realms, Open to LAN for same-network sessions, and running your own free Java server at home.

01What Minecraft Realms Is

Realms are official Mojang-hosted private servers — you pay a monthly subscription and Mojang handles the hardware, uptime, and software updates. There is nothing to install server-side, no router configuration, and no dedicated PC required. Your world persists between sessions and is accessible 24/7 even when you are offline, so friends can log in whenever they want.

There are two entirely separate Realms products that share the name but are not compatible with each other:

• Bedrock Edition Realms — for players on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Windows 10/11, iOS, and Android. Supports cross-platform play between all of those devices simultaneously. Comes in two tiers (Core and Plus).
• Java Edition Realms — for players running the Java Edition of Minecraft on Windows, macOS, or Linux. Single tier. Strictly Java-only — Bedrock players cannot join a Java Realm, and Java players cannot join a Bedrock Realm.

Each Realm can store up to three world slots, only one active at a time, so you can switch between a survival world, a creative build, and a mini-game map without losing any of them.

02Bedrock Realms: Core vs Realms Plus

Bedrock Edition offers two subscription tiers. Both give you a private always-on server; the differences are player capacity and bonus content.

• Realms Core — the entry-level tier. Supports the owner plus up to 2 simultaneous players (3 people total). Good for duos or a tight trio who want a persistent shared world without paying for more capacity than they need.
• Realms Plus — the full tier. Supports the owner plus up to 10 simultaneous players (11 total). Also includes access to Marketplace Pass, a rotating catalog of creator-made maps, skins, and texture packs that all members of the Realm can use at no extra cost. If you have a group of four or more, this is the tier you need.

Pricing for both tiers changes by region and by storefront (purchasing through the Apple App Store, Google Play, or directly from Minecraft.net may yield different prices). Rather than quoting a number that may already be outdated, check the official Realms page at minecraft.net/realms for current prices in your currency — Mojang lists them there.

Cross-platform support on Bedrock is one of Realms' biggest advantages. A single Bedrock Realm simultaneously hosts players on Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, iPhone, and Android — any mix of those devices. Every player needs a Microsoft account linked to their copy of Minecraft. Console players also need their platform's online subscription (Xbox Game Pass Core/Ultimate for Xbox; PlayStation Plus for PS; Nintendo Switch Online for Switch) to use online multiplayer in general, which includes Realms.

03Java Edition Realms: Private Servers for Java Players

Java Realms is a single-tier subscription at a flat monthly rate (check minecraft.net/realms for current pricing). It supports the owner plus up to 10 concurrent players — the same headcount cap as Bedrock Realms Plus.

The key limitation to understand: Java Realms does not support Bedrock cross-play in any form. Java Edition and Bedrock Edition use different network protocols and world formats that are fundamentally incompatible. If half your group is on console and half on PC Java, a single Realm cannot serve both — you would need a Bedrock Realm for the console players and a separate Java Realm for the Java players.

Java Realms also differs from Bedrock in its mod support:

• No mods or plugins on Java Realms. Mojang does not allow Forge, Fabric, Spigot, Paper, or any third-party server software on Realms. The server runs vanilla Java only. If you need mods, you must self-host (covered below).
• No data packs via upload on older Realm configurations — check your current Realm settings, as support for data packs has expanded over time but still differs from a fully self-managed server.
• Render distance on Java Realms is capped at 12 chunks, lower than what a self-hosted server on decent hardware can offer.

For small groups who want vanilla Java survival or mini-games without the overhead of running their own server, Java Realms is a straightforward option. For modded play or larger groups, a self-hosted server wins.

04How to Set Up a Realm and Invite Friends

Starting a Realm takes only a few minutes regardless of edition.

1. Purchase a subscription — from the Realms page on minecraft.net, or directly inside the game. Inside Minecraft, go to Play → Realms and follow the prompts to subscribe. Choose your tier (Bedrock) or confirm purchase (Java).
2. Name your Realm and configure the first world slot — choose a new world, upload one of your existing singleplayer worlds, or (on Bedrock Plus) pick a template from the Marketplace Pass catalog.
3. Invite players — inside the Realm settings, choose Manage Members (Bedrock) or Players (Java). You can invite by Minecraft username, or generate a share link that friends click to automatically request access. The owner then approves the request.
4. Set permissions — each invited player can be granted Member (standard gameplay) or Operator (admin commands) access. On Bedrock you can also assign permission levels per-player.

The Realm owner does not need to be online for others to play — the server is always running. The owner can revoke access at any time from the member list, and the Realm pauses billing if you cancel the subscription (your world data is retained for some time, giving you a grace period to resubscribe if you change your mind — check the official Realms FAQ for current retention terms).

05Open to LAN: Instant Same-Network Co-op

If everyone is physically in the same house or connected to the same Wi-Fi, Open to LAN is the fastest multiplayer option — zero cost, zero configuration, and done in under a minute. It works on both Java and Bedrock editions.

Java Edition steps:

1. Load a singleplayer world.
2. Press Esc and click Open to LAN.
3. Choose a game mode and whether to allow cheats, then click Start LAN World.
4. Other players on the same network launch Minecraft, go to Multiplayer, and your world appears automatically in the server list.

Bedrock Edition handles LAN automatically — any world loaded on one device is visible to other Bedrock players on the same network in their Friends tab, as long as all devices are signed into Microsoft accounts. No manual steps needed.

Limitations to know: LAN sessions end when the host closes their game, no persistent world access when the host is offline, and all players must be on the same local network (VPN software like Hamachi can extend this to remote friends, though that adds setup complexity). For persistent play across different locations, Realms or a self-hosted server is the right tool.

06Self-Hosted Java Server: Free, Full Control

Running your own Java server costs nothing beyond the hardware — Mojang provides the server software free at minecraft.net/download/server. You get unlimited player slots (within your hardware limits), full mod and plugin support (Forge, Fabric, Paper, Spigot), and no monthly fee. The trade-off: you need to set it up, keep it running, and handle port forwarding.

Minimum requirements for a small group (5–10 players, vanilla):

• A computer or cheap VPS running 24/7 if you want persistent access. 2 GB of dedicated RAM is the practical floor; 4 GB is comfortable for vanilla; 6–8 GB for modpacks.
• Java installed (Java 25 is required for Minecraft 26.1 and later — the versions current in 2026; Java 21 suffices for Minecraft 1.20.5 through 1.21.x. Use a version manager if your OS ships an older JDK).
• A stable internet connection with adequate upload speed.

Basic setup steps:

1. Download the server JAR from minecraft.net/download/server.
2. Create a folder for your server, place the JAR inside, then run it once: java -Xmx2G -Xms2G -jar server.jar nogui. It will generate files and stop.
3. Open eula.txt and change eula=false to eula=true, then run the server again. It will generate the world and open the port.
4. Port-forward port 25565 (TCP) on your router to the server machine's local IP. Your router admin page (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) has a Port Forwarding section — assign port 25565 to the machine running the server.
5. Share your public IP address with friends — they add it under Multiplayer → Add Server. You can use a free dynamic DNS service (like No-IP) if your ISP assigns you a changing IP.

Running a home server exposes your public IP to connected players. For a trusted small group this is typically fine; for a public server, consider a cheap rented VPS instead so your home IP stays private and the server runs independently of your own computer.

07Realms vs Self-Hosted vs LAN: Which Is Right for You?

Each option suits a different situation:

• LAN (Open to LAN) — best for playing with people in the same building, right now, with zero setup. Disappears when the host stops playing.
• Bedrock Realms Core — best for two or three friends on any mix of consoles, mobile, and PC who want a persistent world without any technical overhead.
• Bedrock Realms Plus — best for groups of 4–10 on mixed platforms (console/mobile/PC Windows). The Marketplace Pass adds real value if anyone in the group enjoys custom maps and skins.
• Java Realms — best for groups of 2–10 who all play Java Edition and want a always-on vanilla server without running hardware. Not suitable if any member plays on console, mobile, or Bedrock PC.
• Self-hosted Java server — best when someone in the group is comfortable with a small amount of setup and the group wants mods, plugins, or more than 10 players. Free ongoing cost but requires a machine that stays on.

If your group is split between Java and Bedrock players, there is no single Realms solution that covers everyone. A Bedrock Realm for the console/mobile side and a separate Java server for the PC Java side is the conventional approach for mixed groups.