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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTo join a Valheim dedicated server, open Valheim, select your character, choose Join Game, then use the method the host supplied: select the server from the community list, enter an address and port with Join IP, or paste a crossplay join code through Add server. You also need the server password. The correct method depends on whether the server uses the Steam backend or crossplay, and whether you are connecting locally or over the internet.
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What you need from the server host
Ask the host for the connection details before launching the game. A dedicated server can be discoverable by name, reachable through an address and port, or accessible with a crossplay join code. The host should also provide the password if the server is protected.
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- Published server name: needed when you are finding the world in the community-server list.
- Public address and port: needed for a direct connection. Enter them together in
address:portformat. - Crossplay join code: needed when the server uses the crossplay backend and the host chooses code-based access.
- Password: enter it when Valheim prompts you after the server is selected.
- Backend information: ask whether the server is Steam-only or crossplay, especially if anyone is using Xbox, Microsoft Store, or Game Pass.
A private address such as a local-network address works only for someone on the same home or office network. Friends connecting from elsewhere need the host’s public address with a reachable port, or a crossplay join code.
Choose the right joining method
| Method | What you enter or select | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community server list | Published server name | When the server is visible and you do not need to type an address | The server must be running and published; a missing listing can require another method |
| Join IP | server-address:port, commonly ending in :2456 when the host kept the documented default |
Direct Steam-backend or crossplay connection when the host supplied a reachable address | A typo, wrong port, private LAN address, or blocked Steam-backend port prevents connection |
| Crossplay join code | Current code pasted through Add server | Cross-platform play and servers using the relay-based crossplay backend | The code must be current; request a new one after a restart or session change if it no longer works |
For a crossplay server, the official Valheim guidance says players can connect with the public IP address and port, a join code, or the server list. The host should tell you which option is intended.
Join from the community server list
- Make sure the host has started the dedicated server and published it.
- Launch Valheim and select the character you want to use.
- Open Join Game.
- Search the community servers for the exact published name supplied by the host.
- Select the matching server. Check the name carefully if several entries look similar.
- Enter the server password when prompted.
If the server does not appear, do not assume it is offline immediately. The host may have started it without publishing it, the listing may not have updated, or the server may be using a backend that does not match your platform. Ask the host to confirm the server is running and published, then try Join IP or the crossplay code.
Join with an IP address and port
Enter the address in the required format
From Join Game, choose Join IP. Type the address, a colon, and the port with no missing characters: server-address:port. A documented-default example is 203.0.113.10:2456; that example is for showing the format, not an address you should use. Replace it with the real address supplied by the host.
Do not enter only the address if the host supplied a non-default port. Do not replace the colon with a space, and do not add a web prefix. If the host says the server uses a custom port, that custom value takes priority over the common example.
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Understand the Steam default port range
For a Steam-backend dedicated server, the official Valheim guide documents the default port range as 2456-2457. Players commonly enter the server’s connection address with port 2456 when the host has kept the default configuration. The host must make the configured range reachable from the internet through port forwarding; a player cannot correct an unreachable host-side port by changing the number at random.
Complete the connection
- Confirm the host has given you a public address if you are outside the host’s local network.
- Enter the address and port in
address:portform. - Submit the address and wait for Valheim to contact the server.
- Enter the password when requested.
- If the attempt fails, recheck every character, the port, the backend, and whether the host has configured the required network access.
Join a crossplay server with a code
Crossplay is the practical route when players use different platform ecosystems. The host must enable the crossplay backend on the server, and crossplay must be enabled on the Xbox side when an Xbox player is joining.
- Ask the host for the current join code. Copy it exactly, including every character and its order.
- Launch Valheim, select your character, and open Join Game.
- Choose Add server.
- Paste the code into the field. The official FAQ gives the same path: the friend goes to Join Game, presses Add server, and pastes the code.
- Submit the code and select the resulting server entry.
- Enter the server password if prompted.
Crossplay uses a relay, so the official guide says the host does not need router port forwarding for access from outside the local network. That removes one common home-network setup task, but it does not remove the need for the server to be running, crossplay to be enabled, and the code to be valid.
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Xbox, Microsoft Store, and Game Pass compatibility
Xbox can join but cannot host the dedicated-server process
The official Valheim FAQ states that an Xbox cannot host a dedicated server. An Xbox can join a dedicated server when crossplay is enabled on both the Xbox and the server. If an Xbox player cannot connect, first verify that both settings are enabled rather than trying to make the Xbox run the dedicated-server process.
Use the crossplay flow for Microsoft platforms
The FAQ documents cross-platform joining through the crossplay join-code flow for Microsoft Store and Game Pass players. Have the host provide a current code, then use Join Game > Add server and paste it. If the host instead gives an IP and port, confirm that the server is configured for crossplay and that the supplied address is intended for that backend.
Steam-only servers and mixed groups
A Steam-only backend is not the same as a crossplay backend. If your group includes Xbox or Microsoft Store/Game Pass players, ask the host to confirm crossplay before everyone attempts to join. If all players are using Steam, the host may provide the published name or direct Steam connection details instead.
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What the host must configure
Most failed joins are caused by a mismatch between the details the player enters and the way the server is exposed. You do not need to change the host’s router yourself, but knowing the requirements helps you identify the correct fix.
Steam backend
- The official dedicated-server guide lists 2456-2457 as the default port range.
- The host must forward the configured range on the router so it is reachable from the internet.
- The host must give remote players the public address, not an address that exists only inside the home network.
- If the host changed the port, players must use the changed value in
address:portformat.
Crossplay backend
- The host enables crossplay on the dedicated server.
- Players can use the server list, the public address and port, or a join code according to the official guide.
- The relay means outside players do not need router port forwarding for access.
- The host should provide a fresh code when an older code is rejected after a restart or session change.
Self-hosted machine versus rented hosting
A self-hosted server runs on a spare or dedicated machine maintained by the host. The host is responsible for keeping that machine online, applying the correct server settings, and handling Steam-backend port forwarding when it applies. Rented hosting is an alternative for people who do not want to maintain a home machine; the host should still confirm current crossplay support, region availability, backups, uptime expectations, and the connection method before inviting players. Those service details vary by provider and are not part of the in-game joining process.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a missing or failed connection
The server is missing from the list
- Ask the host whether the dedicated server is currently running.
- Confirm that it is published and that you have the exact server name.
- Check whether the host expects Steam-only players or crossplay players.
- Try Join IP with the public address and port.
- If it is a crossplay server, request the current join code and use Add server.
Valheim reports “Failed to connect”
- Check the spelling of the address and make sure the colon separates the address and port.
- Verify the port with the host instead of assuming
2456is correct. - Ask whether the server is Steam-only or crossplay.
- For a Steam backend, ask the host to confirm that the documented port range has been forwarded and is reachable.
- Make sure you are not using a private LAN address while connecting from another network.
An Xbox player cannot join
- Confirm crossplay is enabled on the server.
- Confirm crossplay is enabled on the Xbox.
- Use the crossplay join-code flow when the host supplies a code.
- Remember that Xbox can join a dedicated server but cannot host the dedicated-server process itself.
A private address works for the host but not for friends
A local address can work when both players are on the same local network. It is not a substitute for the public address when a friend is connecting remotely. Ask the host for the public address and the configured port, or use a crossplay code if the server supports crossplay.
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The join code is invalid or no longer works
Codes can become unusable after a server restart or session change. Request a fresh code from the host and paste it again through Join Game > Add server. Avoid retyping a code when copying and pasting is available.
Pick the best connection path for your group
| Situation | Recommended path | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyone uses Steam and the server is visible | Community server list | No address entry is required, provided the server is running and published |
| Everyone uses Steam and the host supplied a reachable address | Join IP | Direct connection avoids searching for a similarly named listing |
| Players include Xbox, Microsoft Store, or Game Pass | Crossplay with Add server and a current code | Crossplay is the documented route for mixed-platform joining |
| Remote players cannot connect to a self-hosted Steam server | Host checks port forwarding and public address | The Steam backend requires the configured port range to be reachable from the internet |
| Host wants to avoid home-router port forwarding | Crossplay relay, if every required platform supports it | The relay removes the outside-access port-forwarding requirement |
Connection checklist before you contact the host again
- You selected the intended character and opened Join Game.
- You used the exact published name, complete
address:port, or current crossplay code supplied by the host. - You entered the password exactly as provided.
- You are using a public address for a remote connection, not a private LAN address.
- You know whether the server uses Steam or crossplay.
- If using Xbox or another Microsoft platform, crossplay is enabled on both the server and the player side.
- If using a Steam backend, the host has checked the documented 2456-2457 range and port forwarding.
- If a code stopped working after a restart, you requested a new one.
What to send when asking for help
A useful message to the host includes your platform, the backend you believe the server uses, the method you tried, and the exact error. For example: “I am on Xbox, crossplay is enabled, I used Add server with the code you sent, and the code is rejected.” A Steam player might report: “I used public-address:2456, but Valheim says it failed to connect.” This gives the host enough information to check the relevant setting without exposing your password publicly.
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