How to play modded Minecraft with friends (4 ways)
How to play modded Minecraft with friends, compared: Open to LAN, LAN over the internet with e4mc or Essential, or a server. Plus why Realms can't run mods.
· 5 min readThe short answer
To play modded Minecraft with friends, everyone installs exactly the same modpack version, then one person hosts. On the same network, use Open to LAN. Over the internet, add a mod like e4mc or Essential to share the host's world, or run a dedicated server so the world stays online. Realms can't run mods.
You've picked a modpack and everyone's keen. Now you need all of you in the same world. There are four ways to do it, and the best one depends on where your friends are and whether the world should be there when you're not.
First: everyone needs the same pack
Whatever you choose, every player needs exactly the same mods, at exactly the same versions, as whoever hosts. One friend on an older pack version, or with an extra mod that adds content, and they'll be turned away with an error like mismatched mod channel list.
The easy way to get everyone matching is to share the pack from your launcher, not a zip of your mods folder:
- CurseForge app: open the profile, use the menu in the top-right corner and choose Share Profile. Tick the mods and config folders and save the zip, or generate a share code (codes last 7 days). Friends click Import and choose the zip or enter the code.
- Modrinth App: export the profile as a
.mrpackfile. Friends import it into the Modrinth App, or into launchers like Prism. - Public modpacks: if you're playing a pack from CurseForge or Modrinth, everyone can simply install the same version of it.
Then turn off automatic updates for the pack, so nobody drifts ahead.
The four ways, compared
| Way to play | Who can join | Does the host need to be playing? | Good | Not so good |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open to LAN | Only people on the same network | Yes | Built in, free, nothing to install | Useless for friends at home |
| LAN over the internet (e4mc, Essential) | Friends anywhere | Yes | Free, no router settings | World closes when the host leaves; relies on a third-party service |
| Dedicated server | Friends anywhere | No | World is always there; best for groups | Takes setup, or costs money to rent |
| Realms | Friends anywhere | No | Easy and always on | Can't run mods at all |
Open to LAN: for friends in the same house
The host loads the world, presses Escape and chooses Open to LAN, then Start LAN World. Anyone on the same Wi-Fi or network who has the same pack will see the world pop up in their Multiplayer list.
It's free and needs nothing extra, but it only reaches people on your network, and the world closes when the host quits.
LAN over the internet: e4mc or Essential
These mods take Open to LAN and make it reach friends anywhere. Both have NeoForge versions for 1.21.1 on Modrinth.
- e4mc gives your LAN world a public address. Install it in the host's game, use Open to LAN as usual, and an address appears in chat. Friends paste it into Multiplayer → Add Server. Only the host needs e4mc; friends still need the pack itself. The connection runs through e4mc's own servers, and it's meant for temporary sessions.
- Essential adds a Host button to the menus. Pick your world and invite friends, and they join through Essential's own menus, so plan on everyone installing it. Up to 8 players can be connected at once, and Essential's guide says members must have the exact same mods.
With both, the host's computer is the server. When the host logs off, the world goes with them.
A dedicated server: for groups who play at different times
A dedicated server runs the world on its own, on a spare computer or a rented host, so friends can join whenever they like, even if you're asleep. It's the best fit for a group that plays on different evenings. It takes the most setup: a server pack, removing client-only mods, and either opening a port or renting. Our guide on how to make a modded Minecraft server walks through it.
Why not Realms?
Realms is Mojang's own paid server service, and it's the easiest way to keep a world online for vanilla Minecraft. But Java Realms can't install mods or plugins, so a modpack won't run there. For modded play, use one of the other three.
How Packspire helps
Packspire builds a player pack you can share with the whole group, and paid plans add a server pack made from the same mod list, minus client-only mods, so the server and players stay in step. During the build, the real game client joins a server running the pack, and the pack page says how much memory players and the server need.
Still choosing what to play? Read how to pick a modpack to play with friends, then plan your group's pack.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play CurseForge modpacks with friends?
Everyone installs the same modpack version in the CurseForge app, or imports a profile you share with Share Profile. Then one person hosts, with Open to LAN, a mod like e4mc or Essential, or a server.
Can you play modded Minecraft on Realms?
No. Java Realms can't install mods or plugins. Use a server you run yourself or rent instead.
Can I play modded Minecraft with friends without a server?
Yes. On the same network, use Open to LAN. Over the internet, add e4mc or Essential to share the host's world. The world is only online while the host is playing.
Why can't my friend join my modded world?
Most often their mods don't match yours: a different pack version, a mod they added, or an auto-update. Share the pack from your launcher and turn off automatic updates.
Sources
- Minecraft Wiki: Open to LAN, on how LAN worlds appear to players on the same network
- e4mc on Modrinth, on how it shares a LAN world and that only the host needs it
- Essential on Modrinth and Essential's hosting guide, on hosting, the player limit and matching mods
- Minecraft Wiki: Realms, on Java Realms not allowing mods or plugins
- CurseForge support: sharing a profile, for Share Profile, codes and importing
- Modrinth App beta announcement, on exporting and importing
.mrpackfiles
