[MCPE-60667] Xbox cannot join LAN games without Game Pass

Expected behaviour

Successfully connect Minecraft on Xbox One to other Bedrock clients hosting multiplayer sessions on the same LAN. Account used to start Minecraft on Xbox One should not require an active Xbox Live Gold subscription.

Observed Behaviour

Xbox One cannot view details for, or connect to, in-progress sessions running on Windows 10, Android or the Bedrock dedicated server (Ubuntu).

Steps to reproduce

Start a game on a non-Xbox One device ensuring appropriate multiplayer options are enabled. i.e. 'Multiplayer Game' and 'Visible to LAN Players' are both enabled
Start Minecraft on Xbox One, select 'Play' and select the 'Friends' tab.
See that there is no 'LAN Games' section or LAN games listed, however the counter on the 'Friends' tab shows '1'; acknowledging another game instance is running on the local network.

Additional information

Testing conducted with a brand new Xbox account (with default permissions and settings) to eliminate manually set account restrictions as the source of potential issues. No account on the Xbox One has an active Xbox Live Gold subscription.

Versions tested:

Windows 10: 1.14.1.5 (from Minecraft.Windows.exe properties)
Xbox One: 1.14.105.70_x64_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Android: 1.14.1.5
Bedrock Server (Ubuntu): 1.14.1.4

Compatibility matrix of platforms tested (inspired by comment on MCPE-55083).

YES:

'Friends' counter indicates host is visible by incrementing friends count
Host appears under 'LAN Games'
Client can successfully connect to host

NO:

'Friends' counter indicates host is visible by incrementing friends count
'LAN Games' section not visible at all
No option for connecting to the host

Host / Clients	Xbox One	Android	Windows 10
Bedrock Dedicated Server (Ubuntu)	NO	YES	YES
Windows 10	NO	YES	-
Android	NO	-	YES
Xbox One	-	YES	YES

h2. Related issues

Issues that reference similar symptoms in earlier versions of Bedrock clients

Linked issues

discovered while testing 1

MCPE-184339 Unable to join LAN worlds without Xbox Game Pass Resolved

is duplicated by 14

MCPE-55595 Xbox one 1.13.0 cannot join or host lan game Resolved

MCPE-58308 Xbox One : Windows 10 cross play now only works one direction Resolved

MCPE-62784 lan server not visable on xbox one Resolved

MCPE-74955 LAN server will not display on XBox One Resolved

MCPE-75941 MCPE Lan Game not showing up on Xbox Resolved

9 more links

Attachments

Comments 37

Rip Snort 2020-02-19T12:44:50Z

Behaviour described in this issue continues to exist in 1.14.30 across all platforms tested. Affected versions field updated accordingly.

Noah Swann 2020-03-01T22:08:34Z

Hi, I have this exact problem right now on my Xbox One. I assume this will be patched soon but I don't know when the next patch update will be released. I wondered if this could have anything to do with Xbox Live Gold as well because I don't have it anymore and Microsoft could have made it Gold exclusive. I am not sure though because I couldn't find anything about LAN being a Gold exclusive on the websites I visited. Not sure if this helps or not but I'm glad it's not just my Xbox having problems.

Dave Eargle 2020-03-14T22:36:45Z

I confirmed that the Xbox One can see and join LAN games when the account has an Xbox Live Gold subscription. I don't like that this is the case, but it confirms the situation.

Nick Armour 2020-05-12T18:50:52Z

My son's Gold subscription has just expired, and he can no longer join my games on PC. This is in the latest BETA.

This should not be a Gold exclusive. LAN games are free-to-play and do not consume any of Microsoft's servers/services/resources. From Googling, it would appear this has been a bug since Minecraft was first released on Xbox.

Eric Sadler 2020-05-14T16:43:48Z

I've been having this exact problem since November, I think it started with 1.13.0. Prior to that I could connect my XBOX One to a locally hosted dedicated server without a Gold account. It should be possible. The Minecraft help center article doesn't say anything about requiring Gold.

"Anyone playing on the Bedrock editions will be able to connect to the server, with the current exception of Nintendo Switch users. Also, players on Xbox One will only be able to connect through a LAN connection." https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/360035131651-Dedicated-Servers-for-Minecraft-on-Bedrock-

27 more comments

Mario 2020-06-24T20:22:13Z

Also with the update 1.16 it is still not possible to join LAN games on the Xbox one

none ya buisness 2020-06-27T17:52:55Z

Bro it literally worked on PS4 until the 1.16 update and now I can't join LAN games either. I used pocketmine a lot on LAN and now I can't join it from my PS4.

Dave Eargle 2020-07-07T17:41:22Z

@ashley my experience has been that the xbox has always been able to see the lan as long as the account has xbox live, and as long as the account has permission to play online games, as described in this issue :shrug:

I will comment that this is a relatively expensive bug for customers who want to play as families on LAN and who have to pay for Gold every month to do so. Hopefully this issue gets more attention soon.

Brad Johnson 2020-07-25T18:24:57Z

Seeing exactly the same issue on 1.16.1. Friends tab shows that games are happening on the LAN but Xbox can't see them. Works fine the other way - someone hosting a game on an Xbox can be seen and joined by Android and Windows 10. I shouldn't have to pay for an Xbox Live subscription to play Minecraft on the LAN with the kids - has anyone from Mojang acknowledged this issue? Or is it a Microsoft issue?

Petr Kazda 2020-11-11T08:30:43Z

Sorry for strong language, but this could be considered as fraud. It is clearly not in accordance with game description. I purchased xbox license in order to be able to play multiplayer games on LAN and it is not working. It was not mentioned anywhere that I need Live Gold to play on LAN. Please, fix this ASAP.

Tim 2020-12-26T17:29:05Z

Can we get an update on this? The entire reason I bought an Xbox was to be able to play Minecraft with my kids on LAN from my PC, I do not need Gold, nor do I want Gold on my kid's Xbox. That this bug has gone over a year without being addressed is incredible!

SergioDuran 2020-12-28T15:29:23Z

I would like an update on this too.

SergioDuran 2020-12-28T18:26:35Z

Hosting the world in the XBox is a viable option right now, Windows 10 can join the XBox LAN world.

Paul Clark 2021-05-05T19:27:36Z

Microsoft have recently allowed Free To Play games multiplayer interactivity without the need for a Gold / Live subscription. Why not include multiplayer LAN in the scope too?

Rick 2021-05-06T00:52:53Z

LAN multiplayer was always and is supposed to be free. The fact you need Gold for LAN play is the bug that needs fixed.

I had high hopes that this would be fixed with the free-to-play changes, but Minecraft isn't a free-to-play game, so it was a long shot.

Kris Spring 2021-05-15T11:14:55Z

Given that the Friends counter is updating properly, I imagine this is probably an easy bug fix. Knock it out and make folks happy. This has been an issue for too long.

Ivo Burkart 2021-07-25T19:01:48Z

Small addon: This hinges on Gold subscription. Could reproduce this with an account and it went away after making the console the "home console" of an account that has gold.

(Sorry for creating a duplicate. Did not find this one.)

Omar Berrow 2021-10-10T14:14:41Z

I'm starting to think that this is intentional

Ivo Burkart 2021-10-10T19:52:24Z

Its probably just a low priority which is sad. Theres 150+ bugs ahead of this one (sorted by votes) so please vote if you havent!

BenjiFoxy 2021-11-13T00:54:18Z

Has this been resolved? I've just watched a video where the person could see and join the LAN game on their Xbox.

Jon Tabor 2021-11-13T01:29:28Z

@Benjamin Fox - they most likely had Xbox Live Gold or GamePass. It works if you have those, even though it's non intuitive that a LAN game needs something designed for online play. However, I believe this is by design, based on the language Microsoft uses when talking about multiplayer.

Doesn't mean I agree with how it works, though.

Rick 2021-11-13T01:51:40Z

Agreed. Some people only bought this version because it had offline LAN support.

LAN play on any Xbox game had always been free until this bug.

Ivo Burkart 2022-01-03T17:03:57Z

Please update affected Versions. 1.18 and 1.18.2 also affected.

Any news?

CoderDad33 2022-04-24T15:43:02Z

Patch 1.18.30 still affected. I'm trying to connect an xbox one x and an xbox one s via LAN. I really hope this can get fixed the the game can work as originally advertised.

flancast90 2022-05-28T15:12:44Z

Still not fixed. I used to play a year or two ago joining from Xbox to Win 10. I refuse to buy a Gold subscription for a feature that has always been advertised. Hopefully they fix in a later update, but I'm guessing they just forgot about this.

Kris Spring 2022-06-01T18:52:16Z

No Live subscription. Older son on PC can join XBox games, XBox cannot join PC game.

Also tried to do to LAN play the other day with no internet with the kids on their kindle devices and it was a complete fail. Please fix this feature.

John Ammerman 2022-06-01T19:06:19Z

They released the update only for PC and Servers, not consoles/mobile, thus putting a compatibility rift between the two. I play on my Xbox or switch, can't access my own server right now.

topsieturner 2022-06-26T10:38:57Z

Trying to play between Xbox One (no live gold), Android and Win10 with Bedrock Server. All can connect to server less Xbox One with above described issue.

If not resolved will seek refund.

Matt Regier 2022-07-13T00:42:39Z

PC running 1.19.10 can connect to game on XBOX ONE S running 1.19.10.

XBOX ONE S running 1.19.10 CANNOT connect to game on PC running 1.19.10.

Seriously disappointed.

RE: Ticket Creation Date
How many months ago was December 30th 2019?
30 months
How many days ago was December 30th 2019?
925 days

Joseph Smith 2023-01-11T04:46:00Z

Bedrock version 1.19.51, bug is still in effect. PLEASE FIX ALREADY.

Ivo Burkart 2023-04-16T15:23:51Z

1.19.73 still affected

ShellingArc1289 2023-04-16T15:44:31Z

Ridiculous how long they are taking to fix this. Nintendo Switch is also affected by the issue, it's completely unable to join LAN games or create LAN games. Switch has Nintendo Switch online membership and is still unable to join LAN games but can join Xbox Live games. If anyone has a PS4 or PS5 please test there too.

Artuto 2023-09-18T01:51:48Z

1.20.15 still affected.

MakroneKarte164 2023-10-16T11:53:09Z

I hosted an Server on my Raspberry Pi4, on PC i was able to join, on the xbox wasn't possible
Version 1.20.32

BMalarek99 2024-10-28T11:05:57Z

I just started having this issue on Xbox. Latest version of bedrock. Xbox Live members can join non Xbox Live member but not the other way around. "Fix This" button sends you to purchase Xbox Live subscription page.

Roy Cadge 2024-10-29T22:00:28Z

I'm having same issue, been a couple of weeks

Two kids on own tablet with child accounts, partner and myself are on our phones with adult accounts (also linked as a family, we are all friends and favourite too) and all is good we can see eachother playing worlds and able to join but if any one of us try to use the Xbox one then we can see Xbox and join BUT Xbox can't join phone or tablet?

Been through all the settings on Xbox, been on the phone with Xbox support for over an hour and still nothing,

Keep getting about how account setting is for multiplayer but it's all set to "allow", your on the Xbox and check the settings on the game and it's on, LAN is on but you can't then click play so have to back out to then click on the game? When on your world and want to invite the invite is greyed out so can't invite to Xbox?

Friends tab say I have friends playing but no worlds can be joined but get the text "you cannot play online multiplayer because of how your Microsoft account is set up"

Same message on worlds tab, but when click on pencil tab of world you get a yellow box with "you have disabled multiplayer in Xbox account settings. Learn more" but again settings are open? But you can't now click on play or play on realm, you click on multiplayer and you get a blue box with "you cannot play online multiplayer because of how your Microsoft account is set up. Please ensure your online safety settings allow multiplayer and clubs, and that you have active Xbox game pass subscription. See instructions for changing these settings at (link)" been on link and it don't show anything that nots been covered, back to world tab and yes you have the fix this button and it's trying to get you to buy Xbox game pass but been playing without gold for a few years now as a family via LAN and not had this issue?

Please fix this as my kids that play are autistic and this don't help them if they can't join or let us parents join them?

If needed happy to add photos and screenshots from across all devices or even try and do a video

jack6666666 2025-01-18T22:58:33Z

13 duplicate ticket
opened in 2019
its now 2025
same issue with xbox series x

please help