Minecraft is one of the most popular action-adventure sandbox games to ever come out. In addition to having an infinite world for players to goof around in, the game also has multiplayer features so you can good around with your friends.
However, just like everything else tech, Minecraft isn’t perfect and sometimes does run into random bugs and glitches. In this article, we’re talking about why you can’t join your friend’s Minecraft world and what you can do to fix the problem.
Why can’t you join a friend’s Minecraft world?
Minecraft connection issues can happen for several different reasons, including the following:
- Internet connectivity issues.
- Blocked ports.
- Incorrect server configurations.
- Outdated Minecraft versions.
Also read: How many blocks are there in Minecraft?
How to fix this Minecraft issue?
Here are a few fixes you can try to weed out issues preventing you from joining your friend’s Minecraft world.
Check your internet connection
Minecraft requires an active internet connection to work. If you have an unstable internet connection, you will miss out on notifications. Suppose you’re on WiFi check to see if you’ve got internet access and strong signals. If you’re on mobile data, check to see if data is enabled and that you’ve got good network coverage.
Disable any firewalls
If you’re using any third-party firewalls, now’s the time to disable them to see if they’re blocking Minecraft. The same goes for any third-party antiviruses.
If your Windows firewall is blocking Minecraft, refer to this guide to see how you can unblock the program.
Also read: How to get XP quickly in Minecraft?
Try adding your friend again
If the friend whose world you’re trying to join isn’t on your list, you won’t be able to connect to them in the first place. However, if they already are and you’re still seeing this error, try removing them from your friends’ list and adding them back. You can use the following command to remove a friend.
/f remove [friend's username]You can learn more about adding friends in Minecraft here.
Load your private world
Several players have reported that loading their own private worlds before hopping onto a Friend’s world has helped them with connection issues. While this isn’t a sure-shot solution, you can try loading into any of your own worlds before joining a friend’s to see if that helps resolve any issues.
Enable multiplayer
Minecraft uses your Xbox account’s multiplayer and privacy settings. Check to make sure if multiplayer is allowed in there.
Step 1: Head over to the Xbox website and log in. Head over to the Xbox One/Windows 10 Online Safety section
Step 2: Scroll down and click Allow next to You can join multiplayer games. Click Submit when you’re done.
Also read: Rapido FAQs: Is it legal? Is it safe? Availability?
Blocked ports
If you’re trying to connect to an external Minecraft server, there’s a good chance that the game might use some ports to connect and communicate with the server. You’ll have to check with the server admin to find the required ports.
Now, while the steps for each router will vary depending upon the make and model, here’s a general idea of what you need to do.
Step 1: Head to your router’s home page. This would generally be your default gateway. In my case, it’s 192.168.0.1
Step 2: Log in to the router settings and look for port forwarding settings. On my router, it’s under the Applications tab.
Step 3: Now type in the port number (25565 for most Minecraft versions) and select the corresponding protocol, including your machine’s local IP Address. Save these settings, and you’re good to go.
Again, depending upon your router, you might have to take a different approach towards opening ports to allow apps to communicate over the internet.
Update Java
If you’re using the Java edition of Minecraft, an outdated version of Java can also cause problems with gameplay and server connections. Ensure you’re on the latest Java version before retrying the connection.
Update Windows and Minecraft
Updating the game and your OS can help resolve the issue by eliminating any underlying bugs hindering functionality.
Check out this guide to quickly update Windows or pause updates if it's hindering your game. You can also check out this guide to update Windows 10 from Command line and Powershell. If you're facing issues while updating Windows 10, go here.
Resolving the error on consoles
If you’re playing Minecraft on a console, chances are your ISP is restricting you in terms of what communication is allowed from your router. If you’re behind a NAT, you won’t be able to connect to any games either.
If you’ve set up a NAT or firewall on your router, try disabling it to see if your connections can get through. If not, you should get in touch with your ISP and work any issues out that may be blocking outgoing traffic from your end.
Also read: How much RAM do you need to run a Minecraft server?
