How To Fix Minecraft Lan Server Not Showing Up (2024)

Are you facing the problem of Minecraft Lan Not Showing? If yes then dont worry you are at the right place.

Minecraft LAN (Local Area Network) refers to a mode of gameplay where multiple players on the same network can join and play together in the Minecraft world without needing an internet connection.

LAN gameplay in Minecraft is a great way for friends or family in close physical proximity to enjoy multiplayer experiences without needing an internet connection. 

It’s relatively straightforward to set up as long as the devices are connected to the same local network.

However, many players are experiencing the issue Minecraft Lan Not Showing Up, in this guide we will provide you some effective methods to resolve the issue.

How To Fix Minecraft Lan Server Not Showing Up

Here are some steps you can try to fix the LAN issue:

Check Network Connectivity:

Make sure that all devices attempting to join the Minecraft LAN server are connected to the same local network. 

This network could be a Wi-Fi network or connected via Ethernet cables to the same router or switch.

For devices connected wirelessly, verify that they are connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. 

Sometimes, devices might connect to a different network, causing them to be on separate subnets and unable to communicate with each other.

Verifying and ensuring that all devices are properly connected to the same local network, you can eliminate potential connectivity issues that might prevent Minecraft LAN servers from being visible to other players. 

This helps the groundwork for devices to communicate and discover each other within the LAN environment, allowing Minecraft’s LAN server to show up for other players.

Firewall Settings And Discovery:

Sometimes, firewall or antivirus software settings can block LAN connections. 

Temporarily disable these programs or create exceptions/rules to allow Minecraft through the firewall.

Go to the Control Panel on your Windows computer.

Click on “System and Security” within the Control Panel.

Select “Windows Defender Firewall.”

Within Windows Defender Firewall settings, find and click on “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.”

Click on “Change settings” and scroll through the list of apps and features.

Look for “Network discovery” in the list.

Ensure that the box next to “Network discovery” is checked to enable it.

Click “OK” to save the changes.

Open the “Start” menu and locate “Settings.”

Navigate to Network & Internet Settings:

In “Settings,” go to “Network & Internet.”

Select “Status” from the options available in the right window.

Under “Sharing options,” find the “Network discovery” section.

Make sure that “Network discovery” is turned on.

Make sure the checkbox for Open Control Panel:

Go to the Control Panel on your Windows computer.

Navigate to Windows Defender Firewall:

Click on “System and Security” within the Control Panel.

Select “Windows Defender Firewall.”

Allow an App or Feature through Firewall:

Within Windows Defender Firewall settings, find and click on “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.”

Change Settings and Enable Network Discovery:

Click on “Change settings” and scroll through the list of apps and features.

Look for “Network discovery” in the list.

Ensure that the box next to “Network discovery” is checked to enable it.

Click “OK” to save the changes.

Access Settings:

Open the “Start” menu and locate “Settings.”

Navigate to Network & Internet Settings:

In “Settings,” go to “Network & Internet.”

Access Sharing Options:

Select “Status” from the options available in the right window.

Enable Network Discovery:

Under “Sharing options,” find the “Network discovery” section.

Make sure that “Network discovery” is turned on.

Ensure the checkbox for “Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices” is selected.

Click “Save changes” to apply the settings.

is selected.

Following these steps will configure the Windows firewall settings and network discovery options, allowing Minecraft LAN connections to work smoothly by ensuring that devices on the same network can communicate with each other.

Check Minecraft Versions Match:

Make sure all players should be using the same version of Minecraft. 

If one player is using a different version of Minecraft than others on the LAN, it can cause compatibility issues, preventing them from seeing or joining the LAN server.

To check the Minecraft version, launch the Minecraft Launcher on your device.

Before logging in, you will  usually see the game version displayed in the bottom left corner of the Launcher. 

Make sure this version matches the version other players are using.

Remove The Mods:

Playing with mods can sometimes lead to game crashes or LAN problems when others don’t have the same mods.

To fix this, try removing all your Minecraft mods and then restart the LAN session.

Inside the Minecraft installation folder, there might be a folder named “mods.” 

This is where mod files are usually stored.

Delete or move all files and folders within the “mods” folder. 

This removes the mods from your Minecraft installation.

Launch the game using the Minecraft Launcher after removing the mods.

Verify that the game loads without any mod related content or modifications.

Players should now be able to connect and play together without encountering mod related issues since the game is running the original, unmodded version.

Disable Antivirus Software:

If you have antivirus software installed, open its settings.

Look for any features related to network or program permissions.

Add Minecraft or Java to the antivirus software’s whitelist or exceptions list to ensure they are not blocked from network access.

Or you can temporarily disable the antivirus software and check if the LAN server becomes visible to other players. 

If it appears after disabling the security software, it indicates that the antivirus might be the cause of the issue.

Check Multiplayer Settings:

On the device hosting the LAN server, ensure that the world is set to “Open to LAN.” 

Go to the pause menu in game, click “Open to LAN,” and configure settings such as game mode and cheats. 

Also, note the port number shown after opening to LAN.

This information will be required for other players to connect directly if the LAN server doesn’t show up automatically.

Verify Java Version and Updates:

Make sure that Java is updated to the latest version on all devices running Minecraft. 

Outdated Java versions might cause compatibility issues.

Having the latest version of Java installed can help ensure that Minecraft runs smoothly and without issues related to outdated software.

To check the version of Java installed on your computer, you can follow these general steps:

On Windows: Go to the Control Panel > Programs > Java. You can find the Java version installed.

If you find that your Java version is outdated, you should visit the official Java website or use the Java Control Panel on Windows to download and install the latest version available for your operating system.

There are some effective methods you can try to fix the LAN problem in Minecraft.

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