Valheim 1.0 supports co-op for 1–10 players, including crossplay between platforms. For a quick session, start a peer-to-peer world in the game and share its Join code; for a world friends can enter while you are offline, use a dedicated server. The right choice depends on whether the host needs to be online whenever the group plays.
Choose how your group will play
Valheim is a co-op game rather than an MMO. Its official 1.0 FAQ describes support for 1–10 players, and the general FAQ says servers are capped at 10. You can either host from the game while you play or set up a dedicated server for a persistent shared world.
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| Option | Best for | Availability | Setup and crossplay |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-game peer-to-peer session | A group that usually plays together | The host must be available for the session; it is not an always-on world. | Start a session in the game and share the Join code with cross-platform friends. |
| Dedicated server | Friends who want to join at different times | The world can remain available independently of the original player-host. | More setup is required. Steam-backend servers need port forwarding; Crossplay-backend servers use a relay and do not need external port forwarding. |
Iron Gate says it does not provide official servers and cannot access player saves or characters. A dedicated server is therefore a way to host your own persistent world, not an official Iron Gate-hosted world. The setup below follows Iron Gate’s dedicated-server guide for the Steam version; its file paths and instructions should not be assumed to apply unchanged to every platform.
Start a quick session and invite friends
- Start a peer-to-peer session. In the game, create or load the world and start a session. Choose whether it should be public or private. This is the simplest option when the host will be playing with the group.
- Copy the Join code. The host opens the pause menu, copies the code, and sends it to the friends who should join.
- Join from another platform. The invited player opens Join Game → Add server and enters the code. Iron Gate documents this as the cross-platform join-code flow in its Crossplay FAQ.
Keep the total group within the 10-player cap. A private session is appropriate when you want to control who receives the invitation; a public session is an option when you want the world to be publicly joinable.
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- Explore a bright Norse realm: discover dungeons, slay legendary beasts, and build anywhere as you explore formidable, procedurally-generated lands on your quest to take on Ragnarok.
- Face colossal game-changers: protect the speed of Yggdrasil from a nightly invasion of helthings, and work together with your tribe to withstand the ever-looming threat of the jotnar.
- Forge your Viking Legend: choose your class and take the battle into the wilds as you seek resources to craft epic armor and mighty weaponry. Then, unleash powerful abilities and prepare clever village defenses to give your enemies some nasty surprises.
- Rally the tribe: when the giants arrive, it takes a village to bring them down! Adventure through midgard solo, or form a tribe of up to 10 players in online pve co-op.
- Keep up the fight: throughout the year, limited time seasonal events bring bigger challenges and even mightier treasures to the endgame of midgard, including new ways to progress and unlockable rewards for use across every game.
Use a dedicated server for a persistent world
A dedicated server is the better fit if friends should be able to play when the original host is away. The exact setup depends on the server backend: Steam uses internet port forwarding, while Crossplay uses a relay.
Steam backend
- In the Steam Library, open the Tools list and install Valheim Dedicated Server.
- Make a copy of the startup file and edit the copy with the server settings you want. Iron Gate warns that a Steam update can reset the original startup file, so avoid relying on edits to that original.
- Configure router port forwarding for the server. The guide gives 2456–2457 as the default port range for this Steam-backend setup. Router interfaces and internet configurations vary, so consult your router manual or ISP for the device-specific forwarding procedure.
Crossplay backend
The Crossplay backend relays server traffic, so players connecting from outside the local network do not need external port forwarding. Iron Gate says Crossplay servers can be reached using a public IP and port, a Join code, or the server list. They cannot be reached through a local IP address or loopback address.
Xbox as a dedicated-server player
An Xbox console can join a dedicated server when crossplay is enabled on both the server and the client, but the console cannot host a dedicated server itself. The Crossplay FAQ provides separate setup instructions for Microsoft Store on Windows and points server operators to the dedicated-server manual.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Crossplay, patches, and save syncing
Iron Gate’s 1.0 FAQ lists crossplay across Steam (Windows, Linux, and Mac), Mac App Store, Humble, Microsoft Store, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. That is a multiplayer compatibility statement, not a promise that save files sync between all those platforms.
Rank #2
- Explore a bright Norse realm: discover dungeons, slay legendary beasts, and build anywhere as you explore formidable, procedurally-generated lands on your quest to take on Ragnarok.
- Face colossal game-changers: protect the speed of Yggdrasil from a nightly invasion of helthings, and work together with your tribe to withstand the ever-looming threat of the jotnar.
- Forge your Viking Legend: choose your class and take the battle into the wilds as you seek resources to craft epic armor and mighty weaponry. Then, unleash powerful abilities and prepare clever village defenses to give your enemies some nasty surprises.
- Rally the tribe: when the giants arrive, it takes a village to bring them down! Adventure through midgard solo, or form a tribe of up to 10 players in online pve co-op.
- Keep up the fight: throughout the year, limited time seasonal events bring bigger challenges and even mightier treasures to the endgame of midgard, including new ways to progress and unlockable rewards for use across every game.
Save progression is separate from crossplay. Iron Gate says Xbox saves can be accessed on a PC when the game is launched through the Microsoft Store; beyond that, saves do not sync across platforms.
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Compatibility can depend on patch timing. In a September 11, 2026 hotfix notice, Iron Gate said crossplay compatibility across platforms was restored after a Switch 2 patch delay. The notice also explains that Xbox labels the equivalent of 1.0.10 as 1.0.11. If friends cannot connect despite following the join steps, compare the installed game versions and check Iron Gate’s official patch notices for a current compatibility issue.
Voice chat is separate
Valheim includes text chat, but voice chat requires separate software. Iron Gate gives Discord and TeamSpeak as examples. Agree on the voice app and channel outside the game before starting if your group wants to coordinate by voice.
Quick Recap
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