Minecraft: Possible fixes for the "Unable to Connect to World" error

Like every game, Minecraft isn't free from bugs and errors. One such issue you might have encountered is the "Unable to Connect to World" message that shows up when you're trying to join your or someone else’s world in a multiplayer game.

The good news is that this issue can be easily fixed. Here are some possible fixes for the "Unable to Connect to World" error quickly.

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Ways to potentially fix the "Unable to Connect to World" error in Minecraft

Multiplayer settings in Minecraft (Image via Mojang Studios)

The "Unable to Connect to World" error can pop up while connecting to someone else’s world in multiplayer mode and rarely while playing a single-player game. This error is mostly due to some minor connection issue or game error, and it rarely requires a complicated fix.

1) Checking internet connection

The reason you cannot connect to the world could be that your internet connection is either not or barely working. So, even if your internet connection is active, Minecraft might be unable to connect to the world due to high ping, jitter, or extremely slow connection.

Check your internet speed and latency, and try restarting the router to get better internet connection quality.

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2) Change the "Online Privacy" settings

Multiplayer setting in Microsoft account page (Image via Microsoft)

If you can't connect to your friend’s game world despite a working internet connection, your Microsoft account might be causing the issue.

Head to your Microsoft account online privacy setting on their official website and select "Xbox" from the products list. This will lead you to another page where you can allow or block different online activities.

Find the "You can join multiplayer games" option and set it to allow, which will let you join your friend’s world and play multiplayer mode in Java and Bedrock edition.

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3) Restart the game

Minecraft launcher (image via Mojang Studios)

Simply restarting the game can actually help solve the issue. Sometimes, due to improper loading of resources, the game cannot connect to the world. This can be fixed by a proper restart. It takes two minutes and can save you hours of hassle.

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4) Update your game

Update Minecraft to the latest version (Image via Mojang Studios)

Sometimes, you might be unable to join someone’s world due to the incompatibility of game versions. Your friend might have the latest version of the game, while you might have the older version. This could lead to errors in connecting to the world.

To fix this problem, check for the latest update, download it, and restart the game. The issue should be resolved.

However, if none of the above methods work to fix the issue, reinstalling the game is the best way of fixing the connection error. Using a Minecraft installation guide will make the process even easier.