How to add friends in 'Minecraft' so you can build and explore your digital world together

Emma Witman
·3 min read
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No matter what platform you or your friends are using to play Minecraft, you can invite them to join your world. Nintendo
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  • You can add friends in "Minecraft: Bedrock Edition" through their Microsoft account's gamer tag.

  • "Bedrock Edition" lets you play with anyone who owns the game, no matter what system they play on.

  • Once you add a friend, you can invite them to share a "Minecraft" world with you.

  • Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

"Minecraft" is a sandbox game tailor-made to play with friends.

When playing with friends, you can collaborate on a big building project, roleplay epic storylines, or simply show off your character's custom skin.

Luckily, if you're playing "Minecraft: Bedrock Edition" on your PC, or any version on your phone or gaming console, adding friends is easy. And once you've added a friend, you can play with them no matter what system they use.

Here's how you can add friends across platforms and invite them to explore "Minecraft" together.

How to add friends in 'Minecraft' and invite them to your world

  1. If you haven't already, create a free Microsoft account - Xbox users will have an account automatically. Your Microsoft account is required for crossplay. If you're on a console, you'll also need an online subscription like Xbox Live or Nintendo Switch Online.

    2 How to add friends on Minecraft.JPG
    Have another device handy, like a phone or computer, so you can link your Microsoft account easily when the code is sent. Emma Witman/Insider

  2. After you've created your Microsoft account, launch "Minecraft" and click "Sign in with a Microsoft account." Follow the instructions to sign in and link your Microsoft account to the game.

  3. Choose an existing world or create a new one and launch your game. Once you've loaded into the world, open the in-game settings menu.

  4. Navigate to the far-right and select "Invite to Game."

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    Select "Invite to Game." Emma Witman/Insider

  5. On the next screen, select the option to "Find Cross-Platform Friends."

    5_ _How_to_add_friends_on_Minecraft
    Select "Invite Cross-Platform Friends" - the appearance of this screen will differ slightly depending on what console you're using. Emma Witman/Insider

  6. Find your friend using their Minecraft ID or gamertag, then select "Add Friend." You can also use this screen to block or report them, if you've had a bad experience. You can also use the Xbox One app to add friends regardless of platform, if typing complex gamer tags on your console controller isn't ideal.

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    Once you've found the right person, select "Add Friend." Emma Witman/Insider

  7. Check the box to select the friend, and click "Send 1 Invite."


Now, all you have to do is sit back and wait for your friend to accept the invite, and in no time, they'll be plopped into your "Minecraft'' world. And from now on, when they're online, they'll appear under "Online Friends."

Quick tip: Note that some content is locked to a specific system - for example, only Nintendo Switch players can use the exclusive Nintendo-made Mario items. If your world is using these, you'll only be able to play with friends who have the same system.

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