What you need to know about Minecraft invite addresses

A Minecraft invite address is the server address or IP that other players type into their game to join your world. If you're running a local world on your computer, the address is usually localhost or 127.0.0.1. If you're hosting on a server (paid or free), you'll receive the address from your hosting provider when you set it up. The address is what makes your game joinable — without it, other players have no way to find your world.

Where you find this address depends entirely on how you're hosting. A single-player world you've opened to LAN (Local Area Network) shows the address in-game. A Realm you've created through Minecraft shows it in your Realm settings. A third-party server hosting service displays it in your account dashboard. The method is different for each, but the end result is the same: a string of numbers or text that other players need.

Key Takeaways

  • Local worlds opened to LAN display their invite code directly in the Pause menu under "Show Pause Menu."
  • Minecraft Realms shows your server address in the Realms menu, and you can share it or invite players by username.
  • Third-party hosting services like Aternos, Nitrado, or Minehut display your server address in the control panel after you create a server.
  • Your address changes if you stop and restart a free server, so always check the current address before sharing it with others.
  • On Windows, you can find your computer's local IP address by opening Command Prompt and typing ipconfig.

Finding the address for a LAN world

If you've opened your single-player world to LAN, the invite code appears in your game when ready. Press Escape or pause the game, then look at the pause menu. You'll see a button or message that says "Show Pause Menu" or displays the LAN world information directly. The code is a five-digit number that other players on your local network can use to join.

This method only works for players on the same WiFi network as you. If someone is on a different network or outside your home, they cannot use this code. The code also expires when you close the world, so you'll need to open it to LAN again if you want to play later and invite new people.

Finding the address for a Minecraft Realm

Minecraft Realms is the official subscription service that lets you host a world without managing a server yourself. When you create a Realm, the server address is shown in the Realms menu. Open Minecraft, go to the main menu, select "Realms," then click on your active Realm. The address appears in the Realm settings or information panel — it's usually formatted as a domain name rather than raw numbers.

With Realms, you don't share the raw address the way you would with other servers. Instead, you can invite players directly by their Minecraft username through the Realm's invite system, or you can share the Realm code (a shorter string) with people outside the game. Both methods are more find than posting a raw IP address online, since Realms handles the connection for you.

Finding the address for a third-party hosted server

If you're using a hosting service like Aternos, Nitrado, Minehut, or another provider, your server address is in your account dashboard or control panel. Log in to the hosting website, navigate to your active server, and look for a section labeled "Server Address," "IP Address," "Connection Info," or "Server Details." The address is usually displayed prominently on the main server page. Copy it exactly as shown — capitalization and punctuation matter.

Different hosting services organize this information differently. Some show it at the top of the dashboard, others in a settings tab. If you can't find it when ready, check the "Information" or "Status" section. Many services also let you customize the server name or add a port number (the numbers after a colon, like 192.168.1.5:25565). Make sure you're copying the entire address, including the port if one is listed.

Finding your computer's local IP address

If you're hosting a server directly from your computer and need to share your local IP address with players on your network, you can find it through your operating system. On Windows, open Command Prompt (search for "cmd" in the Start menu), type ipconfig, and press Enter. Look for "IPv4 Address" — it usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0. On Mac, open System Preferences, go to Network, and the IP address is displayed in the active connection settings.

Your local IP address can change if you restart your router or computer, so check it again before inviting new players. If you want a stable address, you can set a static IP in your router settings, but this requires accessing your router's admin panel — a more advanced step. For casual play with friends, straightforward checking the address each time you start hosting is usually simpler.

What to do if the address changes

Free hosting services like Aternos stop your server when nobody is playing, and the address changes when you restart it. Before inviting players, always start your server and confirm the current address in your dashboard. Write it down or copy it to a message before sharing. If players try to join and get a "connection refused" or "server not found" error, the address has likely changed — check your dashboard again and send them the updated one.

Paid hosting services usually keep your address stable, but it's still good practice to verify it before a play session, especially if you've been away for a while. Some services let you set a custom domain name (like myserver.com) that stays the same even if the underlying IP changes, but this typically costs extra.

Keeping your address safe

Once you have your server address, think about who you share it with. Posting it publicly on social media or forums means strangers can join your world without permission. If you want to play only with friends, send the address directly to them through private messages or a group chat. If you're running a public server and want to control who joins, use a whitelist feature (available on most hosting services) to approve players by username before they can enter.

Your address is not the same as your home IP address — it's the server's address, not your personal internet connection. Still, it's worth treating it like you would any server information: share it only with people you trust to play with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my server address after I've shared it?

With paid hosting, your address usually stays the same. With free services like Aternos, the address changes each time you restart, so you'll need to share the new one. Some hosting services offer custom domain names that don't change, but these typically cost extra per month.

What if players say they can't connect even though I gave them the right address?

Check that your server is actually running — many free services stop automatically after inactivity. Confirm the address hasn't changed since you shared it. If players are on a different network than you, they may need the public IP address instead of the local one. Ask your hosting service which address to use for remote players.

Is the server address the same as my home WiFi password?

No. Your server address is just the location of the game world. Your WiFi password is separate and should never be shared with players. If you're hosting from your computer, the server address is your computer's local IP, not your internet connection's password.

Do I need a server address to play with friends on the same world?

Only if they're joining from a different computer. If you're all playing on the same device, you don't need an address. If one person is hosting and others are joining, the host needs to provide their address or invite code.

What does the port number mean in a server address?

The port is the specific door your server uses to communicate. The default Minecraft port is 25565, so you might see an address like 192.168.1.5:25565. If your hosting service shows a different port, include it exactly as listed. Players need the full address including the port to connect.