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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The easiest way to play Mindustry with friends is over the same Wi‑Fi network: one player hosts from the in-game pause menu, and everyone else joins from Play > Join Game. If the game does not appear, add the host’s local IP address manually. Friends on different networks need port forwarding, a public server, or a dedicated server. Every player must run the same Mindustry version, and the game supports cross-platform multiplayer.
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Choose the right multiplayer method
Mindustry has three practical multiplayer arrangements. A local host is quickest for a few friends in the same room. Internet play requires either a host whose router accepts an incoming connection or a server already reachable from the internet. A dedicated server is the most reliable choice for a persistent group because it continues running after the owner closes the game client.
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The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| Arrangement | Where players are | Setup | Persistence | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local host | Same Wi‑Fi or personal hotspot | Start a game and choose Host Multiplayer Game | Ends when the host closes the game | A few friends playing together |
| Internet connection to a host | Different networks | Port forwarding, firewall access and a reachable address | Ends when the host session ends | Occasional sessions without server administration |
| Dedicated server | Any location with network access | Java, server software, port and firewall configuration | Can remain online without the host client | Persistent worlds or larger groups |
| Public or community server | Any location | Join an available server from the Join Game screen | Depends on the server operator | Playing when nobody wants to host |
Before anyone connects
Put every device on the same game version
Mindustry’s official FAQ describes the game as fully cross-platform: any device can connect to another device when all of them run the same version. This includes PC and mobile combinations. Check the version shown on each installation before troubleshooting networking. A Windows, macOS, Linux, Android or iOS player on a different release can fail to join even when the network itself is working.
Decide whether you are using a local or internet connection
A home Wi‑Fi network and a personal phone hotspot are local networks. They normally allow the game’s local server advertisement to reach nearby devices. A café, hotel or school network may isolate clients from one another, so devices connected to the same wireless name may still be unable to discover the host.
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Friends in different homes are not on the same local network. They cannot normally use the host’s private address, such as an address beginning with 192.168., because that address exists only inside the host’s router. Use port forwarding, a public server, or a dedicated server instead.
Host a game on the same Wi‑Fi or hotspot
- Connect the host and all joining devices to the same Wi‑Fi network or personal hotspot. Avoid guest Wi‑Fi when possible.
- On the host device, start Mindustry and load or create the map you want to play.
- Open the pause menu and select Host Multiplayer Game. The local session begins advertising itself to devices on the same network.
- On each friend’s device, open Play > Join Game.
- Wait for the host’s game to appear in the server list, select it, and connect.
The local hosting method uses the host’s device for the running game, so performance and battery use are affected by the host. The session is available only while that game remains open.
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If the local game does not appear
Try a personal hotspot
Public wireless networks commonly block device-to-device discovery. The Mindustry FAQ specifically recommends trying a personal hotspot when a Wi‑Fi session is missing from the Join Game list. Connect every device to the hotspot, stop the old hosted session, start hosting again, and refresh Play > Join Game.
Add the host’s internal IP address
Local discovery is convenient but not required. Find the host device’s private IPv4 address in its network settings, then on the joining device open Play > Join Game > Add Server and enter that address. The source UI text describes the Join screen as accepting a server IP as well as discovering local and global servers.
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Use the address assigned to the host on the current Wi‑Fi or hotspot, not an old address saved from another network. If the host changes networks, the private address can change too. Both devices must still be connected to the same local network, and the host must still be running Host Multiplayer Game.
Check local blocking
- Confirm that the host and joining device are not connected to separate guest and main networks.
- Turn off a VPN temporarily on both devices while testing; VPN routing can prevent local discovery.
- Allow Mindustry through the operating system’s private-network firewall prompt on the host.
- Close and reopen the hosted session after changing networks or firewall permissions.
- Verify the game version on every device before changing router settings.
Play with friends on different networks
For players in different homes, the official FAQ identifies port forwarding and sharing the host’s IP address as the normal direct-hosting method. The host’s router must forward Mindustry traffic to the device running the game, and the host’s firewall must allow that traffic. The external address is network-specific; do not assume that a private address or a previously shared public address will remain valid.
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What the host must configure
- Start Mindustry on the device that will run the session and note that device’s local IP address.
- Sign in to the home router and create a port-forwarding rule for Mindustry to the host device.
- Forward port 6567 for both TCP and UDP. The Mindustry server guide documents 6567 TCP and UDP as the usual server port.
- Allow the same traffic through the host operating system’s firewall. On Windows, create inbound rules for both protocols if the firewall asks separately.
- Start the multiplayer session and determine the host network’s current public IP address using the router’s status page or another trusted method.
- Give friends the reachable address and the port, then have them choose Play > Join Game > Add Server and enter it.
Router interfaces and internet providers differ. Some connections place customers behind carrier-grade NAT or otherwise do not permit unsolicited inbound traffic. In that situation, a correctly entered rule may still be unreachable from outside the home. Use a public server or a dedicated server instead of repeatedly changing settings that the connection cannot support.
Security and reliability considerations
- Forward only the required Mindustry port to the intended host device; do not expose unrelated services.
- Keep the host operating system and Mindustry installation updated.
- Do not post a home public IP address publicly. Share it only with the people who need to join.
- A public IP can change when the router reconnects. Friends may need the new address for a later session.
- Closing the host game ends this type of session, even if the router rule remains in place.
Use a public or community server
A public server avoids configuring a friend’s home router. From Play > Join Game, use the available server list or add the server address supplied by its operator. This is useful when the host’s network blocks inbound connections or nobody wants to keep a client open.
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Public servers are operated by other people, so availability, rules, moderation, maps and persistence vary. A server may disappear, restart, restrict access or run a version that does not match your clients. Confirm the server’s required version and connection details with its operator. For a private group, a dedicated server under your control offers more predictable access.
Run a dedicated Mindustry server
A dedicated server runs separately from the normal game client. It can stay online while the owner is not playing and is better suited to a persistent world or a larger group. The trade-off is administration: the operator must install Java, run the server software, configure networking and maintain the machine.
Basic setup sequence
- Choose a machine that can remain online and has a stable network connection. It may be a computer in your home or a cloud virtual machine.
- Install a Java runtime supported by the current Mindustry server release.
- Download the dedicated-server release from the official Mindustry distribution.
- Start the server JAR with Java. The first launch creates the server’s working files and opens its console.
- Use the server console’s host command and specify the map you want the server to run.
- Allow port 6567 TCP and UDP through the machine’s firewall and, for a home server, forward that port from the router to the server machine.
- Give players the server’s reachable address. Players join from Play > Join Game > Add Server.
The exact Java launch command and available console commands can vary with the server release and operating system, so follow the command text shipped with that release rather than copying a command intended for another version.
Home machine or cloud machine?
| Choice | Advantages | Costs and responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Home computer | No separate hosting account; direct control of files and settings | Must stay powered on; home bandwidth, router access and changing public IP can affect availability |
| Cloud virtual machine | Designed for remote access and continuous operation; can be separated from a player’s desktop | Requires account, operating-system administration, firewall rules and ongoing infrastructure charges |
| Managed Mindustry server hosting | Provider may handle the machine, uptime and server controls | Features, regions, limits and pricing depend on the provider; verify current terms before subscribing |
The Mindustry server guide gives Amazon AWS, Linode and DigitalOcean as examples of cloud infrastructure categories. Those examples do not establish a current price, plan, performance guarantee or endorsement. Choose a service only after checking its present Java support, inbound-port policy, storage, backups and access controls.
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Cross-platform multiplayer: PC and mobile
PC and mobile players can play together when every installation is on the same Mindustry version. The platform itself is not the deciding restriction. Steam’s listing also describes cross-platform multiplayer, online co-op, private sessions, public dedicated servers and community servers.
For a mixed group, use the same connection procedure as an all-PC group: local players join the host’s advertised game or enter its internal IP; remote players use the forwarded public address or a server address. Touch controls, keyboard controls and screen sizes differ, but those interface differences do not change the network steps.
Troubleshoot joining problems in the right order
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Friend cannot see a local game | Different network, guest isolation or blocked discovery | Use the same Wi‑Fi or hotspot, then try Add Server with the host’s internal IP |
| Internal IP works locally but remote friend cannot connect | No port forwarding, wrong public address or carrier-grade NAT | Forward 6567 TCP and UDP, allow the firewall, verify the public address, or switch to a public/dedicated server |
| Server appears but joining fails immediately | Version mismatch or server/client incompatibility | Install the same Mindustry version on every client and the server |
| Only some friends can join | Different network paths or a restrictive firewall | Compare each player’s network, test a hotspot, and check firewall permissions on the host |
| Connection stops when the host exits | Normal local-host behavior | Keep the host client open or move the world to a dedicated server |
| Dedicated server is unreachable | Server process stopped, port blocked or address changed | Check the Java process and server console, allow 6567 TCP/UDP, verify router forwarding and confirm the current reachable address |
A fast diagnostic checklist
- Confirm every player and the server use the same Mindustry version.
- Identify the network distance: same Wi‑Fi, same hotspot, or different networks.
- For local play, refresh Play > Join Game, then test the host’s internal IP through Add Server.
- For internet play, verify the host’s public address, router forwarding for 6567 TCP and UDP, and firewall rules.
- Check that the host session or dedicated-server process is still running.
- If the network cannot accept inbound connections, stop troubleshooting the home router and use a public or managed server.
Which option should your group use?
- Same room or same home: use Host Multiplayer Game over Wi‑Fi or a personal hotspot.
- Friends in different homes for an occasional session: try direct hosting with port forwarding only if the host’s connection permits inbound traffic.
- Friends in different homes with restrictive routers: join a public server or create a dedicated server on reachable infrastructure.
- A world that should remain available: use a dedicated server rather than a client-hosted game.
- PC and mobile together: update all installations to the same version, then use the method that matches the group’s network.
What the connection model means for your save and session
In a locally hosted game, the host device is the active authority for the session and consumes the resources needed to run it. Closing the game closes the session. A dedicated server separates that responsibility from the player clients, allowing the world to remain available and letting players connect at different times, provided the server process and network remain online.
That difference is more important than the device brand. A fast phone or PC does not turn a local host into an always-on server, and a dedicated server does not remove the need for matching versions and reachable network ports.
FAQ
Can Android, iPhone, PC and Steam players join the same game?
Yes, when all devices run the same Mindustry version. Use local discovery, an IP address, a public server or a dedicated server according to where the players are connected.
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Local discovery may be blocked by guest-network isolation, public Wi‑Fi rules or a firewall. Put both devices on a personal hotspot or trusted local network, then add the host’s internal IP manually.
What IP should I give a friend?
Give a same-network friend the host’s internal IP. Give a friend on another network the host network’s reachable public address after port forwarding is configured. A private address is not a substitute for an internet-reachable address.
Do I need port forwarding for friends on the same Wi‑Fi?
No. Local players normally connect through discovery or the host’s internal IP. Port forwarding is for connections arriving from outside the host’s local network.
Which port does a Mindustry server use?
The current Mindustry server guide documents port 6567 for both TCP and UDP. Firewall and router rules must account for both protocols.
Can I keep playing if the host closes the game?
Not with ordinary client hosting. That session ends when the host closes the game. Use a dedicated server for a world that should continue running independently.
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