He isn't able to reach my server.
He isn't able to reach my server.
Hello, I'm trying to play Minecraft with my friend but keep getting the "Connection Timed Out" message when he tries to join. I've checked all the settings: Java enabled, firewall ports 25565 open on both PCs and the firewall adjusted. I also tried port forwarding with Hamachi and Zerotier, but they didn't work. After restarting our computers, I changed the IP in the server configuration to match the devices or left it blank sometimes. Turning off online mode didn't help either. Disabling the firewall isn't an option since neither of us wants that. Every time he connects, it says "Player has joined" but then shows "Connection Lost: Timed Out" after about 20 seconds, followed by "Player has left." I can connect myself, but his internet seems fine. He uses LTE with a router that has SPI Firewall enabled. If that's the case, he can disable it because firewalls are common on all devices. My connection is DSL, and I've played with others using my server, but it doesn't work for him. Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this? Thanks for your help.
Check if your router routes traffic correctly and whether it receives a valid public IP or a private NAT address.
Other options include different IP ranges or private networks beyond 192.168/24.
Here’s a clearer version:
They provided the LAN address, but I wanted to know if the router actually displays the WAN IP. Also, have you confirmed your PC uses a fixed IP (preferably static DHCP through the router) to avoid IP changes when restarting, which could misdirect port forwarding.
Your home network uses 192.168.xx.xx as your local identifier. For your friend to join, they must be on the same network. Share your public IP address with them.
Static DCHP configured on both the router and my PC. Are you referring to the public IP listed at https://www.whatismyip.com/? Yes, I also used that.
From the router side, even when behind CG-NAT, the public IP shown by your ISP isn't always what your device is actually using. I’d consider setting up a web server on your PC and forwarding ports to test connectivity. It’s tricky to verify everything, especially with games involved.