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Yes, RLCraft supports multiplayer. Install the same RLCraft release, Minecraft Java version, Forge build, mods, and configuration on every computer. For friends on the same home network, the quickest method is Open to LAN. For internet play or a world that should remain available after the host leaves, use the matching RLCraft server pack on a self-hosted or managed dedicated server.
RLCraft 2.9.x runs on Minecraft 1.12.2 with Forge 14.23.5.2860 or newer. The project recommends allocating 3–4 GB of RAM to each client; the launcher’s default 1 GB allocation is not enough for a reliable session.
What every player needs
Multiplayer fails when even one participant is running a different pack revision or Forge environment. Prepare the following before choosing a hosting method.
A legitimate Minecraft Java installation
RLCraft is a Java Edition modpack. Every participant needs a working Minecraft Java installation and a launcher that can start modded 1.12.2 profiles. A Bedrock-only installation cannot join an RLCraft Java server.
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The identical RLCraft release
Choose one RLCraft release and keep it identical on every client and on the server. Do not let one player install a newer profile while the server remains on an older one. For example, a server pack labeled RLCraft Server Pack 1.12.2 – Release v2.9.3 must be matched by clients running that same release, not merely another 2.9 build.
Forge 1.12.2
RLCraft 2.9 uses Minecraft 1.12.2 and Forge 14.23.5.2860 or newer. The official project states that version 2.9 includes and requires Forge 2860; the RLCraft wiki identifies the build as 14.23.5.2860. Let the pack installer create its supported Forge profile instead of selecting a random Forge version manually.
The same mods and configuration
Every client must have the same mod files and compatible settings as the server. Adding a performance mod, deleting a dependency, or copying only part of the mods directory can cause missing-mod, registry-mismatch, or disconnect errors. Keep an untouched copy of the original profile until everyone has connected successfully.
Enough memory
The RLCraft project warns that the launcher’s default 1 GB allocation is insufficient and recommends 3–4 GB for the client. Allocate memory in the profile’s launcher settings, while leaving enough RAM for the operating system and other applications. More allocated memory is not automatically better; excessive allocation can also produce long garbage-collection pauses.
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Install the client with CurseForge
The official project describes CurseForge as the easiest installation path: link your Minecraft game, browse modpacks, find RLCraft, install it, and click Play. Use the same release selection on each computer.
- Install and sign in to the CurseForge app, then link the Minecraft Java installation it should use.
- Open Browse or Browse Modpacks, search for RLCraft, and select the official project entry.
- Choose the release agreed by the group and select Install. Do not select a similarly named community pack.
- Open the installed profile’s settings and assign 3–4 GB of RAM to the client.
- Launch the profile once and reach the Minecraft main menu. This lets the launcher create the required files before anyone attempts to connect.
- Have every player repeat the process with the exact same release. Record the release number and Forge build in a group message so nobody accidentally switches profiles.
Choose the right multiplayer method
| Method | Setup effort | Must the host stay online? | Internet reachability | Control and responsibility | Recurring cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open to LAN | Very low | Yes; the host must keep the world open in-game | Same local network only | Minimal control; the host controls the session | No hosting fee, but the host supplies the computer and network |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | High | No; players can join whenever the server process is running | Requires a reachable public address, port, firewall, and router configuration | Maximum control over files, backups, whitelist, and settings; you handle maintenance | No provider fee, but you pay in hardware, electricity, bandwidth, and setup time |
| Managed hosting | Low to medium | No; the provider runs the server | Usually supplied through a public address | Control-panel access, backups, and support vary by provider | Monthly charge; current prices and exact RLCraft compatibility must be checked with the provider |
Method 1: Open an RLCraft world to LAN
LAN is the fastest way to test multiplayer with people connected to the same home network. It is a session-sharing feature, not a permanent server: closing the host’s world removes the advertised session.
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- The host creates a new single-player world or loads an existing one.
- Press Esc, choose Open to LAN, select the desired game mode and permission level, and click Start LAN World.
- Minecraft displays a local port in the chat. Friends on the same router open Multiplayer and select the advertised LAN world.
- If the world does not appear, use Direct Connect with the host’s local IP address and the displayed port, provided the computers are truly on the same network.
The host must remain in the world for others to play. A laptop entering sleep mode, closing Minecraft, or changing networks ends the session. Move the save to a dedicated server when the group needs an always-available world, scheduled backups, or internet access.
Method 2: Run a self-hosted dedicated server
A dedicated server keeps the world separate from a player’s in-game session and gives the owner control over backups, access lists, and configuration. It also makes the owner responsible for Java, storage, updates, network exposure, and recovery.
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Prepare the server files
- Download the RLCraft server pack that exactly matches the client release. The project lists RLCraft Server Pack 1.12.2 – Release v2.9.3.zip as an example of a version-specific pack.
- Create a clean folder dedicated to the server. Do not extract the pack over another modpack or an existing world unless you have a verified backup.
- Install the Java version documented for the chosen pack. For the documented 2.9.3 setup, use Java 8; a newer Java runtime can cause older Forge components or mods to fail.
- Extract the server pack into the folder and run its server start process once. When the server stops because the EULA has not been accepted, open
eula.txt, read the license, change the acceptance value totrue, and save it.
Apply the required RLCraft setting
- Start the server again, allow it to create its files, then stop it cleanly from the server console.
- Open
server.propertiesin a text editor. - Set
enable-command-block=trueand save the file. The official project warns that leaving this disabled can prevent some structures from generating correctly and can result in missing villagers. - Review the remaining properties, including the world name, difficulty, whitelist option, view distance, and server port. Change only settings you understand, because aggressive view distance or simulation settings increase resource use.
- Start the server and wait until the console reports that it is fully ready before anyone joins.
Make it reachable over the internet
- Give the server computer a stable local address on your home network so a router rule does not point to a changing device.
- Allow the Java server through the computer’s firewall on the configured TCP port.
- Forward that port from the router to the server computer. Router menus differ, so verify the rule against the router’s documentation.
- Give friends the public address and port, not the server’s private address such as
192.168.x.x. If the configured port is the default, players may be able to omit it; otherwise they must enteraddress:port. - Test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot. A test from inside the same home network may succeed even when outside players cannot reach the server.
Some internet providers place customers behind carrier-grade NAT, which prevents ordinary inbound port forwarding. In that situation, use a provider that supplies a reachable server, a compatible relay solution, or managed hosting rather than repeatedly changing local firewall rules.
Protect and maintain the world
- Back up the entire world and configuration while the server is stopped or after using a safe backup procedure.
- Use a whitelist for a private group and share the server address only with invited players.
- Keep the server pack, Java runtime, and backups tied to the release documented for your world. Do not update one component first and assume the old world will remain compatible.
- Pre-generate terrain before inviting the group when possible. The RLCraft server guidance identifies pre-generation as a recommended preparation because exploring new chunks can create severe, temporary load spikes.
- Watch free disk space and server logs. A full disk or a forced shutdown can damage the world even when the game itself was running normally.
Method 3: Use managed hosting
A managed Minecraft host runs the server process for you and normally supplies a control panel, public address, and optional backups. This is the simplest persistent internet option when you do not want to configure a router or leave a home computer running.
Check compatibility before paying
- Confirm that the provider supports Minecraft 1.12.2, the required Forge build, and the exact RLCraft release you selected.
- Ask whether you can upload the official RLCraft server pack and edit
server.properties, includingenable-command-block=true. - Check the provider’s RAM allocation, CPU limits, storage, backup schedule, world-download policy, and player-limit rules. There is no authoritative universal player count for RLCraft; practical capacity depends on hardware, view distance, loaded chunks, world generation, and what players are doing.
- Verify the server location and support hours if friends are spread across regions.
- Confirm the monthly price and renewal terms at checkout. Provider compatibility, pricing, and support change over time.
Upload or install the server pack only after creating a restore point. A host’s one-click Minecraft installer may install vanilla or a different modpack, so check the files and console before inviting anyone.
Memory and performance planning
Allocate 3–4 GB to each RLCraft client as the project’s starting guidance, then close browsers and other memory-heavy applications before launching. Client allocation does not guarantee server performance: the server has separate workload driven by simultaneous players, view distance, entity activity, loaded chunks, and terrain generation.
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Instead of promising a fixed number of players, monitor the server while the group explores. Sudden lag during first-time exploration usually indicates chunk generation or storage pressure; pre-generating the intended play area reduces that burst. Lowering view distance and avoiding unnecessary background processes can help, but test changes with the actual group because every world and machine behaves differently.
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How to host RLCraft for free
For a same-household group, Open to LAN is the genuinely free option: no server subscription is required, and the host uses an existing computer. It ends when the host leaves the world.
A self-hosted internet server can also avoid a hosting bill if you already have a spare computer, power, storage, and an internet connection that permits inbound connections. It is not cost-free in practice: electricity, bandwidth, hardware wear, firewall work, backups, and troubleshooting become your responsibility. Free public server offers often impose limits or do not support the required Forge and server-pack combination, so verify compatibility before moving a world.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting connection and launch problems
The server says a mod is missing or the registry does not match
- Confirm the client and server release labels match exactly.
- Confirm both use the same Forge build and Minecraft 1.12.2 environment.
- Compare the complete
modsandconfigfolders between a working client and the server. Do not compare only the filenames you remember adding. - Remove unauthorized client-only additions or restore the original profile, then test again.
The launcher starts vanilla Minecraft
Check the selected installation before clicking Play. The window title and main-menu mod information should identify the RLCraft/Forge profile. If the launcher starts a plain 1.12.2 or another Forge instance, select the installed RLCraft profile and launch it once before attempting multiplayer.
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A friend cannot see a LAN world
- Verify that both computers are on the same local network, not one on a guest Wi-Fi network or mobile connection.
- Confirm the host actually used Open to LAN and that the world remains open.
- Temporarily check local firewall prompts for Java, then allow the correct private-network rule rather than disabling the firewall permanently.
- Use Direct Connect with the host’s local address and the port shown in chat.
An internet player gets “connection timed out”
- Wait until the server console reports that startup is complete.
- Check the address and port character by character.
- Verify the firewall rule and router port-forward target, then test from outside the home network.
- Confirm that the internet provider is not using carrier-grade NAT and that the server’s listening port matches the one shared with friends.
Structures or villagers are missing
Stop the server and inspect server.properties. RLCraft’s official guidance requires enable-command-block=true for some structures and villager generation to work as intended. Correct the setting before generating more terrain.
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- Pre-generate the region the group plans to use.
- Reduce view distance or other distance-based settings in small increments.
- Check CPU, memory, disk, and log activity while the lag occurs rather than adding RAM blindly.
- Keep the world on fast, healthy storage and avoid running backups or unrelated heavy processes during peak play.
Players lose access when the host leaves
That is expected with LAN. Move the save to a dedicated server or managed host, then copy the world and matching configuration carefully. A dedicated process must remain running for the world to be reachable.
Public servers and community help
The official RLCraft project directs players to its official Discord for public-server information and updates. Server addresses, rules, player counts, and uptime change frequently, so verify those details in the current community listings rather than relying on an old post. Before joining a public server, read its modpack version, whitelist policy, chat rules, and backup or reset policy.
A practical decision
- Choose LAN when everyone is in the same home network and the host is happy to remain in-game.
- Choose self-hosting when you want full control and are prepared to manage Java 8 for the documented 2.9.3 setup, networking, backups, and updates.
- Choose managed hosting when persistent internet access matters more than owning the hardware, but verify exact RLCraft and Forge support before subscribing.
Whichever method you choose, first prove that one client can launch the agreed RLCraft release, then connect a second client before inviting the entire group. That small test catches version, memory, and network errors while the setup is still easy to change.
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