You can play Minecraft solo, but it's much more fun with friends. Here's how to play multiplayer in Minecraft: Java Edition.

We'll cover the prerequisites for joining friends in Minecraft, no matter which version you're playing, as well as troubleshoot some common issues found when trying to play Minecraft multiplayer.

How to add friends in Minecraft Java (Image via Mojang Studios) Minecraft has been rising in popularity for over 15 years with millions of players worldwide.

"Minecraft" offers cross-platform play for both versions of the game — Bedrock and Java — but you can only play with users who own the same version.