{"id":39848,"date":"2021-04-02T18:49:36","date_gmt":"2021-04-03T00:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/?p=39848"},"modified":"2024-11-14T18:43:21","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T00:43:21","slug":"play-minecraft-with-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/play-minecraft-with-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Play Minecraft with Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Minecraft is arguably the best-selling game of all time, depending on what kind of statistics you are looking at and who is doing the research. Regardless of its exact placement on the list, there is no doubt that it is one of the most popular games downloaded. There are a handful of reasons for this.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Minecraft can be downloaded on nearly any gaming platform including, but not limited to, PC, Mac, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, mobile, and tablet.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Single-player gives you a perpetual amount of possibilities on how you can play Minecraft and alter your world. However, this alone isn\u2019t enough reason for Minecraft nearing the top of the list. The real answer lies in its multiplayer capabilities.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Minecraft provides you with the option of enjoying your gameplay experience with friends.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For most people, connecting with friends through multiplayer gameplay is the best way to play.&nbsp; What\u2019s even better is that there are multiple options you can use to play Minecraft with friends including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"#split-screen\">Split Screen<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#lan\">Local LAN<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#server\">Servers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#realms\">Minecraft Realms<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s highly recommended you understand the difference in each option and what they offer because choosing the best course of action can greatly enhance your gameplay and help you tailor your game to your needs. I\u2019ll explain each below and give you a few pros and cons to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"split-screen\">Split-Screen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to internet gaming, split-screen was one of the most popular ways to play games with friends. Although most games nowadays do not offer split-screen capabilities, Minecraft has added that feature into every console edition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the name implies, split-screen will split your screen into multiple smaller screens so each player has his or her own section to look at. Think Rocket League with two to four players. This means if you are playing with one friend, your TV will be separated into two separate images, but if you are playing with four players, then there will be four separate images.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-split-screen\">How to Split Screens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Log into Minecraft with your username and password<\/li><li>Log into a single player world<\/li><li>With your second remote press the <em>Start<\/em> button. You should see a new prompt on your game asking you to join as a second player.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/WJz_1fL7zlADwr60UGVs7p-cXc4OKwurJIhl4PAszj_GJxir4g9zNApu1fiJPfeGgpgowcWybJIBRjcbjpnBrlqcVmgbFdmfYMVXY4UkETqxhUVUnDwRFOTCr6i1qAXhbHLldLtg\" alt=\"Split screen start\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li>Press <em>Start<\/em> one more time to see a new screen pop up with a list of player options to join as. You\u2019re done! You and your friend can now both play on the same screen together!&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/CMWvuZeG-1L_F90hdq_dtTGfnGy99JsHy9vU6QUXFwukotOLFlcmd0HUjD-L2m16rOh8-lO1fVIliOT0uqOFYY38m1VLuHK-JwjXuOcMMHi5C7MD-Hjjutl3aNwBrhX9zZ6VhhpC\" alt=\"See other Minecraft players\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"5\"><li>Tip: If you do not like horizontal split-screen, you can adjust it to a vertical-split screen in the settings.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/minecraft-friends-vertical-split-screen.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/minecraft-friends-vertical-split-screen-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Adjust split screen in Minecraft\" class=\"wp-image-44890\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/minecraft-friends-vertical-split-screen-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/minecraft-friends-vertical-split-screen-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/minecraft-friends-vertical-split-screen-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/minecraft-friends-vertical-split-screen.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"split-screen-pros\">Pros\/Cons of Split Screen <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Split-screen is warranted for many reasons. It allows you to play with a friend without any internet connection, it offers highly cooperative gameplay by allowing you to know exactly where the other person is and what they are doing, and it provides a shared experience of playing in the same room as your friend. It\u2019s also a nice way to get someone interested in playing if they don\u2019t own a console or a copy of Minecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, like many things in life, split-screen has some drawbacks. Many people find sharing a screen with someone else a bad experience. If you are splitting your screen with one other person, the aspect ratio changes, while splitting with four people keeps the aspect ratio, but decreases the size of your view to a quarter of its normal size. Both options can be cumbersome and drop visual quality.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, if you\u2019re playing against each other you have no way to prevent the other person from looking at your screen unless you decide to hang a sheet in between both sides of the TV and trust me, we\u2019ve done that and it\u2019s not ideal. It\u2019s also easy to get distracted, especially with audio. When you inevitably hear the creeper about to blow up is he near you or your friend?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">PROS<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">CONS<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; No internet connection required<br>&#8211; Less lag due to no internet connection<br>&#8211; Only one console and copy of the game needed<br>&#8211; Easier communication to increase cooperativity<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Players must be in the same room together while playing<br>&#8211; Smaller screen and possible change of aspect ratio<br>&#8211; Screen-cheating is difficult to prevent<br>&#8211; Higher chance of distracted gameplay<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em><strong>Recommended: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/best-minecraft-texture-packs\/\">Best Minecraft Texture Packs<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lan\">LAN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is another option you can use to play with friends in your home without sharing a screen. This is called using a LAN network.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LAN means Local Area Network, so in order for someone to connect to your game, they must be using the same internet network that you are using. This is as simple as making sure you are both either connected to the same wifi or directly connected to the same internet modem.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-lan\">How to Set up LAN (Java Edition)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Verify you have an active internet connection on the computer you are playing on&nbsp;<\/li><li>Open Minecraft and log into your account<\/li><li>Click the <em>Single Player <\/em>option<\/li><li>Log into an existing world or create a new world<\/li><li>Press <em>esc<\/em> to open the <em>Game Menu<\/em><\/li><li>Click <em>Open to LAN<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/ImWNMAFX-m6cndX1mulUzRQot7yvuXYgK-Tr1Eeo1Xexv-d5ee-j4Fq0_53l_Mz_KQ3UKOeC7TTGA3pl8rjRQoJ-WRd1D5gI3TKP0fsaW_8ddngre73fAgYE5px9OuiuyKZn340j\" alt=\"Open minecraft lan\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"7\"><li>Choose an option for <em>Game Mode (Survival, Spectator, Creative, Adventure)<\/em><\/li><li>Choose an option for <em>Allow Cheats<\/em> (<em>On\/Off)<\/em><em><\/em><\/li><li>Click <em>Start LAN World. <\/em>At this point, you should see a message on your screen that says \u201cLocal game hosted on port XXXXX\u201d with a random number filled in. You can verify that your game is connected online now by pausing the game. If everything else pauses with you then something went wrong. However, if villagers and mobs still move even with your screen paused then you have successfully opened your game using local area network.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/p8l8WUglol8wbQKx1nwctQGr9KAWgMtrOfRbiK4i1MCvJQqNkib6PqErenpr2hBeannq9FS6C42htWQZPeOiVpMJTpW0Rj4JBU6CmZHdxiRdbvVqxFhsQ7MS-GEnDsS7xdeYSMmI\" alt=\"Find local host port \"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to join a LAN Minecraft game (Java Edition)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Verify you have an active internet connection on your machine<\/li><li>Open Minecraft and log into your account<\/li><li>Click the <em>Multiplayer<\/em> option<\/li><li>Wait a few moments and you will see the LAN world show up<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/zPRGlm_X2CLMxxhHaeO-KCsvFV4A68VPg8drsLW-MBszgLMLdzSxHdA0gkn9U4kOnnlYkJMP5n9JIPMEUfb32Ect2JOP6LUzhjRUe27Ic-Qz5tibqMJgoOWWzR1Xz_ip4c6DFHsn\" alt=\"Join minecraft java edition\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"5\"><li>Click <em>Join<\/em> <em>Server <\/em>and you\u2019re good to go!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/27tv7rO2ssQ2mgobFX8o7swbvYWxbhMoaFGpdCcU8M-wBYrWD2su6TULTFkL0LTR1w0zUWOtU9BS-dHMF8ps2IGwtHIppScJS9b5wRUbWNtO1_26ayFgV2yV3tHwIzOLfORYqUiX\" alt=\"Join server\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"6\"><li>Tip: You may not see your friends LAN World show up. If this happens, click <em>Direct Connect<\/em> and type in your friends\u2019 IP address, followed by a colon, followed by the port number written in the chat when your friend created their LAN world. For example, if your friends\u2019 IP address is 12.123.123.12 and their port number is 55555, you would type in 12.123.123.12:5555<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/_G3xb7dLmGe1LucnnBzkIt4s9h7GFkacFLtX4M_oaC_8_bXpWEC7rGheigDkMRbPqFwsh5Ho5sUqhKS-1VIFxDLomuxM4SJmXAwzMuLNiojU6FrK8SVcLdf_ja3ya7IK9GCTkfJ7\" alt=\"Connect Minecraft server address\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em><strong>Recommended: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/how-to-install-minecraft-mods\/\">How to Install Minecraft Mods<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-lan-bedrock\">How to Set up LAN (Bedrock Edition)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Step by step guide on how to get a LAN set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Verify you have an active internet connection on your machine<\/li><li>Open Minecraft and log into your account<\/li><li><em>Before <\/em>logging into your world, click the pencil icon next to your world to go to Game Settings.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/9xm3PbTrhX1tRYASaCmyGDeYFOBFiFSdDQbPGDekVGGbamEsUdyvIEUtsis4lfRpNzLS6gXbAbYDqrw_xRi3tIFusJGEbXQNXwublAeNRzrmDN-fzC_to92bWKkBpi5KNv7-1xlV\" alt=\"LAN bedrock\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li>Click the <em>Multiplayer<\/em> tab and verify both <em>Multiplayer Game<\/em> and <em>Visible to LAN Players<\/em> are checked.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/sAcSa_xx9BPfiYM08w82dpx4KFKRCCDLMUPCPpdPQTLMC2mBVPXZ3acN6gMw6baJ78gVLVrCkJ3frz1RfMbYlKyZhdl8GmrBFcL8lvZO9KVm55os2JWowbfyDlOJJG3Xv8tp7s3m\" alt=\"LAN multiplayer settings\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"5\"><li>Log into your game. That\u2019s it! Now other players can connect to your game as long as they are on the same network as you.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-join-lan\">How to join a LAN Minecraft game (Bedrock Edition)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Step by step guide on how players can join a game together.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Open Minecraft and log into your account<\/li><li>Press <em>Y <\/em>to open LAN settings. Note that this button may be different depending on what platform you are using. You can verify by looking at the bottom of the home screen.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/zk4YpOl_483ocXAnakK0_vTV4Bn8ACIRhstmS4b9ngkgPVpGdUpnLwOGdg5jXGcYfWw17G9fmtPPEo2L8EnNN5Hrq7Q4DuW-JzCUrmYhCh6tUNRhiM3yk3jJs75eXnvoEE3LcSRQ\" alt=\"Minecraft bedrock edition\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"3\"><li>You\u2019ll see a new screen pop up asking if you\u2019d like to join the online network or a local network. Remember, LAN stands for <em>Local Area Network<\/em>, so let\u2019s select the <em>Local Network<\/em> option.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/CNnIkQiZgqdubYkqBdOw8he8exk5HMJ7NUKNBNSu2s4SNXloLbpDZfqdXP3-n2bH45m82uPRXwo8Qt9cqVvJCnWSiSaPP3XM8i-uNJNwTxTt2BnaoOvreVrI9VedR4GjbSfOOn9k\" alt=\"Select network mode\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li>Finally, go to the <em>Friends <\/em>tab and scroll down towards the bottom. You should see your friends&#8217; world pop up. Your message may be a little different. I get a cross-platform message since I\u2019m logging onto my Windows 10 hosted game from my Nintendo Switch.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/eIb0olaT8rv6CHwr2ar3cmdK574whQUKJhskK2KzdhZX8FulkXuwNyChNAF6tZTg14PwkWHsbErBDp3PIqRI7ClLGh09J94cas3ev96uolXNoZKr2yJFtGoXLL_WaS3S00rGzOZU\" alt=\"Friends tab\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lan-pros\">Pros\/Cons of LAN <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many reasons you\u2019d want to choose to play Minecraft using a LAN connection. The first and most obvious is it allows you to play with your friends. However, unlike split-screen, you each get your own monitor or TV to play on. This prevents skewing your aspect ratio and or decreasing the size of your view by over half. Contrary to using a server, a LAN network is much safer and easier to set up. You don\u2019t need to provide your IP address or port-forward your router. You also don\u2019t need to pay any fees for someone else to host your server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The downside of using LAN is you will still need an active internet connection and your friend will need to be within range of accessing that internet connection through either Wifi or by direct connection. This also means that your game will run based on the speed and quality of your internet connection. Slow internet? Laggy game. Choppy internet? Be prepared to be disconnected periodically. Performance can also be affected because the host of the LAN game must use and play on the same computer from where they are hosting the game unless they have a second account which can put stress on their machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PROS<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>CONS<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&#8211; You can play with your friends without sharing a screen<br>&#8211; Much easier to set up than running your own server<br>&#8211; Higher network safety than accessing another networking or allowing someone else to access your network<br>&#8211; Has no cost attached aside from your own internet connection<\/td><td>&#8211; Players must be on the same network which limits their range<br>&#8211; Gameplay performance is determined by network quality of the host\u2019s connection<br>&#8211; Unable to host the game from a dedicated machine without owning another Minecraft account<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em><strong>Recommended:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/how-to-make-a-minecraft-server\/\">How to Make a Minecraft Server<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"server\">Minecraft Server<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A Minecraft server is the most advanced option of multiplayer Minecraft. It has all of the same features as connecting with LAN with a few additions. First of all, it allows anyone to connect to your server regardless of where they are instead of limiting access to only those on your network. Second, it gives you the option of dedicating a machine to run the server while you can log on to your account from a separate machine to ease up on resources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can either make your own Minecraft server or you can have a third party host one for you, with each having its own benefits. If you\u2019re interested in having someone else be in charge of your server check out our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/how-to-make-minecraft-server-using-hosting\/\">how to make a Minecraft server using hosting<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-server\">How to make a Minecraft server<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Running a server yourself means you are in charge of everything such as downloading the resources you need, configuring how the server acts and behaves, and using your own hardware. If making and running a server yourself sounds interesting to you then it\u2019s possible with just a short series of steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will need to download the proper files then set up your server configurations. You will also need to set up port forwarding if you want people to access your server from outside your network (remember, this is something you cannot do on a LAN network!). After the networking portion is set up and you edit your server properties as you see fit, you can launch your game. Read our step by step instructions on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/how-to-make-a-minecraft-server\/.\">how to setup your own Minecraft server<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-join-server\">How to join a Minecraft server<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Verify the server is set up and running. Verification for this can be achieved by having the server host look at their <em>server.jar<\/em> file after it\u2019s opened. It should show something like this:<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/yZWLPgyplFjw3wntXxH2jC_oh_56_k24_YKe-UBnr_Glxp8M6M1pGKNaFTwHTZPHaGQeSunyvcdlqY6X_mjeDkDtriy7ICGI8UviRb75kgFw8US1brmErFn0G4_cECAt-HEF1XNi\" alt=\"Join a server\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, the host can verify by logging into Minecraft then navigating to the Multiplayer option and look for a green signal bar next to their server showing an active connection. If you see a red \u201cX\u201d and error message then it means the server is not running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/k5G-e1yc3pCq6ZLJBZmBSFkpS3Ha01-dIiIvKa5dQciymwwaLfIQXx2ypCzuqtz76psrhrW6KBSEqad14cNaO84gzyqX3HAkGY7WaLYKZ1HnHQuNsGX6y6YRH-LP5USN6gxZfPT_\" alt=\"Check multiplayer option\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/9bPqUPjIOCMAx_eJamh66A3FLRPHytKDmtT1l5r3_BTEJFVTU7UKa9oaKYeM12w7xMsTuHPNq78FLij9fGV_bKKJnG6YwLx-8Dve2KgF8gWrn13JWqzIaKSCyic3K0TpRb8BVyyH\" alt=\"Check multiplayer option\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"2\"><li>Ensure that both players are using the same version of Minecraft<\/li><li>Log into Minecraft with your username and password<\/li><li>Click the <em>Multiplayer<\/em> option<\/li><li>Click <em>Add Server<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/7PghqWACOacqG2CW4BKLg08TyJZffRer7lkNCdbQv-V6krGx9MEIS2cSF48PsysoCom4pCi3zSXqtFCcJEkLrw8fiarNZyo9qqQtIt-idrY0lJE-fatP9LNs83kzBZjJJmYY6XDd\" alt=\"Play Minecraft multiplayer\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"6\"><li>Type in a server name<ol><li><em>Note: the server name can be anything you want and does not have to match what your friend named their server<\/em><\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Type in the <em>Server Address<\/em>. If your internet provider gave you a <em>reserved IP address<\/em> then use that. If not, use your friends\u2019 IP address from where the server is being hosted.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/vAo7bPnQC2daHcB8Lgy0ioK8MdR-iev_YlSfHaR5kaJpwQcoh8Qzuc1l3Y4f1rMXbIYMXfWd4Hc0vg5Bie1UfShUwYKRTetTJCuN1agol6EwsBMcwRU-KxGg9zFSIf58hLA6PQnZ\" alt=\"Edit server info\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/fz1LacYUn3zHZny2kpUmxVMS3rXSO9VdTVzSKiUZCHcXJvpaHmdnY6PE-WwM9LwS8jOovGKXrws2yiPyQBqC95CNnb9URkXBaTeo-vn0nUz6myg4igS2O8WIMrEy3EWdZJBP7NOq\" alt=\"Success server address\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"server-pros\">Pros\/Cons of Minecraft Server<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Hosting a server yourself gives you a handful of benefits such as complete control without relying on someone else when you need to make changes, the ability to use your own hardware to increase performance as desired, and not having to pay someone else to do it for you! You can configure your server however you like and there is no limit on what type of mods you can support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its drawbacks consist of needing the hardware to run the server which can get very expensive if you don\u2019t already own it. It might open you up to cybersecurity risks by allowing someone to access your network. It\u2019s also nearly impossible to host your own Bedrock server at this time, so realistically speaking, it&#8217;s only available for Minecraft Java Edition. However, if you\u2019re paying another company to host the server for you then getting a Bedrock edition shouldn\u2019t be an issue. Finally, setting up the server is more technically advanced than any of the other options that Minecraft offers for multiplayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PROS<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>CONS<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&#8211; Complete control over server access and configurations<br>&#8211; Ability to use your own hardware and upgrade as needed<br>&#8211; Free to host<br>&#8211; Can support any mods you want<\/td><td>&#8211; Can be very expensive to get started if you don\u2019t already have a decent computer to host with<br>&#8211; You open yourself up to higher cybersecurity risks by allowing people into your network<br>&#8211; More complicated to set up when compared to alternate multiplayer options<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"> <em><strong>Recommended: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/how-minecraft-teaches-coding\/\">How Minecraft Teaches Kids Coding<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"realms\">Minecraft Realms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Minecraft Realms are servers that are hosted by Minecraft itself. It\u2019s similar to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/how-to-make-minecraft-server-using-hosting\/\">third-party server hosting<\/a>, except the third-party is Mojang, the creators of Minecraft.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two versions you can use depending on if you\u2019re playing on Minecraft Java Edition or Minecraft Bedrock Edition. If you are playing on Minecraft Java edition, you will need need to purchase a subscription for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.minecraft.net\/en-us\/realms-for-java\/\">Minecraft Realms: Java Edition<\/a>, but if you are on Bedrock Edition (mobile, Windows 10, Xbox consoles, PlayStation consoles, and the Nintendo Switch) then you will need to purchase a subscription for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.minecraft.net\/en-us\/realms-plus\">Minecraft Realms Plus<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-join-realms\">How to join a Minecraft Realm <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you and your friends are planning on trying out Minecraft Realms then only one of you will need to purchase a subscription. You can do so by going to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.minecraft.net\/en-us\/realms-for-java\/\">Minecraft Realms: Java Edition<\/a> or&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.minecraft.net\/en-us\/realms-plus\">Minecraft Realms Plus<\/a> website and following through with a credit card. Alternately, you can navigate directly to Realms Plus from the marketplace on your machine. After that, it\u2019s as easy as sending your friend an invite to play.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Logging into your Minecraft Realm Server (Java Edition)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Log into Minecraft with your username and password<\/li><li>Click the <em>Minecraft Realms<\/em> Option<\/li><li>Click \u201c<em>Click to start your new realm!\u201d<\/em> if this is the first time logging on.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/pnRYQv5cBDGEgdPg0zzZXQ4w6jY-IGm3H8GDrwoR-3zjMvsX8Qe9Zfb6fi16ZiTMgOhiOb2Djf_aBcVfH5VN4TNR0e7v3V0zpInLPWyH-tXvLKChs8MU3WbKyjLsyCnlb1WP-Gum\" alt=\"Start new realm\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li>Give your Realm a name and description and click <em>Create<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/D9maolF1lp-auKwn2sWvlK9tEisuOoXS8Ak7mFUvCKWbcVvrdDEsQ5ZWNOOqseCZWz_39wnaIC1PPh59lyPoOQhOYTfFVqOYjP6dsSnRmAxLQBH3QJhK43FCSnPD6HoA4Hmi9jf6\" alt=\"Create a new realm\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"5\"><li>If you desire, choose a world template from the list of available options.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/4r_PWH3qtA-2NYZ3SXe6ABAx6eMMdpgQwIy0BA_CiMOSMxj2RCABpTTGTOuLXuS_qCBvmQX4Yj0asCZdpzJ-GEuZqni9BRQoFs8alQywc9YOMggb3oo32l4WWNaNNXC6aKrwl2_W\" alt=\"Select realm world\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"6\"><li>Voila! You\u2019re done! Depending on the world you picked it may take a bit of time to generate. You should now see your new server and can click <em>Play<\/em> to login.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/hAuerzOzv6UZ4pOJF-UZy8sQY1-eaezuuXHVIauDbU4FEuNPLHtN_5pvrbzR9eKnS09ZqpSkTnq8HaWUDgcL79arFxo1aMYSU7Ua8f3BWKG9pAgOK6XKqspltEQmWiVClmCpCjtG\" alt=\"Login to realm server\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/9aDDdzx-nGjHDy5B0IhVWKPJDV7v8mBnF3WOY5lpZ54yHo4Q9rpsk1KwNjCKrKxMEnvvohOStIObXrYgxPfRi0R_a4yquf-vOxAZpqEAvHSy2h0Ld6XGETVp7y8fltLMviR0QOh9\" alt=\"Realm server \"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"realms-bedrock\">Logging into your Minecraft Realms Plus Server (Bedrock Edition)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Log into Minecraft with your username and password<\/li><li>Click <em>Play<\/em><\/li><li>If you haven\u2019t signed up for Microsoft Realms yet you should see an option for a free trial. You will, however, have to enter your credit card information, but you will not be charged until after 30 days. If you have already signed up, you should see your world available under the <em>Realms<\/em> category.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/AZlsMml5oVEH5Kq-2cx4EkmYMxKPdLQd8L2zyluGjLGI1t5ghVQZF5b6ayk4epaNDH2AyKT-GQF7esAqvBCMqS78UmbbDatWTBhbOISz1FyQ2XvVymfUlP2n4eFOz2iCsD8CtVjQ\" alt=\"Login realm server bedrock\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li>Once logged in (or by clicking the pencil in the previous screenshot) you can edit your world and invite players.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-realms-invite\">How to invite people to your Minecraft Realm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No one can join your realm server unless they are specifically invited. Luckily, this process is very easy to do and does not cost any extra money.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inviting a Player to your Realm Server (Java Edition)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Log into Minecraft with your username and password<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>2. Click the Minecraft Realms option<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3. Next to your realm server, click the wrench symbol to configure your realm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/minecraft-friends-my-realms-server.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/minecraft-friends-my-realms-server-1024x579.png\" alt=\"minecraft friends my realms server\" class=\"wp-image-44891\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/minecraft-friends-my-realms-server-1024x579.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/minecraft-friends-my-realms-server-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/minecraft-friends-my-realms-server-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/minecraft-friends-my-realms-server-1536x869.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/minecraft-friends-my-realms-server.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4. Click <em>Players<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/lhorPKbR7IRodQTf2JpInpoTsMPKpGozkNFWHbwgUchRwfHstwiJOTGHwbtJRcTn-BOTvBH9-UBQAVqwdsrod_w-kAniG-ZA5yJXsKNXDTNmAk_C6uuzJv9QlWhkbX0KDqJN4s_B\" alt=\"My realm server\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>5. Click <em>Invite player<\/em> and type in your friend username<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/fCappkVd1-jLPvcZXwwwg1904l7Fcp4Vzi6XplrZZ13pNQj4WxkoSrB3yOhs0bAZIl0YmSqQSx_Oy4lvDIW3-sGOr-rq6brQRZsDj2eVQG1NitMxpw86zRaaYhNsG0IwbOsrsbKt\" alt=\"Invite players\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accepting an invite to a Realm Server (Java Edition)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Log into Minecraft with your username and password<\/li><li>Click the <em>Minecraft Realms<\/em> option<\/li><li>Look for the jumping <em>New Invites<\/em> icon and click it. It\u2019s in the top-middle of the screen.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/77oRKOTuHEFUOyKnHWYLU7r8YoiQjAgQvYyIQbo4ofzJnOVM-BbfbMLgyiDkpRDoqPHO0_sLZkxAWTDMrrZhhVb0B_HK5qErlTBOd3f0q_Nq4H39AS22uJSOgO8oCVNF-aqHaxCl\" alt=\"Accept realm server in java\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li>You should see an invite from your friend. Click the green checkmark to accept.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/8gXIfAOqqNtZ4ozo1xOb_dFbAnqMD6m9oyZop7ga599MKK8Fl3wptXDDaPqn5Su_RkIoWoWjZ1PYK9XJ__dbTEVN1P-8Fs4MdaPG0MoH_ACpC65USz20x01xrxoX4tnpdlaXUOlE\" alt=\"Check mark to accept\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"5\"><li>Navigate back to <em>Realms <\/em>and you\u2019ll now be able to log in and play!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/NiW_HDNxeykgCgRGlDJqoVnG-jq4_GENgcVkMViUbYuEwFaC5m36_MY-bRJH8ZHWmeciPGnu1MK0TyBbMeZe1iXhKOyAO2y8OcO83aPvc92eLLGTMrG7Yj_ImGZ4_WZcicQsX6AX\" alt=\"Play with minecraft realms\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inviting a Player to your Realm Server (Bedrock Edition)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Log into Minecraft with your username and password<\/li><li>Click Play<\/li><li>Next to your realm server, click the pencil icon. Alternately, you can go to Settings while logged into the game.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/6swLnHx3Y7eopZ32d93w597Jl2qH1sz7Gr4sHzElRLh1zxzlVCLOxN8pT4_gazG-0nMOHqdh8Bv5vqGg87yUYVAtLhegmDwPgvWH6xf9T3aJdCJBR5V-d-JsaFd705638-XDmgbL\" alt=\"Invite realm player on bedrock edition\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li>Click <em>Members<\/em><\/li><li>You have a handful of options here. You can either click<em> invite <\/em>next to your friends\u2019 name. If you are not their friend, you can click <em>Find friend<\/em> at the top. Or, the easiest way in my opinion is to click the <em>Share link<\/em> button and give that to your friend over text, email, snail mail, or word of mouth!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/bxlWfN_NoRPKxjNv_5U4nGGuTu1GR87FTuVjDZ9M67SeEuyNxj3D4Mu7gFH6UdZfKAPRvgLbhPhvsbfQPHiaVQunSrGFBWiaJC_0OBJFjF-gLZsXYDse7SZ2iwrZW5ltfBeqBVuC\" alt=\"Share a link to realm\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Accepting an invite to a Realm Server (Bedrock Edition)<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Log into Minecraft with your username and password<\/li><li>Click the <em>Friends<\/em> tab<\/li><li>Click the <em>Join Realm<\/em> button<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/wC7llHY3TaIZel7JdZKgeiRR4LidSGu1_81ehc6v5lrgZlGnU2OcjpKnJZH1vF-OlVTA174p4NncaQ7E0ICneX8qswnJ-b9GF_ahOvIDBMp8-FsyjxUWoxn-DfOZxxNsPVHhbEqw\" alt=\"Accept invite to realm\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li>Type in your invite code that your friend generated for you. Note: you only need to type in the last 11 characters, ignore the <em>realms.gg\/<\/em>. That\u2019s only for if you are clicking the link directly.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/s90LdPHd0AD-XJM9lBQFnBz8Kku2mU8zPJfyROfQNsuXVwDiLGivfz5ngjqfw6jz2au_RzSX4D-Jfxja5-_VpXvxYF7hvkp9cIpy_hqQ5_Gefrkkl11OffPXKXBGfsDMC_XZe5-h\" alt=\"Invite code to realms\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"5\"><li>You\u2019ll see a new screen popup. Click the <em>Join <\/em>button.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/nEl1g8cplwA8_GHtLCEW_EBJHTNq9mwGxqkjhx-bwbdIT_cbMssdgK2ZNnlZ_FfD4YqS4LYGC5E5jyIhmCjX0bk7RDSUJ_PkNINY1YlswTj_PhsuNPFPId6vDm0fCIDinRRCJcYC\" alt=\"Join a minecraft realm\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"6\"><li>You\u2019ll then see another new screen pop up (a bit redundant, I think) asking you to join one last time!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/dz_SXYmyuPr9LyawxxWEGEWFC81dY_AHB8Bm_XzFFAiDjM4bJsQ41IMGsb-ly6cvPvWNdQO7I941jPPNossBvuanbdRbUAyDwk9_takZDOIJKSQb3gV8E3VrcfBwRiC46TYmyuj7\" alt=\"Final join realm button\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"7\"><li>Finally, you\u2019ll see your friends\u2019 realm pop up on the <em>Friends <\/em>tab. Click the realm and log in!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/9eF4qc8VpDTZ4cpCK_W2ufKyr9D1VcFzWN0j8blo4ZFwfOFPXTlpR-z7xoNCH72NFkPjCqzdzrA3KuuRj9LWDErYnJU_zMyX5mrelX-iIMEcakn8XV0yYImgXIDlE-7bBy93hSJN\" alt=\"See realm friends\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros\/Cons of Realms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve done enough research there\u2019s no doubt you\u2019ve run into an article or two that will tell you how terrible using Minecraft Realms is. And to be fair, Minecraft Realms <em>used<\/em> to be terrible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was very expensive for what you got when it was easy enough to use another third-party to host a server for you. However, more recently, Mojang has really improved Minecraft Realms where it may be something worth considering.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve never used Minecraft Realms before, you get a free trial for 30 days. This in itself is completely worth it because, in my opinion, it\u2019s more than enough time to decide if you and your friends will like it. Even though it costs money, so does using third-party server hosting. And Mojang is <em>definitely<\/em> someone we can trust considering they are the creators of Minecraft.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also very easy to set up and log on, no crazy IP addresses or port-forwarding involved, just throw them a credit card and send an invite! Minecraft Realms Plus also comes with many advanced features such as a curated catalog of a plethora of Marketplace packs, monthly updates with new content, and support for local play that also has cloud storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though Minecraft Realms has gotten much better over the years, it\u2019s still home to a handful of drawbacks. The biggest drawback is the player limit. Even though you can invite as many players as you want, only up to 10 can play at a time. This may not be an issue for you, but if you\u2019re expecting a large server you\u2019ll need to look elsewhere.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One small trick for groups of 11; if you have every player log on first aside from the owner, then the owner can log on and be an 11th player. Yay for hacks!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second biggest drawback (or first for some people!) is the lack of mod support. While the Java Edition has custom maps and minigames and bedrock edition has add-ons from the marketplace, full modding support is currently unavailable. If you\u2019re a fan of modding Minecraft, once again, you\u2019ll need to look elsewhere.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, even though $7.99\/month is not very expensive, it\u2019s quite costly for what you get. You can use third-party server hosting for as little as a few bucks a month with full mod support and playing with a greater number than 10 or 11 players at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PROS<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>CONS<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&#8211; Users get a free 30-day trial<br>&#8211; Mojang hosts the server<br>&#8211; Easy to set up<br>&#8211; In the case of Minecraft Realms Plus, you get extra features and benefits that other server hosting companies do not offer<br>&#8211; Easy way to manage who is allowed on your server<\/td><td>&#8211; A limit of 10 players (11 with the hack!)<br>&#8211; No full mod support<br>&#8211; Moderate price tag for what they offer<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em><strong>Recommended:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codewizardshq.com\/java-programming-courses-high-school\/\">Java Programming Courses for High School<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start Playing Minecraft with Friends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re enjoying Minecraft and looking for ways to play with other people there is no doubt that one of the options discussed here will work for you. You can choose to play cooperatively with a sibling using split-screen, you can avoid sitting in the same room with that same sibling using LAN, you can have someone else do all the heavy lifting for you, or you can even the boss and control everything.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you want to experience a taste of social interaction while gaming why not join our <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/XaESeQj\"><strong>Discord Channel<\/strong><\/a><strong> and CodeWizardsHQ server? <\/strong>Our subdomain is <em>mc.codewizardshq.com (server address)<\/em>. If you attach your Discord to our server you\u2019ll even get some bonus benefits. Send a direct message to <strong>CWHQ Minecraft Server#9605 <\/strong>on <a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/XaESeQj\">Discord<\/a> to join.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most things are more fun with friends and that includes Minecraft. If you have any tips or questions about playing Minecraft with friends, share in our <a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/XaESeQj\">Discord<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minecraft is arguably the best-selling game of all time, depending on what kind of statistics you are looking at and who is doing the research. Regardless of its exact placement on the list, there is no doubt that it is one of the most popular games downloaded. 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