PeerCraft
Minecraft is always better with friends, but setting up a multiplayer session has traditionally been a headache. You either need a dedicated server, a paid hosting service, or you have to wrestle with router settings and port forwarding. PeerCraft eliminates all of that. This clever Fabric mod transforms a standard singleplayer world into a multiplayer session that your friends can join directly over the real internet, using a simple peer-to-peer connection. No dedicated server, no port forwarding, no hassle.
What is PeerCraft for Minecraft?
PeerCraft for Minecraft is a mod that reimagines how you share your worlds. It works by leveraging the familiar "Open to LAN" feature. You click it like you always do, tick a single checkbox, and share a 6-character code with a friend. Behind the scenes, PeerCraft handles NAT traversal using UDP hole punching. This means your friend connects straight to you, and neither of you needs to configure a router. It is an early-stage hobby project built by one person, but it works well and is actively used by a growing community.
Key Features of PeerCraft
The mod is packed with features that make online play seamless. It is not just about replacing LAN with internet; it adds a whole social layer to the game.
- Direct P2P Multiplayer: A small rendezvous server helps players find each other, but the actual game data flows directly between you and your friend via UDP hole punching. Only the rendezvous server needs a forwarded port; players never do.
- One-Click Hosting: Open your world to LAN as usual, tick "play over the internet," and get a room code to share via Discord, chat, or voice call.
- Accounts for Everyone: Log in with your real Mojang account or register a free nickname and password account if you do not own a copy of Minecraft. Both types of players can play in the same world together.
- Friends List with Live Presence: See which friends are online or hosting a game. Connect to a hosting friend with a single click—no code required after you have added them.
- Public Game Browser: Tick "Open to Everyone" and your world shows up in the Games tab. Any player with the mod can join, like a lobby browser, with search and version filters.
- Friend Codes: A permanent 6-character identifier for adding friends and logging in from new devices, independent of your nickname.
- Mixed Licensed/Unlicensed Hosting: Hosts can choose whether to allow unlicensed players in and cap the number of concurrent joiners.
- Localized UI: English and Russian are supported out of the box.
How PeerCraft Works
The process is incredibly straightforward for both hosts and joiners.
Hosting a Game
Load or create a singleplayer world, open the pause menu, and click "Open to LAN." Tick the "PeerCraft: play over the internet" checkbox, then start the LAN world. You will get a short room code to share. If you are already friends in-game, you can skip sharing the code entirely.
Joining a Game
From the title screen, open Multiplayer. You can paste the room code under the join-by-code button, or open the Friends tab and click Connect next to a friend who is currently hosting. PeerCraft negotiates the connection in the background and drops you straight into the world.
Supported Minecraft Versions and Loaders
PeerCraft supports a wide range of Minecraft versions, from 1.21.1 through 1.21.11, as well as the newer 26.1 and 26.2 releases. It is available for both Fabric and NeoForge loaders. You will need Fabric Loader 0.19.3 or newer with Fabric API, or NeoForge. Java 21 is required for the 1.21.x builds, while Java 25 is needed for the 26.x builds. Each loader ships a separate jar per Minecraft version, so be sure to pick the one that matches your game version and loader. For example, you might download peercraft-fabric-1.21.7-1.0.0.jar or peercraft-neoforge-1.21.7-1.0.0.jar.
How to Install PeerCraft
Getting started is simple. First, install Fabric Loader or NeoForge for your Minecraft version. For Fabric, download Fabric API and the PeerCraft -fabric- jar into your .minecraft/mods folder. For NeoForge, just download the -neoforge- jar into the same folder—no separate API mod is needed. Launch the game using the matching profile and you are ready to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many players wonder about the technical requirements. Do you need to forward any ports? No. As a player, you never need to touch your router. Only the person running the shared rendezvous server needs a forwarded UDP port, and PeerCraft already points at a public one by default. This makes it one of the easiest ways to play with friends remotely.
For those looking to expand their modded experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers a curated add-on catalog that includes PeerCraft, allowing you to manage your mods with one-click installs and automatic updates, ensuring you always have the latest version compatible with your Minecraft setup.
Conclusion
PeerCraft is a brilliant solution for players who want the simplicity of LAN play with the reach of the internet. It removes the technical barriers that have long plagued multiplayer Minecraft. Whether you are a licensed player or using a free account, hosting or joining, PeerCraft makes the process effortless. If you want to know how to install it, just follow the steps above. To download PeerCraft, head to the official project page and grab the jar that matches your version. It is a must-try for anyone who loves playing with friends.
--- **Update Sep 6, 2026:** Added 9 files for version 1.21.9, 1.21.8, 1.21.7, 1.21.6, 1.21.5, 1.21.4, 1.21.3, 1.21.11, 1.21.10 (NeoForge).