Minecraft 26.2 update gets seventh snapshot: Friend-list system, multiplayer support and other changes coming to the game

Minecraft maker Mojang Studios has rolled out the seventh snapshot for its 26.2 update this week. The latest drop includes a built-in Friends List system , peer-to-peer multiplayer support , new music additions, and a set of gameplay tweaks tied to the Chaos Cubed update .



The snapshot introduces one of the more notable social features in Minecraft Java Edition in recent updates, allowing players to connect and interact with friends directly in-game without relying on local networks or external servers.



Minecraft 26.2 Snapshot 7: Here’s what’s changing




The key addition in Snapshot 7 is the new Friends List system, which can be accessed through a dedicated button on the Title Screen and Pause Menu, or via the default “O” keyboard. The system allows players to send, receive, and manage friend requests in-game.



The interface includes two tabs: Friends and Pending, where users can view current friends, track requests, and manage connections. Player status is also visible, showing whether a friend is offline, online, in a world, or in a joinable world.



The update also enables peer-to-peer multiplayer. Players can now open single-player worlds to online sessions through a new Multiplayer Options screen, replacing the previous Open to LAN system. This allows users to invite friends directly or accept join requests, even when not on the same network.



Additional controls let players decide whether their world is accessible offline, locally, or online, along with options for game mode and cheats.



Alongside social features, the snapshot adds new music content, including a music disc titled “Bounce” by fingerspit ( Paula Ruiz ). The disc can be found in Mineshaft Chest Minecarts located within Sulfur Cave biomes and produces a comparator output of 8 when played in a jukebox.



Five new background tracks, including “Shores,” “Memories,” “Nightly,” “Home,” and “Ebb”, have also been introduced, expanding the game’s soundtrack within the Chaos Cubed update.



Snapshot 7 brings several gameplay tweaks, particularly to the Sulfur Cave biome . Grass colour has been adjusted to appear less green, while Potent Sulfur geysers now have randomised eruption and cooldown timings based on block position.



New interactions include continuous eruptions when lava is placed beneath sulfur blocks, along with updates to how noxious gas spreads through non-collidable blocks. Players can also use scaffolding to stand above eruptions without being affected by gas.



On the UI side, Mojang has added new Online Options settings that allow players to manage Friends List availability, control notifications, adjust privacy settings, and define how their activity is shared with friends.



Mojang said this is the first version of the Friends List system and acknowledged several known issues. These include desynchronisation problems when cancelling or rejecting friend requests, which may cause mismatches between sender and receiver lists.



There are also limitations to the privacy settings for Xbox profiles that might affect chat visibility and friend request sending.



While there have been some problems in earlier updates, this update aligns with a trend of integrating more social elements into the game.