To get a Valheim join code, start or connect to the multiplayer world or dedicated server, open the in-game pause menu, and copy the Join code shown there. Send that current code privately to your friend. The friend then opens Join Game, selects Add server, and pastes the code. If players are on different platforms, the server must have crossplay enabled.
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What a Valheim join code does
A Valheim join code is a connection credential for the active multiplayer session. It lets another player add the running world or server without manually entering the server address. The code belongs to the current session, so copy it from the pause menu after the host has started the world or connected to the dedicated server.
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The code is not the world seed. A seed describes how a world is generated; it is not presented by Valheim’s official connection instructions as a way to join a live multiplayer session. Give your friend the join code displayed for the active session instead.
Join codes are particularly useful when a group includes players on different platforms. Iron Gate’s crossplay announcement explains that a join code appears when one or more players use a different platform. A dedicated server that accepts players outside the Steam ecosystem must have crossplay enabled.
How to find and share the code as host
- Start the multiplayer world or connect to the dedicated server. The code is tied to the session that is actually running, not to a saved seed or an old invitation.
- Open the in-game pause menu. Do this after the world or server has finished loading.
- Locate the Join code. The active code is displayed in the pause menu.
- Copy the code exactly. Use the current value shown on screen; do not substitute the world seed, a previous code, or a server name.
- Send it privately to the player who is joining. A private message limits who can attempt to connect to your session.
If no code is displayed, treat that as a session or configuration problem rather than trying random values. Confirm that the multiplayer world or dedicated server is running, then check crossplay settings if anyone is joining from another platform.
How a friend joins with the code
- Launch Valheim and open Join Game.
- Select Add server.
- Paste the join code supplied by the host.
- Confirm the entry and select the resulting server or world to connect.
Those labels are the important path: Join Game followed by Add server. If the recipient is looking in a different multiplayer screen, return to Join Game before entering the code.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe recipient should use the code from the host’s currently running session. If the host restarts the world or reconnects to a different server, ask for the newly displayed code instead of reusing an earlier message.
Joining across PC, Xbox and other platforms
When crossplay is required
Enable crossplay when at least one participant is on a different platform from the others. Iron Gate’s crossplay documentation associates the join-code prompt with mixed-platform sessions. For a dedicated server, crossplay must be enabled for non-Steam players to connect.
For example, a PC player inviting an Xbox player should verify the server’s crossplay setting before sending the code. The code alone cannot compensate for a server that is configured only for the host’s platform ecosystem.
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What the host should check
- The world or dedicated server is online and accepting connections.
- Crossplay is enabled when the joining player uses another platform.
- The host copied the code from the current pause menu, not from an old chat message.
- The recipient is entering the value through Join Game → Add server.
If everyone is using the same platform, the server may be reachable through the normal server list or another supported route instead. The key requirement for a mixed-platform connection is that the server be crossplay-enabled.
Using a join code with a dedicated server
A dedicated server is useful when the group wants a world that is not tied to one player’s active game session. Once the dedicated server is running, a player can connect using a join code when the session provides one. A dedicated crossplay server can also be reached by its public IP address and port or through the server list.
These routes are alternatives, not different versions of the same code:
| Connection route | What the player enters or selects | When it is useful |
|---|---|---|
| Join code | The current code from the active session, entered through Join Game → Add server | Quick invitations, especially for cross-platform groups |
| Public IP and port | The dedicated server’s externally reachable address and configured port | Direct connection when the server owner provides network details |
| Server list | The server’s listing in Valheim’s browser | When the server is published and discoverable there |
The official dedicated-server guidance places an important restriction on crossplay servers: they cannot be reached using a local IP address or a loopback IP address. Addresses that work only inside the host’s home network, and loopback addresses that point back to the same machine, are not valid connection routes for a crossplay dedicated server. Use the join code, a public IP plus port, or the server-list entry instead.
Host-run world or dedicated server?
The right setup depends on whether the group needs a simple invitation or an independently running world. The following comparison uses the connection behavior established by Valheim’s official crossplay and dedicated-server instructions.
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| Hosting choice | Availability when the host is offline | Crossplay | Join methods | Host setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host’s multiplayer world | The host must start the multiplayer session for others to join; independent offline availability is not provided by the host’s running session. | Enable the applicable crossplay option when players use different platforms. | Join code from the pause menu; other in-game routes may also be available according to the session. | Start the world, copy the displayed code, and send it to each player. |
| Dedicated crossplay server | Designed for a persistent world that can run independently of one player’s game client; confirm the server’s own uptime and save configuration. | Required for non-Steam players to connect. | Join code, public IP plus port, or server list. Local and loopback IP addresses are not valid for this crossplay route. | Run and configure the dedicated server, enable crossplay for mixed platforms, then distribute the active connection details. |
| Dedicated server without mixed-platform play | Independent server availability depends on how the server is operated. | Not needed when all players use the same supported platform path. | Use the route the server exposes, such as its listing or address; a join code is associated especially with cross-platform sessions. | Maintain the server process and provide the appropriate connection information. |
A host-run world is the shortest path when everyone can play during the host’s session. A dedicated crossplay server involves more setup but is the practical choice for a persistent Valheim server that friends should be able to reach without waiting for the host to launch the game.
Troubleshooting: no join code appears
Confirm that the session is actually running
A code is associated with the active world or server. Start the multiplayer world fully or connect to the dedicated server first, then open the pause menu again. Looking at a title screen, an offline world, or a server that has stopped will not provide the current connection credential.
Check crossplay for mixed-platform players
If the joining player is on another platform, verify the server’s crossplay setting. Iron Gate’s guidance requires crossplay on a dedicated server when non-Steam players are connecting. Without that setting, sending a code cannot make the server accept a cross-platform client.
Ask for a fresh code after a restart
Use the exact code generated by the active session. When the host restarts or switches sessions, request the code currently shown in the pause menu and replace any saved value from an earlier session.
Troubleshooting: the code is rejected or the friend cannot connect
Verify the recipient’s menu path
Have the joining player return to Join Game, choose Add server, and paste the code there. Entering it in an unrelated field or trying to use it as a world seed will not establish the connection.
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Recheck the platform combination
For PC-and-console or any other mixed-platform group, confirm that crossplay is enabled on the relevant server. A same-platform connection and a cross-platform connection do not have identical requirements; the latter depends on the server being configured for crossplay.
Use an approved alternative for a dedicated server
If the code route is unavailable, the owner of a dedicated crossplay server can provide its public IP address and port or ensure that the server appears in the server list. Do not replace the public address with a local network address or a loopback address: the official dedicated-server guide says those addresses cannot reach a crossplay dedicated server.
Check that both players are using the current server
Ask the host to read the code from the pause menu while connected to the intended world or server. A code copied from another session can point the recipient to the wrong connection or fail after the original session ends.
Join code versus world seed
These values answer different questions:
| Value | Purpose | Where the joining player uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Join code | Connects to the currently active multiplayer world or server. | Join Game → Add server |
| World seed | Identifies the procedural world-generation input; it is not described as a multiplayer connection method. | Do not paste it into the Add server field as a substitute for a join code. |
If a friend asks for “the Valheim code,” send the value labeled Join code in the host’s pause menu. Sending the seed instead answers a different question and will not follow the official join procedure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A reliable invitation workflow
Use this checklist whenever you invite someone:
- Decide whether the session is a host-run world or a dedicated server.
- Start the intended world or verify that the intended dedicated server is online.
- Identify whether any participant is on a different platform.
- Enable crossplay if the group is mixed-platform or if a non-Steam player must reach the dedicated server.
- Open the pause menu and copy the currently displayed Join code.
- Send the code privately, together with a note that the recipient should use Join Game → Add server.
- If the code fails, generate or copy the current value again before trying an old message.
- For a dedicated crossplay server, switch to the public IP-and-port or server-list route if the code is unavailable, and never use a local or loopback IP address.
What to choose for a regular group
Choose a host-run world for the simplest setup
This approach requires the fewest server-management steps. The host launches the multiplayer world, copies the code from the pause menu, and invites the others. It is appropriate when the group can coordinate play around the host’s active session.
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Choose a dedicated crossplay server for an always-available world
A dedicated server is the better fit when players want a persistent Valheim world that can remain available independently of one player’s game client. It requires server setup and ongoing administration. Enable crossplay for mixed-platform play, then give players the join code, public IP and port, or server-list route supported by that server.
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Join codes are convenient invitations, not the only connection method. A dedicated crossplay server can accept a public IP and port or a server-list connection. The method should match the server’s configuration, and local or loopback addresses remain invalid for crossplay dedicated-server connections.
Quick answers to common questions
Where is the join code in Valheim?
The host finds it in the in-game pause menu after starting or connecting to the multiplayer world or server.
How does my friend use my code?
Your friend opens Join Game, chooses Add server, and pastes the code.
Can I use the world seed as the join code?
No. Use the value labeled Join code; the seed is not presented as a connection method.
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Yes, when players are on different platforms, the server must be crossplay-enabled. This is also required on a dedicated server for non-Steam players.
Can a crossplay dedicated server use a local IP address?
No. The official dedicated-server guidance says a crossplay server cannot be reached through a local IP or a loopback IP. Use the join code, public IP plus port, or server list.
What if the code is missing?
Make sure the server or world is running, open the pause menu again, and check crossplay when the group is mixed-platform. If necessary, use the dedicated server’s public IP and port or server-list entry.
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