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How to Play Minecraft with Friends for Free (Java Edition)

Last checked: 6 October 2026

You can play Minecraft: Java Edition with friends for free in five main ways: open your world to LAN if everyone is on the same network, share your single-player world over the internet with a mod such as Essential or e4mc, use a free host such as Aternos or Minehut, run the free official server software on your own PC, or use Shulkerboxes (free Java Edition hosting, invite-only, US only, gameplay recorded for AI datasets). LAN and mods are quickest when the host is playing anyway. A hosted server lets friends play while the owner is away. Each free option costs something other than money: a PC left on, ads, queues, player slots, or your gameplay data.

The options at a glance

OptionWorks over the internet?Host must be online?Good for
LAN (Open to LAN)No, same network onlyYes, the host’s game is the serverOne house, one Wi-Fi
Essential modYesYesQuick sessions in a single-player world, up to 8 players at once
e4mc modYesYesThe same, and friends join with a normal, unmodded game
Free hosts (Aternos, Minehut)YesNoCasual groups that accept ads and limits
Self-hostingYes, with port forwarding or a tunnelThe PC must stay onSomeone with a spare PC
ShulkerboxesYesNoUS friend groups who are comfortable with gameplay recording

What free costs you

Free services pay for servers somehow. This is what each option asks of you instead. Facts about each service come from its own pages, checked on 6 October 2026.

OptionQueuePlayer slotsAdsYour data
LANNoneLimited by the host’s PCNoneStays on your network
EssentialNoneUp to 8 connected at onceNone listed; it sells optional cosmetics for Essential CoinsIts privacy policy (last updated 28 October 2024) lists your Minecraft UUID, IP address and usage data, and says it does not sell your personal information
e4mcNoneLimited by the host’s PCNoneConnections pass through e4mc’s relay; it describes itself as a reverse proxy
AternosYes, when its servers are full; you confirm at the frontUnlimited, per its siteYes: Aternos says it is financed by adsIt asks users to turn off ad and tracking blockers on its site
MinehutNone stated; its site says servers wake the instant a player tries to join10 on the free Starter plan, with 1 GB RAMYes, per its cookie noticeIts cookie notice says it uses cookies to show ads
Self-hostingNoneLimited by your PCNoneStays on your PC
ShulkerboxesPlayers who choose to play unrecorded may wait in line at busy timesCheck before you joinNoneGameplay is recorded and de-identified into AI training datasets licensed to other companies; chat only if you opt in

Option 1: LAN, for friends in the same house

  1. Open your single-player world.
  2. Press Esc and choose Open to LAN.
  3. Pick the game mode for friends and whether to allow commands. If you leave Port Number empty, the game picks a random port and shows it in chat.
  4. Start the LAN world. Friends on the same network see it in their Multiplayer list.

LAN works only on the same local network, usually the same Wi-Fi or router. The world is online only while the host is playing.

Option 2: Essential or e4mc, for friends in other houses

Both are mods the host installs. Neither needs a server or port forwarding.

  • Essential. Choose Host in the Essential menu, pick the world, choose Start Hosting, then invite friends with Add Members. Its wiki says up to 8 players can be connected at the same time and the host has to stay online because the host’s game is the server. For a modded world, everyone needs the same mods.
  • e4mc. Install it on the host’s game (Fabric, Forge, NeoForge or Quilt), then choose Open to LAN as normal. A public address appears next to the local port. Friends join that address with a normal game; they don’t install anything.

Anyone who has the address can try to join, so keep online mode on and use a whitelist. For more tunnel options, such as playit.gg, see playing without port forwarding.

Option 3: a free host

A free host runs the server for you, so friends can play while you’re away.

  • Aternos says it is free forever and supports plugins, mods and modpacks with unlimited slots. Its help center says it is financed by ads, uses a start queue when its servers are full, and stops empty servers after a countdown.
  • Minehut has a free Starter plan with 10 player slots and 1 GB of RAM, and plugin upload. Free servers sleep when empty and wake when a player joins. Its cookie notice says ads keep free servers free.

See Aternos alternatives for more free hosts compared.

Option 4: self-host on your own PC

  1. Download the official Java Edition server software from minecraft.net. It is free; you need Java installed.
  2. Run it on a PC that can handle it. The example command on minecraft.net gives the server 4 GB of memory.
  3. Let friends in from outside your home: minecraft.net says you may need to open port 25565 on your router. If port forwarding fails, you may be behind CGNAT; see playing without port forwarding.

Friends can play only while that PC is on. Mods and plugins are up to you, because it is your server.

Option 5: a hosted server

A hosted server keeps the world online without your PC. Besides the free hosts above, Shulkerboxes is free for US groups with an invite. Two paid options are close to free for a while:

  • Realms has a one-month free trial for new subscribers, then $7.99 USD a month for Java, and continues unless cancelled. See Realms alternatives.
  • exaroton has a trial without a payment method, then charges 1 credit per GB of RAM per hour the server runs.

Troubleshooting

  • Friends get “Connection timed out”. Check the server or LAN world is running and the address is right. See the timeout guide.
  • Friends see “Outdated client” or “Outdated server”. Everyone must run the same game version. See the outdated server guide.
  • The LAN world doesn’t show up. Check everyone is on the same network, or type the host’s local address and the port shown in chat.

Where Shulkerboxes fits (and doesn't)

Shulkerboxes is free server hosting for Minecraft: Java Edition friend groups, with no ads and no credit card. Nobody has to port forward. A server wakes up when a friend joins and is ready in about a minute. It is invite-only with a waitlist and open in the US only. It is free because gameplay is recorded and de-identified into AI training datasets that are licensed to other companies, and chat is recorded only if you opt in (how it’s free). Every player sees a notice before playing and chooses to play recorded or unrecorded. If your group needs mods, plugins, or Bedrock, ask before you join or pick an option above that says it supports them.

Have an invite code? Enter it on the home page. No invite yet? Join the waitlist and we will save you a spot.

FAQ

Can you play Minecraft Java with friends for free?

Yes. LAN, the Essential and e4mc mods, free hosts such as Aternos and Minehut, and self-hosting all cost no money. Each has a trade-off: the host staying online, ads, queues, or player limits.

How do I play Minecraft with friends on the same Wi-Fi?

Open a single-player world, press Esc, choose Open to LAN, and start it. Friends on the same network see the world in their Multiplayer list.

How do I play with friends in another house without a server?

Install Essential or e4mc on the host's game. Essential invites friends from its menu, up to 8 at once; e4mc gives a public address that friends join with a normal game. The host must stay online.

Can friends play when the owner is offline, for free?

Only on a hosted server, such as a free host or Shulkerboxes, or on a server running on a PC that stays on.

What is the catch with free Minecraft servers?

Free hosts pay for servers somehow. Aternos says it is financed by ads and uses a queue when full; Minehut's free plan shows ads and has 10 slots; Shulkerboxes records gameplay for de-identified AI datasets.

Sources