Playing Minecraft with friends is one of the best ways to enjoy the game, but when you find Minecraft multiplayer not working, you are left playing solo. And that's fine. Playing Minecraft on your own can be a lot of fun. But it isn't as much fun when you don't have a choice.
So if you find yourself unable to play Minecraft multiplayer, what can you do about it? Well, the good news is that there are a couple of potential solutions to this particular issue.
Follow the advice we are about to share with you, and see how you get on. All being well, you'll be experiencing the delights of multiplayer in no time.
How to fix Minecraft multiplayer not working
There are a few possible fixes to the Minecraft multiplayer minefield. Let's run through these for you now.
Make sure multiplayer is enabled
It may seem obvious, but it's possible that you simply need to have the correct multiplayer settings enabled in your game world. It's a relatively simple process:
- Start by opening Minecraft, and find the world in which you want to play multiplayer.
- Next to the relevant world, you should see a pencil symbol. This is the Edit button. Hit this button.
- In Settings, look for the Multiplayer options. You need to ensure that Multiplayer Game is toggled on. This will also allow you to specify who is allowed to join the game.
- Assuming you've adjusted these settings, you should be able to play multiplayer.
Some possible solutions suggested by Mojang are:
- Check that your network connection is enabled, and that no programs are blocking outgoing connections.
- Try disabling any existing firewall program, or changing its configuration options.
- Restart your modem/router.
- You may also want to try logging out of your account and then logging back in, as this refreshes your profile's authentication and connection with our servers.
It is also possible that this error can occur when the Mojang servers are having difficulties processing requests. If you have tried the above solutions, log in after some time.
Check your Microsoft account settings
If the first solution doesn't fix the problem, then the next thing to check is your Microsoft account settings. Perhaps obviously, a lot of account settings are geared towards keeping children safe. The Microsoft account potentially handles more than one function with Minecraft.
Firstly, regardless of what platform you are playing on, a Microsoft account is what links your Minecraft account across all platforms. It also facilitates multiplayer. And if you are playing on Xbox or PC, there is a possibility that your Microsoft account is blocking you from playing online.
- First off, make sure you have a relevant active subscription for playing online games. This applies in terms of Xbox Game Pass, or PS Plus, for example. If you don't have the relevant subscription, this could explain why you aren't able to play multiplayer games online.
- Assuming this isn't the issue, check your Microsoft account privacy settings, to see whether this is preventing you from joining multiplayer games. This is especially relevant for under-18s, as parental controls may have automatically prevented online play. If this is the case, then tweaking the settings to enable multiplayer should resolve the issue.
Other potential fixes
The two fixes we've already outlined are by far the most common ways to resolve the issue with Minecraft multiplayer not working. But in case neither of these work, there are some additional checks you can make:
- If you're using a VPN, try switching it off. A VPN may, in some cases, block P2P connections.
- Make sure you have UPnP enabled. Universal Plug and Play is what your console uses for multiplayer gaming and chat. So if your router is not set up to enable this, it can prevent you from playing multiplayer. In some cases, your router may need an update before you can enable this. So check you have the latest update, then do the following:
- Sign in to your router’s setup webpage, and make sure the router’s UPnP setting is turned on. You can usually find first-time help with this in the router manual or on the manufacturer’s support site.
- Turn the UPnP setting off and save your changes.
- Restart your console, your modem, and your router.
- Turn the UPnP setting back on and save your changes. If there’s a Zero Config setting, make sure that’s turned on as well.
- Restart your modem and router.
- Check your NAT settings. Read how to refresh or change NAT Type on Xbox
- Make sure you don't have a firewall or anti-virus blocking your game. If necessary, try switching it off and testing to see if that resolves the issue.
- You can also try logging out of your account and then logging back in, to refresh your connection to the Minecraft servers.
If you've worked your way through these solutions and still find yourself struggling, then we'd suggest reaching out to Minecraft Support for further help.
What causes the Minecraft multiplayer not working error?
As you will have figured out, there are several potential reasons why you may be experiencing trouble getting multiplayer to work on Minecraft. But typically, they boil down to one of three reasons:
- Minecraft settings
- Microsoft account settings
- Router settings
- Third-party Minecraft software/mods
- Server overload
These are the main culprits preventing you from playing multiplayer. There are some other potential reasons which we've also highlighted, such as not having an active online gaming subscription.
Whatever the reason for your issue, the fixes we've suggested are your best bet for getting it resolved. And then you can enjoy the full Minecraft multiplayer experience.
If you're just getting started, you may want to know how to turn off tips on Minecraft, so you can just get on with playing the game.