A group of players in Alex skins in the default pack.
Multiplayer is the server-based version of Minecraft that enables multiple players to interact with each other on a single world, allowing them to work together to mine ores, build structures, and fight mobs (or each other), or to simply play together.
1 Gameplay
2 Chat 2.1 Errors
Gameplay[]
The disclaimer that appears in Java Edition when clicking onto the Multiplayer section from the main menu.
Multiplayer works using a server, which allows players to play online or via a local area network with other people. There are various customization options that can be set by operators. These settings depend on the type of server and can create many different multiplayer experiences.
To change multiplayer settings in Bedrock Edition, the world owner has to go to the world settings while not in the world, then select the "Multiplayer" tab, and are then given some options.
The first option is "Multiplayer Game". This option allows world owners to decide who can join them over WIFI, by selecting an option on the "Microsoft Account Settings" dropdown.
- If they select "Invite Only", only Xbox Live friends that are owner invites can join them.
- If they select "Friends Only", then only their friends on Xbox Live can join them.
- If they select "Friends of Friends", then the owner's Xbox Live friends and their Xbox Live friends can join. This is also the default option.
The second option is called "Visible to LAN Players", which allows anyone on the same WIFI network the owner is on to join them, regardless of if they are a friend of theirs or not. There can be a maximum of 5/8 players at a time in a world.
To enable multiplayer In Java Edition, the world owner has to first pause the game and press "Open to LAN", then the owner is then prompted some options:
- "Game Mode", which sets the gamemode of other players once they join the world for the first time. Once a player rejoins, they retain their previous gamemode even if the gamemode on join was changed.
- "Allow Cheats", which allows or denies other players access to cheats depending on the selected option. Once a player rejoins, they wont retain their cheats permissions unless enabled again.
Once the world is opened to the LAN, players on the same WIFI network as the world owner can join by going to the multiplayer section. Players who are going to join over WIFI must do the following:
1. Add a server/Use Direct Connect.
2. Enter the IPv4 address of the world owner into the server address, followed by a colon.
3. Enter the port of the world that was given upon opening the world to LAN.
4. Ensure that there are no spaces in the address, then join!
An important thing to note is that a WIFI router Firewall/Computer Firewall can block you from joining/having others join your world. Ensure that no firewalls stop any incoming connections, though beware of the risks.
Once making the world multiplayer, some differences are noticeable, with one being that game mechanisms don't stop working if the player pauses the game. For example, if the player has items being smelted in a furnace, pressing ESC does not stop the smelting process. In Bedrock Edition, there is no difference as opening the menu in a singleplayer also doesn't pause the game.
Gameplay in Minecraft is generally the same in both single-player and multiplayer, with some notable differences. Multiplayer has more of an emphasis on community and collaboration between players, which is assisted by the multiplayer chat function. Multiplayer allows for the player to build contraptions that are intended for multiple players. In addition, there are many adventure maps and mini-games in which multiple players are required.
Chat[]
A multiplayer chat snippet.
Shows (from up to down) bold, strikethrough, underlined, italicized, and reset (§r) text (also default)
Several of these commands are configurable (the defaults are shown here).
Players can press T(for keyboard) / [BE & EE only](for touchscreen) / [BE only](for controller) to open the chat and talk to other players. Chat functions include:
- Chat history - A small scroll bar is on the side of the chat bar. Fela.London can also scroll using the mouse wheel or PgUp and PgDn. The last 100 chat messages are stored. Holding down ⇧ Left Shift or ⇧ Right Shift and attempting to scroll up or down slows down scrolling. - The player can view their own recently sent messages by pressing the ↑ and ↓ keys while typing.
Note: the section symbol cannot be typed in vanilla clients because they are restricted characters. Even in single player, if § is pasted and posted in chat, the player who sent it is automatically kicked with an "Illegal characters in chat" message, and a server-side disconnect.endOfStream error is given. Even in single player, the only available button opens the server selection screen.
Players can also type commands into the chatbox. Commands are identified by the server with the use of a forward slash (/) at the beginning of the message.
- Simply pressing / acts like a command key; it opens the chat with a / in it. - Typing / and then pressing Tab ↹ lists available commands, similar to entering the /help command.
While typing, pressing Tab ↹ autocompletes the first possible command or username starting with the letter(s) typed. If there are multiple usernames or commands beginning with the letter(s), the chat displays a list of possibilities; pressing tab again scrolls through the list.
- Some commands may also have additional parameters that may be autocompleted by pressing Tab ↹ at that point. - Certain commands that handle blocks (/blockdata, /fill, etc.) have parameters that need the x, y, and z coordinates of the target block(s). Using the Tab ↹ key when these coordinates are needed automatically adds the coordinates of the block the player is looking at.
In Java Edition, the chatbox can be reduced in size, the opacity may be adjusted or it may be hidden via the chat settings in the options menu. In Bedrock Edition, the chat settings are found within the chat screen and include options to change the color of the chat, the font, and its size.
In Bedrock Edition, swear words in multiple languages are censored and show up as asterisks.
Errors[]
If the player types a nonexistent command, the command contains syntax errors or the player does not have permission to use the specified command, the player receives an error message and the command does not function.
The user then receives an error message that is only seen by the user who has done the error that can be of all reasons why above.
Narrator[]
The different narrator settings.
Pressing CTRL + B toggles the narrator, a text-to-speech engine that automatically reads chat messages, including the username. This keyboard shortcut was intentionally hardcoded as to be unchangeable,[2] but for unknown reasons, however, this stance appears to be under review. The narrator can be toggled between several settings:
Off: The narrator is inactive.
All: The narrator reads chat and system messages.
Chat: The narrator reads only messages produced by players.
System: The narrator reads only messages produced by the system (command outputs, notifications, etc.).
The narrator does not read commands or command outputs. Language of the narrator is defined in host system and cannot be changed from within the game (though, it can be forced by messing with windows registry).[3]
The narrator can also be used in Singleplayer.
Video[]
History[]
Issues[]
Issues relating to "Multiplayer" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.