Custom LAN Port (Forge)
Hosting a LAN world in Minecraft should be effortless, but the default random port assignment often creates headaches. Whether you are trying to connect with a friend on the same network or need a consistent port for port forwarding, the vanilla behavior can feel like a gamble. Custom LAN Port (Forge) hands control back to you, letting you define exactly which port your world uses every single time. No more guessing, no more editing game files mid-session, and no more failed connections because the port changed.
Why You Need Custom LAN Port (Forge) for Minecraft
Minecraft’s built-in LAN hosting picks a random port each time you open a world to LAN. For casual play this might be fine, but as soon as you want to share that port with a friend who is connecting from outside your local network, or you run a server-like setup at home, randomness becomes a problem. Port forwarding rules on your router require a fixed port. Firewall exceptions need a known number. Even simple convenience matters: telling your sibling “join on port 25565” is far easier than reading out a five-digit number that changes every session.
With Custom LAN Port (Forge), you set the port once in a configuration file, and every LAN world you host uses that port. The default is 25565, the same port used by dedicated Minecraft servers, so your network setup can stay consistent. The mod does not use a coremod, meaning it is lightweight and unlikely to conflict with other Forge mods. It simply overrides the port selection logic in a clean, compatible way.
How to Install Custom LAN Port (Forge)
Getting the mod up and running is straightforward, even if you are new to modding. First, make sure you have the correct version of Minecraft Forge installed. The mod supports a wide range of versions, including 1.16.5, 1.18.2, 1.19.2, 1.19.4, and 1.20.1, so you can enjoy fixed LAN ports on your favorite update. You will also need the Kotlin for Forge library, as the mod depends on it to function. Download both files from CurseForge or Modrinth, then place them into your Minecraft mods folder. That is all there is to it.
If you prefer a more streamlined experience, the foxygame.net launcher includes Custom LAN Port (Forge) in its curated add-on catalog, allowing you to install the mod and its dependency with a single click while automatically matching your game version. Once installed, launch Minecraft with the Forge profile, and the mod will be active immediately. You can verify it is working by opening a world to LAN and checking the port in the chat message or by looking at the log.
Configuring Your LAN Port
After the first launch, Custom LAN Port (Forge) creates a configuration file inside the config folder of your Minecraft instance. The file is named customlanport-client.toml or similar, depending on the version. Open it with any text editor, and you will see a simple option to set the port number. Change it to whatever you need, save the file, and the next LAN world you host will use that port. The default is 25565, but you can use any valid port between 1 and 65535. Just avoid ports already in use by other applications.
Because the mod reads the config each time you open a world to LAN, you can even change the port between sessions without restarting Minecraft. This flexibility is perfect for households with multiple players who each want their own dedicated port, or for testing different network configurations.
Compatibility and Dependencies
This add-on is built exclusively for the Forge mod loader and does not have a Fabric version. It relies on Kotlin for Forge as a mandatory dependency, so always keep that library updated alongside the mod. The mod itself is intentionally minimal and does not use a coremod, which means it avoids patching base classes in a way that could break other mods. It has been tested with popular modpacks and works seamlessly alongside performance mods, world generation overhauls, and quality-of-life tweaks.
Supported Minecraft versions range from 1.16.5 up to the latest 1.20.x releases, with the developer actively maintaining compatibility. If you are playing on an older world or a custom modpack, check the mod’s page for the exact version list. The download Custom LAN Port (Forge) page on CurseForge always lists the most recent files and their game version requirements.
Solving Common LAN Connection Issues
Many players struggle with LAN connections because they do not realize the port changes every time. They set up port forwarding once, it works, and then the next day it fails. Custom LAN Port (Forge) for Minecraft eliminates that variable entirely. Combined with a static local IP address on the host computer, you can create a reliable multiplayer environment that behaves almost like a dedicated server, without the overhead of running a separate server jar.
Another common scenario is running multiple LAN worlds simultaneously on the same machine. With the vanilla random port, collisions are rare but possible. By assigning a different fixed port to each instance, you can host several worlds at once and direct players to the correct one by port number. This is especially useful for families or LAN parties where different groups want to play different maps.
Lightweight and Unobtrusive
One of the best aspects of this mod is how little it does. It does not add new items, blocks, or mechanics. It does not alter gameplay. It simply gives you a configurable port for LAN hosting. That means it has virtually no performance impact and can be added to any Forge modpack without worrying about balance or feature overlap. The absence of a coremod also makes it a safe choice for servers that use plugins or hybrid environments, though the mod is client-side only and does not need to be installed on a dedicated server.
Final Thoughts
If you have ever been frustrated by Minecraft’s random LAN port, Custom LAN Port (Forge) is the solution you have been looking for. It is simple, effective, and respects your existing mod setup. The ability to set a fixed port transforms LAN hosting from a hit-or-miss experience into a reliable way to play with friends and family. Whether you are a casual player tired of reading out port numbers or a power user managing complex network rules, this mod belongs in your mods folder. Download Custom LAN Port (Forge) today, pair it with Kotlin for Forge, and take full control of your multiplayer sessions.