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Yes. Valheim supports cross-platform multiplayer between Steam (Windows, Linux and Mac), the Mac App Store, Humble, Microsoft Store for Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, according to Iron Gate Studio’s 1.0 FAQ dated July 1, 2026.
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Players on different platforms can meet through a join code. For a dedicated server, non-Steam players require the PlayFab Crossplay backend, enabled with -crossplay. Crossplay lets you play together; it does not create a universal save-synchronization system.
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Valheim’s crossplay feature is multiplayer compatibility. A player using Steam can join someone on Xbox, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Store for Windows or Nintendo Switch 2, provided the session or dedicated server is configured for crossplay. The same applies to the other storefronts listed by Iron Gate.
Crossplay is separate from save portability. Your character and world are not automatically mirrored between every platform. The documented exception is Xbox save access through the Microsoft Store version on PC; that is not the same as universal cloud synchronization.
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There are two practical ways to play with people on another platform:
- Hosted session: one player starts a world in the game and shares a temporary join code.
- Dedicated server: a continuously running server process hosts the world. It must use the Crossplay backend when players outside Steam need access.
Iron Gate’s crossplay FAQ was republished February 7, 2025, while the original crossplay announcement was published September 27, 2022. The platform list and player limit below follow the 1.0 FAQ dated July 1, 2026.
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Which platforms can play together?
| Platform or storefront | Crossplay status | Save information |
|---|---|---|
| Steam on Windows, Linux and Mac | Supported | No universal cross-platform synchronization is stated. |
| Microsoft Store for Windows | Supported | The PC version can access Xbox saves, as documented by Iron Gate. |
| Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S | Supported; the console cannot host a dedicated server. | Xbox-to-Microsoft-Store-PC save access is documented; broader synchronization is not. |
| PlayStation 5 | Supported in the 1.0 platform list. | No broader synchronization is stated. |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Supported in the 1.0 platform list. | No broader synchronization is stated. |
| Mac App Store | Listed as supported. | No broader synchronization is stated. |
| Humble | Listed as supported. | No broader synchronization is stated. |
“Supported” means the platform can participate in a compatible multiplayer session. It does not mean the game purchase transfers between storefronts, that every platform can run server software, or that a world file follows your account everywhere.
How to join a cross-platform world
Join a friend’s hosted game
Iron Gate’s FAQ uses a join code so the host does not need to exchange platform-specific network details. The procedure is:
- The host launches Valheim, loads or creates the world, and opens the pause menu.
- The host chooses Join code and copies the displayed code.
- Send the code to the player on the other platform.
- The joining player opens Join Game, selects Add server, and pastes the code.
- The player confirms the entry and connects when the host’s session is available.
The host’s game must remain running for this type of session. Closing the host’s game ends the hosted world for everyone else. A dedicated server is the better choice when the world should remain available after the original host leaves.
Join a dedicated server
A dedicated-server host can provide a join code after the server is online. The Steam announcement notes that a dedicated-server join code is regenerated whenever that server restarts, so save the current code rather than reusing one from a previous session.
If the server is running the default Steam backend, non-Steam players cannot connect. The administrator must start it with the Crossplay backend by adding -crossplay to the server’s launch arguments. Once enabled, players use the current join code from the server operator.
Set up a crossplay dedicated server
The official dedicated-server guide dated April 11, 2024 documents the following workflow. The examples apply to a self-hosted server; managed hosts expose equivalent settings in their control panels.
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1. Install the server files on Steam
- Open the Steam Library.
- Enable the Tools filter.
- Install Valheim Dedicated Server.
Steam updates can overwrite the supplied startup file. Before changing anything, make a copy of the original file so you can restore it or compare it after an update.
- Windows startup file:
start_headless_server.bat - Linux startup file:
start_server.sh
2. Set the world and server identity
Edit the copied startup script and set the server name, port, world name, password and visibility using the arguments provided in the template. Keep the password within the game’s accepted format; an invalid or missing password can prevent the server from appearing or accepting a connection.
The default Steam backend uses ports 2456–2457. Because that backend accepts direct connections, you normally need to forward the configured game ports from your router to the computer running the server. Reserve a local address for that computer so a router rule does not point to a different device after a DHCP change.
3. Enable the Crossplay backend
Add -crossplay to the startup arguments. This switches the server from the Steam backend to the PlayFab Crossplay backend and permits players from the supported platforms to join.
Crossplay uses a relay for external connections. In normal circumstances, players outside your home network do not require router port forwarding when they connect through this backend. The configured port still identifies the server and prevents two instances on the same machine from using the same endpoint.
The relay backend does not support local-IP or loopback connections. A player on the same LAN should use the server’s join code rather than trying to connect to an address such as 127.0.0.1 or a private local IP.
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- Run the edited startup script.
- Watch the console output while the world loads.
- Continue only after the console reports Game server connected.
- Give players the newly generated join code.
If the process is closed and restarted, generate and distribute the new code. The previous code is not a permanent server address.
5. Keep versions aligned
The Steam crossplay announcement warns that mismatched client and server patch versions can block connections. Update the dedicated server and every client to compatible builds before troubleshooting passwords, ports or permissions. If a server was updated but a console or PC client still has an older build, wait for that client update rather than repeatedly changing network settings.
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Microsoft Store server installation
Iron Gate’s FAQ gives the Microsoft Store server location as C:XboxGamesValheimContentServer. Start the server with StartHeadlessServer.bat, then apply the same world, password, visibility and -crossplay considerations. An Xbox console can join a crossplay-enabled dedicated server, but it cannot run the dedicated-server software itself. You need a Windows or Linux computer, or a managed server, to host the process.
Networking differences: Steam backend versus Crossplay
| Characteristic | Default Steam backend | Crossplay backend (-crossplay) |
|---|---|---|
| Players from other platforms | Not allowed; intended for Steam users. | Allowed across the supported platform list. |
| Connection method | Direct Steam networking. | Relay service. |
| Router port forwarding | Normally required for external players. | Normally not required for external players. |
| Local-IP or loopback access | Not the documented Crossplay limitation. | Local-IP and loopback connections are not supported. |
| Join code | Used when applicable. | Required for cross-platform joins; regenerated after each restart. |
Choose the Steam backend only when every participant is on Steam and you want its direct-networking model. Choose -crossplay when even one participant uses Xbox, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Microsoft Store, Mac App Store or Humble.
Administration, permissions and backups
Manage administrators and access lists
The dedicated-server guide documents three text files in the server’s save or configuration area:
adminlist.txt— one platform user ID per line for administrators.bannedlist.txt— one platform user ID per line for banned users.permittedlist.txt— one platform user ID per line for an allowlist.
When a permitted list is active, everyone not listed is excluded. That is useful for a private community but easy to misconfigure: a typo, wrong platform ID or blank line policy can lock out an intended player. Make a backup of each file before editing, and restart or reload the server according to the guide after changes.
Use the built-in automatic backups
Valheim exposes backup arguments in the dedicated-server startup configuration:
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The default save interval is 1,800 seconds, which is 30 minutes. Backups are not a substitute for an offline copy: periodically copy the world and configuration files to storage that is separate from the running server, especially before a game update, mod change or major building project.
Plan for updates and recovery
- Stop the server cleanly before replacing files or restoring a world.
- Keep a dated copy of the world, startup script and access lists together.
- Record the current server version and startup arguments, including whether
-crossplayis present. - After an update, verify the console’s Game server connected message and issue a fresh join code.
- Test a backup on a separate instance before treating it as a reliable recovery point.
Choosing a hosting method
| Hosting method | Persistence | Platform reach | Network work | Operations and cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-game hosted world | Online only while the host is playing. | Cross-platform through the session’s join code. | No dedicated-server setup; host still needs a stable connection. | Free beyond the game purchase, but no always-on access or server-side administration. |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | Runs independently of any player’s game session. | Steam backend for Steam-only play, or all supported platforms with -crossplay. |
Steam backend normally needs port forwarding; Crossplay normally uses a relay. | No hosting fee on owned hardware, but you handle updates, backups, monitoring, security and recovery. |
| Managed dedicated hosting | Designed for continuous availability. | Depends on whether the provider supports the Crossplay backend. | Provider controls network exposure; confirm relay and join-code support. | Recurring fee in exchange for a control panel and operational assistance; less low-level control. |
For a small group that plays at the same time, in-game hosting is simplest. Use self-hosting when you already have a machine that can stay online and you want full control. Managed hosting is most practical when you need continuous availability but do not want to maintain a server, provided the plan explicitly supports cross-platform connections, backups, your region and your expected player count.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Player limits, downloads and purchase boundaries
Iron Gate’s 1.0 FAQ lists a capacity of 1–10 players per server. A larger community therefore needs multiple worlds or a different game design; do not assume that adding hardware raises the supported player count.
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The same FAQ gives approximate 1.0 download sizes:
- About 4.3 GiB on most platforms.
- About 3.0 GiB on Xbox One.
- About 6.5 GiB for the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store versions.
The announced 1.0 price is $29.99, subject to regional differences. Each player buys the version for their own platform. Buying through the Microsoft Store does not launch or convert a Steam copy; Iron Gate treats Steam and Microsoft Store as separate platforms even though their players can play together.
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Xbox and Microsoft Store PC
Iron Gate documents that an Xbox player can access Xbox saves when launching the Microsoft Store version on PC. This is the specific cross-device save path stated in the 1.0 FAQ.
Other platform combinations
There is no documented general save-file synchronization between Steam, Microsoft Store, Xbox, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Mac App Store and Humble. Joining the same server does not copy a world into each player’s library. The server’s world remains on the host or dedicated machine, while each player’s character and local data follow that platform’s own storage rules.
Before moving from one platform to another, back up worlds you control and confirm which platform owns the save. Do not delete the original installation on the assumption that crossplay has already transferred it.
Troubleshooting crossplay connections
A console player cannot see or join the server
- Confirm the server was started with
-crossplay. Without it, the default Steam backend blocks non-Steam players. - Check that the server console reports Game server connected.
- Ask the host for a newly generated join code, especially after a restart.
- Verify that the client and server patch versions match.
- Check the password and the three access-list files for an accidental ban or restrictive permitted list.
The host configured port forwarding but crossplay still fails
Port forwarding is normally relevant to the Steam backend, not required for external players on the Crossplay relay. Confirm that the intended backend is actually running. Also avoid testing with a local IP or loopback address: the Crossplay backend does not support those connection methods.
Two players on the same network cannot connect
Use the join-code flow instead of entering a private IP address. If the server is Crossplay-enabled, local-IP and loopback connections are not supported. If the join code fails, check the server’s connected status, version alignment and access lists before changing router rules.
The join code worked yesterday but not today
Dedicated-server codes are regenerated whenever the server restarts. Request the current code from the operator and confirm that the server has finished starting before attempting to join.
An Xbox player wants to host permanently
An Xbox console cannot run Valheim’s dedicated-server software. The Xbox player can host a normal in-game session while playing, or join a dedicated server hosted on a Windows or Linux computer or by a managed provider.
A world is missing after changing platforms
Crossplay does not imply save synchronization. Check whether the move is the documented Xbox-to-Microsoft-Store-PC case. For every other combination, locate the original platform’s local or server save and restore it through that platform’s supported process instead of expecting it to appear automatically.
Quick Recap
Practical setup checklist
- Install the correct game version on every participant’s platform.
- Decide whether you need a temporary hosted world or an always-on dedicated server.
- For a dedicated server with mixed platforms, include
-crossplay. - Set a unique world name, server name, password and port.
- Use the Steam backend’s port-forwarding model only for Steam-only play; use the relay model for cross-platform play.
- Wait for Game server connected before distributing the join code.
- Send a fresh code after every restart.
- Configure
adminlist.txt,bannedlist.txtandpermittedlist.txtcarefully. - Set backup intervals and keep an offline copy of the world.
- Remember that an Xbox console can join but cannot host a dedicated server.
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