Play Minecraft with Friends Without Port Forwarding: Hamachi, Radmin VPN, playit.gg and Hosting
Opening port 25565 on the router isn't always possible (CG-NAT, an ISP-locked router, no access). There are three common workarounds and one way out that doesn't go through your home. Here's what to expect from each.
1. A virtual private network (Hamachi, Radmin VPN, ZeroTier)
You all install the same program and join a shared “network”; Minecraft sees the others as if you were in the same house. You open your game to LAN (or run a server on your PC) and your friends join with the address the program gives you.
Drawbacks: you all have to install and set up the program, the server still lives on your PC (if you turn it off, it's over) and the free versions have device limits worth checking on their website before setting up the group (on free Hamachi there aren't many: 5 according to their guides).
Rather not set it up yourself? Minecraft servers from €6 a month, no contract and a full refund within 72 hours. Or create a free Minecraft server, no card needed.
2. A tunnel (playit.gg and similar)
A tunnel gives you a public address that points to your PC without touching the router. Your friends join as on a normal server, without installing anything. You still need a server running on your computer, and your server becomes reachable from the internet: turn on the whitelist if it's just for friends.
3. Opening the port on the router
It's the most direct, but it depends on your ISP: with CG-NAT (very common on mobile and on some fibre connections) there's no port to open. On top of that, your home IP is visible to anyone who joins.
4. A server outside your home
A rented server lives in a data centre with its own connection: you don't open ports, you don't install a VPN and your friends join with a normal address, whether you're online or not. The world doesn't depend on your PC or your connection, and your home isn't exposed.
On NapNodes the servers are in the EU, with DDoS protection, a panel for console, files and backups, and no commitment. If what you want is to get away from VPNs, the step is to buy a plan, open the panel and send the address to your friends; or try first with the free server, which you start when you're going to play.
Which one to choose?
For an afternoon with three friends: a VPN or a tunnel is enough. When you play every week, there are more than five of you, you want plugins or mods, or you're fed up with the world depending on your PC being on, a server of your own is worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you play Minecraft with friends without port forwarding?
Yes: with a gaming VPN (Hamachi, Radmin VPN, ZeroTier), with a tunnel like playit.gg or with a rented server, which doesn't need you to touch your router.
How many friends fit on free Hamachi?
The free version limits the number of devices per network (5 according to the usual guides); check the current limit on their website before setting up the group.
What do I do if my ISP uses CG-NAT?
You won't be able to open port 25565. Use a VPN, a tunnel or a rented server, which doesn't depend on your connection.
Is my IP visible if I open the port at home?
Yes: anyone who joins knows your home's public IP. With a rented server, your IP isn't involved.
Shall we set it up for you?
Minecraft servers from €6 a month, never oversold: your RAM is yours alone. And if you'd rather start without paying, there's a free Minecraft server, no card needed.
Your server doesn't show up in the game? Check it in a second with “Is my Minecraft server online?”: players, version and MOTD, free. Need a player's UUID for the whitelist or permissions? Look it up here. Handing out enchanted items? Build the command with the /give generator.
Linking portals? Convert coordinates to the Nether and back with the Nether calculator: paste what F3 shows and you get where to build the other one.
Free tool: Is my port open?. Check from the internet whether your home server's port is open (Minecraft, Valheim, Zomboid) and whether your ISP uses CG-NAT.
Keep reading
- How to Open Port 25565 for Your Minecraft Server (and What to Do About CG-NAT)
How to open port 25565 on your router so friends can join your Minecraft server, the Windows firewall, how to test it and what to do about CG-NAT.
- How to Choose Minecraft Server Hosting: What to Check Before You Pay
What to check when renting a Minecraft server: dedicated or shared RAM, CPU, location, backups, mods and refunds. For comparing any host.
- Aternos Alternative: When to Stay, When to Pay and How to Take Your World
Aternos falls short when there's a queue, mods or friends who play daily. What changes on a paid server, what it costs and how to bring your world over safely.