The Tool Desk
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The five Bedrock multiplayer types at a glance
These options are not interchangeable. Some are simply a local game session, while others are persistent services or full server software.
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| Type | Persistence | Who administers it? | Typical network scope | Customization and control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friend-hosted world | Only while the host is playing | The player who opens the world | Invited online friends | Normal world settings; no separate server process |
| LAN world | Only while the host session is available | The local host | Devices on the same local network | Normal world settings; local discovery |
| Realms or Realms Plus | Designed to remain available independently of the owner being online | Minecraft operates the service; the owner manages the invited world | Invited online players | Private-world management without machine, firewall or server-process administration |
| Featured server | Operated as a public service | The featured-server operator | Public internet | Curated minigames and communities; no control over the underlying server |
| Bedrock Dedicated Server (BDS) | As long as the host machine and process are running | You or a managed hosting provider | LAN or public internet | Server properties, worlds, packs, allow-list and operational policies |
1. Friend-hosted Bedrock worlds
A friend-hosted world is a normal Bedrock save opened for multiplayer. The host starts the game, friends join through the game’s online friend flow, and the session ends when the host leaves. It is the quickest route for a small group that plays together at the same time.
When this option fits
- You want to play immediately without installing or administering server software.
- The group generally plays at the same time as the world owner.
- You do not need an always-online base, shop, minigame lobby or automation running while the owner is away.
Its hard limit
The world is tied to the host session. Friends cannot treat it as an independently running server after the host closes the game. If persistence between sessions is the priority, move to a Realm or BDS instead of trying to stretch a friend-hosted world beyond its design.
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2. LAN worlds
LAN play exposes a Bedrock game to devices on the same local network. It is suited to a household, classroom, club room or local event where players share the same router or wired network. LAN does not, by itself, publish the world to the wider internet.
How players discover it
Bedrock can advertise a local multiplayer game for nearby devices. Players who are already Microsoft/Xbox friends and online may instead see a direct “join friend” route, so the exact entry point can vary by account and device state.
What LAN does not provide
- It does not keep the world running after the host session ends.
- It does not create a public internet address for remote friends.
- It does not replace firewall, port and server administration when you need internet hosting.
3. Realms and Realms Plus
Realms and Realms Plus are official subscription-based services for creating private Minecraft servers. Minecraft operates the hosting infrastructure, while the owner manages the invited world rather than a Windows or Ubuntu machine, firewall rules and server process.
Why people choose a Realm
- Convenience: there is no server executable to launch or operating-system package to maintain.
- Private access: the owner controls who is invited to the world.
- Persistent availability: the service is intended for a world that friends can visit without the owner manually hosting each session.
What is not established here
Realms pricing, player limits and tier details change over time and by market. Check the current in-game or official subscription information for your edition and region rather than relying on an old number. Realms also does not give you the same file-level and process-level control as BDS.
4. Featured Bedrock servers
Featured servers are public partner communities presented in Bedrock’s built-in server list. They commonly focus on minigames and other curated public experiences. You select a listed service from the client rather than configuring and operating the world yourself.
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- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
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Best use cases
- Joining a public minigame or community immediately.
- Finding content without choosing a host, opening ports or maintaining world files.
- Playing on a service designed for many unrelated players rather than a private friends-only map.
Console limitation
Minecraft Help states that console editions are limited to featured servers. Therefore, do not promise that an Xbox, PlayStation or Switch player can enter an arbitrary custom BDS address through the standard console interface. A custom-IP workflow must be checked for the specific device and supported account setup; featured-server access is the dependable built-in route on consoles.
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Bedrock Dedicated Server is Microsoft’s official downloadable server software for hosting a Bedrock world. It is free software that runs on a computer you control, with current packages documented for Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later, Windows Server 2016 or later, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later.
What BDS gives you
- A separate server process that can continue running when the administrator is not playing.
- Text-file configuration for game rules, visibility, simulation distance, world selection and access control.
- Control over world files, behavior packs, resource packs and backups.
- The option to host on your own hardware or place the same software on a managed Bedrock hosting service.
What BDS makes your responsibility
- Keeping the operating system and server package maintained.
- Starting, stopping and monitoring the server process.
- Backing up worlds before upgrades or pack changes.
- Configuring firewall rules and, for internet access, the network path to the host.
- Deciding who can join and enforcing your community’s operating policies.
How to set up a basic BDS instance
The exact menus differ between Windows and Ubuntu, but the operating sequence is consistent: install the supported package, configure the text files, place worlds and packs in the expected directories, then launch the executable.
- Choose a supported host. Use Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or newer, Windows Server 2016 or newer, or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer for the current package.
- Extract the server package. Keep the executable and its supporting files together in a dedicated folder. Avoid mixing several server versions in the same directory.
- Configure
server.properties. Set the server name, default game mode, difficulty, LAN visibility, view distance, tick distance, idle timeout, selected world and allow-list behavior. - Select a game mode deliberately. Microsoft documents
survival,creativeandadventureas valid game-mode values. Use the mode that matches the world’s intended rules rather than changing it after players have built around a different rule set. - Place or import a world. BDS creates a
worldsdirectory. Copy an existing Bedrock world into that directory, then setlevel-nameto the world that should be active. Multiple worlds may be stored, but only the world named bylevel-nameruns at one time. - Add packs in the server folders. Behavior packs and resource packs can be shared through their corresponding server directories. Back up the world before changing pack combinations.
- Launch the process. On Windows, run
bedrock_server. On Ubuntu, launch it withLD_LIBRARY_PATH=. ./bedrock_server. - Open the required network path. The documented default ports are IPv4 19132 and IPv6 19133. Internet hosting may require firewall rules for the configured ports and an appropriate router or network path to the host.
- Test locally first. Confirm that a player on the same network can connect, then test an external connection. This separates server configuration problems from router or firewall problems.
Important BDS settings explained
World and gameplay settings
The level-name value determines which folder in worlds is active. Changing it selects another installed world; it does not merge worlds. The default game mode and difficulty establish the baseline rules for players entering that world.
Visibility and distance
enable-lan-visibility controls whether the server is discoverable through LAN mechanisms. View distance affects how much world data is sent around players, while tick distance affects how much of the world is actively simulated. Increasing either can raise CPU, memory, bandwidth or client-performance demands, so adjust them with the host hardware and player count in mind.
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- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures.
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles.
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs.
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack;Compatible with Nintendo Switch only.
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes.
Access control and authentication
The allow-list settings let an administrator restrict entry to named players instead of leaving the server open to everyone who can reach it. Remote, non-LAN clients require Xbox Live authentication, so an internet player must be signed in appropriately even when the server itself is self-hosted.
Can Bedrock players on different devices play together?
Bedrock is designed for cross-device multiplayer, but the connection method matters. Players on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, mobile and PC editions need matching game versions to join the same Bedrock world, Realm, server or LAN game. A friend-hosted world or Realm is generally the simplest cross-device arrangement because the client handles the invitation flow.
Public and self-hosted connections need an additional platform check. Console editions are limited to featured servers in the standard server browser, so a custom BDS address cannot be assumed to work directly on every console. PC and mobile players can use the connection method supported by the server and client, while console players should verify the specific supported route before committing to a self-hosted setup.
Choosing the right type for your situation
Private world for a few friends
Start with a friend-hosted world if everyone normally plays together. Choose a Realm when the group needs the world available between sessions and nobody wants to administer a host machine.
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Household or classroom session
Use LAN when all devices are on the same local network and the host can remain present. It avoids internet exposure and is faster to arrange than a public server.
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- Play and share with friends on console, mobile and Windows 10
- discover community creations in the new in-game store
- access new mini games and game modes through servers
Public minigames
Use a featured server for immediate access to an established public experience. If you are building and operating your own public Bedrock community, BDS or managed Bedrock server hosting provides the operational control that a featured listing does not.
Private world with technical control
Choose BDS when you need custom properties, packs, an allow-list, file-level backups, a selected world among several installed saves, or policies that require administrator access. Be prepared to maintain the host, process, firewall and updates.
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Troubleshooting by symptom
A player cannot join any Bedrock world
Check version matching first. Minecraft Help requires matching game versions for a Bedrock world, server, Realm or LAN game. Update the client that is behind before changing ports or reinstalling anything.
LAN players cannot discover the host
Confirm that everyone is on the same local network, the host session is still open and LAN visibility is enabled where applicable. A direct friend-join route may appear instead of a LAN listing for Microsoft/Xbox friends who are online.
Internet players cannot reach BDS
Verify that the server process is running, the configured ports match the firewall rules, and the network forwards the documented IPv4 or IPv6 port path. The defaults are 19132 and 19133, but a changed configuration requires matching firewall and connection settings.
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The wrong world loads
Inspect level-name and compare it with the folder name under worlds. BDS can store several worlds but activates only the one selected by that property.
A remote player is rejected after the port works
Check Xbox Live authentication and the allow-list. Remote, non-LAN clients must authenticate, and an allow-list will reject players who have not been added even when the network connection is healthy.
Bottom line: convenience versus control
Friend-hosted and LAN worlds minimize setup but depend on an active local host. Realms remove machine and network administration while keeping a private invited world. Featured servers are the simplest route to curated public content, especially on consoles. BDS is the choice for owners who need persistent operation, custom settings, packs, allow-lists and direct control over files and policies—and who accept responsibility for the host, ports, backups and maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a server for friends to play Minecraft Bedrock?
No. A friend-hosted world or LAN world is enough when the host remains available. Use a Realm or BDS only when the world should continue independently of that session.
Can I run several Bedrock worlds on one BDS installation?
Yes. Several worlds can be stored in the worlds directory, but the level-name setting selects only one active world at a time.
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What are the default Bedrock Dedicated Server ports?
The documented defaults are IPv4 port 19132 and IPv6 port 19133. Firewall and network rules must match the ports configured on your server.
Quick Recap
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