[Fixed] Why Can’t I Join My Friend’s Minecraft World on PS4, iPad, or Xbox One

Why Can't I Join My Friend's Minecraft World

Games are best played with friends. But, Minecraft players are having issues when they try to join their friend’s Minecraft world or vice-versa. Users are welcomed with an error message “Unable to connect to world“, which is really frustrating. If you are also getting the same error or facing any issues while joining your friend’s Minecraft world or when your friend tries to join your Minecraft world, this guide will help you in fixing this issue.

The error message does not clearly define the problem. Neither, it suggests any solutions. Users are left with one question in their mind, Why can’t I join my friend’s Minecraft world? The problem is not just limited to a single platform. It has been reported by PS4, iPad, or Xbox One users. Thankfully, there are solutions, which have worked for many users, and one of them might work for you too.

Why Can’t I Join My Friend’s Minecraft World?

Here I’ve listed many methods that can fix the “Unable to connect to world” error message on Minecraft while a friend’s Minecraft world. You do not need to apply all fixes that I’ve mentioned in this article. Just keep trying the solutions until the problem is fixed.

Fix 1. Reload Private World

Reloading the private world has done the trick for many users in connecting to their friend’s world. You should also try this solution and check if can spell out success for you.

Steps to reload Minecraft private world:

  1. Open Minecraft and click Play.
  2. Navigate to the Worlds tab.
  3. Select one of your private worlds and select the Save & Quit option from the menu.
  4. Go to the main menu and navigate to the Friends tab.
  5. Join your friend’s world.

Fix 2: Restart Minecraft

This solution may sound trivial, but it can fix issues like frequent crashing, system glitches, temporary bugs, and more. Restart Minecraft and try to join your friend’s Minecraft world. If you are still getting the same error, we have more solutions for you to try.

Fix 3: Re-Add Your Friend

It’s a quick way to fix the issue which prevents you from joining your friend’s Minecraft world. Simply remove your friends from your friend list and re-add them one by one. To add a player, type their username in the Add or Remove a Player field. Let us know in the comments if this method works for you.

Fix 3: Update Minecraft

If you can’t join your friend’s Minecraft world, it’s likely because you or your friend have not updated Minecraft. Make sure you are not using the outdated version. Update Minecraft on your device and tell your friend to do the same. Once you both have the latest version, you should be able to join the private world.

Fix 4: Disable Windows Firewall

Windows Firewall can block the execution of a certain app or game. If it has blocked Minecraft, either some feature will not work or the app might fail to load. You need to make sure that the Minecraft executable file (javaw.exe) is not blocked by Firewall.

Here are the steps:

  1. In the search box, type Control Panel and hit Enter. It will open the Control Panel window.
  2. Select the Large icon as the view by option.
  3. Click Windows Defender Firewall.
  4. Tap on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
  5. Make sure that the Private and Public boxes for the javaw.exe are checked. If not, click Change settings, check both boxes and click OK.

Fix 5: Disable VPN and Antivirus Software

If you are using a VPN, I would recommend temporarily disabling it. Even if your internet connection is fast, chances are that your VPN provider might have issues with the server. Hence, disable VPN and check if you can connect to your friend’s world on Minecraft.

Antivirus can block some functionalities of software. If you have any antivirus software installed on your computer, disable them temporarily and check if the problem is fixed.

Fix 6: Update Network Driver

If you have outdated network drivers installed on your computer, the device is prone to face issues with the network. This could be the reason you can’t join your friend’s world on Minecraft. You can use software like Driver Easy or follow the steps to update the network driver:

  1. In the search box, type Device Manager and hit Enter.
  2. Expand Network adapters.
  3. Right-click on the network driver you are currently using and select Update driver.
  4. Click Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to update the driver.

Also Read: How to Skip YouTube Ads on TV

Why Can’t I Join My Friend’s Minecraft World on PS4

If you are a Minecraft player of PS4, you will need to press the Touchpad and then tap L2 and triangle buttons. You will see a list of invites you can reach. Tap on the invite button to play with your friend.

If you still can’t join your friend’s Minecraft world on PS4, switch to NAT type. Finding folks with a Nat type of 2 might fix all of your connection issues.

Why Can’t I Join My Friend’s Minecraft World on iPad/iPhone

If you are an iPad or iPhone user who is getting the “Unable to Connect to World” error message, tweaking giving Minecraft the access to Local Network can fix it. Follow these simple steps:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad or iPhone.
  2. Open the details page of Minecraft.
  3. Allow Local Network access to Minecraft.

Why Can’t I Join My Friend’s Minecraft World on Xbox One

The mismatch between different versions of Minecraft is the most frequent cause of this problem on Xbox One. Update the game and check if you can join your friend’s Minecraft world on Xbox One. If it does not work for you, try other solutions we’ve mentioned below.

Enable Joining Multiplayer Games

  1. Open the official website of Xbox.
  2. Go to Xbox One/Windows 10 Online Privacy tab.
  3. Enable You can join multiplayer games option.
  4. Click Submit.

Switch to Xbox One NAT

Make sure your Xbox One NAT is open. This method also helps PS4 users in fixing the same issue.

Final Words

We saw a variety of reasons why the “Unable to connect to world” is troubling you by not allowing you to join your friend’s Minecraft world. In this article, we also looked at some effective solutions which have worked for many users.

I hope the issue will disappear after applying the solutions. If the issue persists, the best you can do is re-install Minecraft. Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions in the comments below.

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