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Yes—you can run a server on a local area network (LAN) without Internet service. The computers need a shared network connection and compatible local IP addresses; they do not need an ISP connection. The easiest setup is a router with its WAN/Internet cable unplugged. A network switch or a direct Ethernet cable between two computers works too. The separate caveat is the game or server software: it may require an online sign-in, license check, download, or update before it will run offline.
What “without Internet” means
A LAN is the connection between nearby devices. Internet service is a separate connection from that LAN to the wider Internet. A router can often keep its local Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi, and DHCP address assignment working when its WAN cable is unplugged, although exact behavior varies by model. A switch can connect devices locally without providing Wi-Fi or assigning IP addresses. If there is no DHCP server, you can assign IP addresses manually.
You do not need public DNS to connect by IP address, and localhost is not the address other computers should use: it always means “this computer.” Clients on the same LAN normally connect to the server host’s private IPv4 address and the application’s port. They do not need port forwarding, which is for connections arriving from outside the local network.
Network connectivity also does not guarantee that a particular game works offline. Download its server files, updates, mods, runtimes, and other dependencies beforehand, and confirm its sign-in and license requirements. A LAN-hosted game may stop when its host exits; a dedicated server is a separate process that can remain running independently.
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Choose a network setup
| Setup | Best for | Addressing |
|---|---|---|
| Router, WAN unplugged | Several computers, especially if you want Wi-Fi | Usually automatic through DHCP |
| Ethernet switch | Several wired computers | Use a router/DHCP server or assign static addresses |
| Direct Ethernet cable | Two computers without a router or switch | Usually assign static addresses manually |
| Wireless access point or hotspot | Devices without Ethernet | Depends on the device; make sure clients can communicate |
Use a real Ethernet switch, not a passive Ethernet splitter. For two computers, modern network adapters commonly support direct connections with an ordinary Ethernet cable, though very old equipment may require a crossover cable. For Wi-Fi, put devices on the same ordinary network, not a guest network that may block communication between clients. Microsoft describes Ethernet cabling plus a hub, switch, router, or equivalent as basic LAN equipment (Microsoft’s small-business network guidance).
Option 1: Use a router without connecting it to the Internet
- Power on the router and leave its WAN/Internet port disconnected from the modem or upstream network.
- Connect computers to the router’s LAN ports, or join them to the same non-guest Wi-Fi network.
- On each Windows computer, open Command Prompt and run
ipconfig. Find the active Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter and note its IPv4 address and subnet mask. - Start the server application on the host. Give clients the host’s local IPv4 address and the server port, or use the game’s LAN browser.
A router can assign addresses locally even when it cannot reach the Internet. A default gateway may still appear in ipconfig; that does not mean Internet service is available. It identifies the router that would route traffic beyond the local subnet.
Option 2: Use a switch or direct cable and set static addresses
When no DHCP server is present, give every computer a unique address in the same subnet. For example:
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Device | IPv4 address | Subnet mask | Gateway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Server host | 192.168.50.10 |
255.255.255.0 |
Blank |
| Client 1 | 192.168.50.11 |
255.255.255.0 |
Blank |
| Client 2 | 192.168.50.12 |
255.255.255.0 |
Blank |
Do not reuse an address. With a 255.255.255.0 mask, these example addresses are on the same subnet. A default gateway and DNS server are unnecessary for communication within this isolated LAN.
On Windows 11, open Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → More network adapter options. Right-click the active adapter, choose Properties, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and open its properties. Choose Use the following IP address and enter that computer’s unique address and the shared subnet mask. Leave the gateway and DNS fields blank. Windows labels can vary slightly by build.
For an alternative, first check the adapter name with netsh interface show interface, then run an elevated Command Prompt command like this, replacing the name and address as needed:
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netsh interface ipv4 set address name="Ethernet" source=static address=192.168.50.10 mask=255.255.255.0 gateway=none store=persistentMicrosoft documents static IPv4 configuration with netsh interface ipv4. If the interface name or command syntax differs on your system, use the Windows settings path instead.
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Start the server and let local clients connect
- Start the right server mode. Follow the game’s instructions for a listen server or dedicated server. Check that it is running and that the clients have a compatible version.
- Find the host’s local address. Run
ipconfigon the host and use the IPv4 address for the adapter connected to the LAN—not127.0.0.1, a public IP, or a VPN address. - Check the bind address. If the server has a bind-address setting, it must accept connections on the LAN adapter or suitable local interfaces. Binding only to
127.0.0.1limits connections to the host computer. - Allow the application through the firewall. On a trusted private network, permit the server application on the Private profile or create a narrowly scoped inbound rule for its documented port and protocol. TCP and UDP are not interchangeable. Do not disable Windows Firewall as a general fix.
- Connect from each client. Use the game’s LAN browser, or its Direct Connect/Add Server option and enter the host’s address and port, such as
192.168.50.10:27015. The port in this example is illustrative, not a universal game port.
Windows may prompt to allow a newly launched server through Defender Firewall. For a LAN-only server, allow it on Private networks, not Public, unless you have a specific reason. Microsoft explains how to create inbound firewall rules by protocol and local port in its Windows Firewall configuration guidance.
Set a trusted, isolated Windows connection to Private only if needed for local discovery or application communication. On a café, hotel, school, or other shared network, do not change it to Private just to make a game appear; the profile affects sharing and firewall behavior. Microsoft’s Minecraft Windows LAN troubleshooting guidance recommends checking this profile for trusted LAN connections.
Minecraft Bedrock examples
Host a Bedrock LAN world
Minecraft’s official Bedrock LAN instructions describe playing on the same network without an active Internet connection, subject to supported devices and compatible game versions.
- Connect the devices to the same LAN.
- On the host, open Minecraft, choose Play, then create or edit a world.
- In the Multiplayer tab, enable Multiplayer Game and Visible to LAN Players, then start the world.
- On clients, choose Play and look in the Worlds tab for the LAN world. If it is missing, check network access and firewall settings; the Worlds tab’s network control can also toggle LAN-world display.
This is a host-run world, not necessarily a persistent dedicated server. The host must remain in the world for the session to continue.
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Microsoft documents Bedrock Dedicated Server for Windows and Ubuntu Linux, with downloadable server files and launch instructions in its official setup guide. Example launch commands from the server directory are:
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cd C:MinecraftServer
bedrock_servercd ~/MinecraftServer
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=. ./bedrock_serverThe guide lists default ports 19132 and 19133 for the documented server properties. Use the server’s actual configuration and allow the required protocol and port through the host firewall. Its Linux UFW example is:
sudo ufw allow 19132
sudo ufw allow 19133
sudo ufw reloadDo not add Internet port forwarding for a LAN-only setup. Microsoft notes a loopback limitation when a Windows Minecraft client connects to a Bedrock Dedicated Server on the same Windows computer; a client on another LAN device should connect to the host’s LAN IP.
Steam and other game servers
There is no universal Steam server command, port, or offline policy. Follow the individual game’s server documentation. Steam’s LAN server guidance distinguishes local from Internet servers and says clients on the same network should use the server’s internal IP. For Source-engine games, settings such as sv_lan are game-specific; do not change a LAN server to Internet-server behavior unless the game’s instructions call for it. Steam’s LAN guidance does not guarantee that every Steam game supports offline hosting, launch, or authentication.
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Test the connection before troubleshooting the game
From a client, test basic reachability to the host:
ping 192.168.50.10Replace the address with the host’s actual local IPv4 address. Replies indicate that the computers can exchange ICMP traffic. A failed ping is not conclusive: a firewall can block ping while allowing the game’s port.
For a Windows server using TCP, test the relevant port from a client in PowerShell:
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Test-NetConnection 192.168.50.10 -Port 27015Replace the example address and port. A successful TCP test shows that the port is reachable; it does not verify the game protocol, UDP connectivity, or version compatibility. On the host, inspect listening processes with:
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tasklist /FI "PID eq 1234"Replace the port and PID with the values relevant to the server. Microsoft’s documentation for ipconfig explains the adapter address, subnet mask, and gateway information it displays.
Troubleshooting by symptom
Addresses start with 169.254
Windows may assign an automatic private address in the 169.254.x.x range when it cannot find a DHCP server. That does not necessarily indicate broken hardware, but relying on those addresses can be unpredictable. Either use a router with DHCP or set unique static addresses in the same subnet on all devices. Microsoft documents this APIPA behavior in its automatic TCP/IP addressing guidance.
Ping fails
- Confirm both devices are connected to the intended Ethernet or Wi-Fi network and their adapters are enabled.
- Check that their addresses and subnet masks put them on the same subnet, with no duplicate IP address.
- Check cable link lights, Wi-Fi association, and whether a guest network isolates clients.
- Temporarily test with VPN software disconnected if it is routing or filtering traffic through another adapter.
- Remember that firewall rules may block ping; test the actual application port as well.
Ping works, but the game cannot connect
Check the server’s actual port and protocol, make sure it is running, confirm it is not bound only to localhost, and verify that the firewall permits inbound traffic on the correct profile. Then check matching game/server versions, required server mode, and offline authentication requirements. A reachable port does not guarantee that the game accepts the client.
The server does not appear in the LAN browser
Try direct connection to the host’s local IP and port. Also check the trusted Windows network profile, Private-profile firewall permission, client isolation on Wi-Fi, subnet consistency, VPNs, and multiple active adapters. Discovery traffic can be blocked even when direct connections work.
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The server may be bound to the loopback address, or its firewall rule may not allow inbound LAN connections. Use the host’s LAN address from another computer. For Bedrock Dedicated Server on Windows, also account for Microsoft’s documented same-machine loopback issue.
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The address changes between sessions
A DHCP router can assign the host a different address later, making saved server entries stale. Find the current address with ipconfig, or use a static address appropriate to the LAN. Before returning a computer to its usual network, restore the adapter to Obtain an IP address automatically if you changed it for an isolated cable or switch. Avoid overlapping static subnets on simultaneously active adapters unless you have a deliberate routing setup.
The game asks for an online sign-in
The LAN may be working even though the game or launcher needs online authentication, an initial license check, or a download. That is an application limitation, not proof that the local network requires Internet. Prepare and test the software before disconnecting.
What you do not need—and when the answer changes
For clients on the same LAN, you do not need an ISP connection, public IP address, DNS server for direct IP connections, paid hosting, or port forwarding. You do need a network path, valid compatible addresses, a running server, and the necessary firewall permission.
People outside the building are not on that LAN. Letting remote players connect requires Internet reachability and a different security setup, such as a reachable address, firewall configuration, and possibly port mapping or a relay. That is not part of an offline LAN-server setup; Microsoft’s remote-access guidance describes port mapping for connections from outside a local network.
Keep the LAN contained and restore settings afterward
A network without Internet is not automatically safe. Someone on the same Wi-Fi or switch can still reach exposed services, and connected computers may carry malware. Use a physically or logically isolated network if isolation matters, keep the router’s WAN cable unplugged, avoid guest or untrusted devices, and allow only the server application or required port on the trusted Private profile. Keep file sharing disabled unless needed, and do not expose the server on the Public profile. When you finish, remove temporary firewall exceptions and restore any static IP settings you changed.
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