The Tool Desk
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The three labels answer three different questions
Many Valheim server discussions treat “dedicated,” “community” and “crossplay” as competing server types. They are actually separate settings or hosting arrangements:
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| Term | What it describes | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated | How the world is hosted | A separate Valheim server process runs without requiring a player to keep the game open. The world can remain available while players join at different times. |
| Community | Discoverability | -public 1 lists the server in Valheim’s browser. -public 0 hides it for direct or local joining. |
| Crossplay | Networking backend | -crossplay uses PlayFab so users on supported platforms can join. Without it, the Steam backend is used and only Steam users can see and join. |
For example, an always-on Linux machine can run a dedicated server with -public 1 and -crossplay. That is one server with all three characteristics, not three separate products.
What a dedicated Valheim server does
Iron Gate Studio’s official dedicated-server guide, dated April 11, 2024, describes dedicated hosting as a way to provide “a persistent world in which you and your friends can play anytime.” The server program runs separately from the normal game client, so the world does not depend on one player remaining in a live session.
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Why groups choose dedicated hosting
- Persistent availability: the server can stay online when the usual host is asleep, travelling or not playing.
- Flexible schedules: each player can enter the same world at a convenient time instead of waiting for the session owner.
- Centralized saves: the world files and backups live on the server machine or managed host rather than on one player’s PC.
- Configurable access: you choose a browser-visible or hidden server, a password, a world name and a port.
What you need
The dedicated-server application is installed from Steam’s Tools library. Iron Gate says setup requires some scripting knowledge and, depending on the network, knowledge of configuring a router so traffic can reach the server and clients. The host must remain powered and connected whenever people need access, unless you use a managed hosting service.
No official source establishes a universal CPU, memory, bandwidth or hosting-price requirement. Performance depends on world activity, mods, connection quality and the machine running the process, so avoid treating generic hardware figures as guaranteed requirements.
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Important launch arguments
The server’s startup script passes options to Valheim. The documented arguments include:
| Argument | Purpose |
|---|---|
-name |
Sets the name shown to players in the server browser. |
-world |
Selects an existing world or creates a new one with that name. |
-password |
Sets the password required to join. |
-public 1 |
Makes the server visible in the browser. |
-public 0 |
Hides the server; useful for LAN play or direct joining. |
-port 2456 |
Selects the server port. The default arrangement uses ports 2456 and 2457. |
-backups |
Configures automatic backup behavior. |
-backupshort |
Sets the short-interval backup setting. |
-backuplong |
Sets the long-interval backup setting. |
-crossplay |
Uses the PlayFab crossplay backend instead of the Steam backend. |
Keep the password private even when the server is hidden. Visibility and authentication are different controls: -public 0 removes the browser listing but does not replace a password.
What “community server” means in Valheim
In Valheim’s official command reference, community visibility is a setting on a hosted world or server, not a separate server executable. Calling something a “community server” normally means that its visibility option is enabled with -public 1.
Session hosting from the game
For a small group that usually plays together, one person can start a world from the game and enable server visibility. This is the simplest arrangement because there is no separate server process or startup script to maintain.
The limitation is availability. The world is hosted by that player’s active game session. When the host closes the game, disconnects or loses the network, other players cannot continue until the session is started again. Progress is saved in the host’s world files, so establish a reliable backup routine before making the world your group’s long-term home.
When session hosting is the right choice
- Everyone normally plays at the same time.
- The group wants the fewest technical steps.
- One person is comfortable being the host whenever the world is needed.
- There is no requirement for unattended or overnight access.
If players need to log in independently, use a dedicated process instead of trying to make a session-hosted world behave like an always-on server.
How crossplay works
Crossplay is a backend choice, not a promise that every server is dedicated. Iron Gate’s guide states that -crossplay runs the server on the PlayFab backend and “lets users from any platform join.” If the argument is omitted, the Steam backend is used; only Steam users can see and join that server.
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Platforms and compatibility
Crossplay is relevant when a group combines Steam, Microsoft Store or Game Pass versions with Xbox players. Every participant still needs a compatible Valheim version, and the server must be configured for crossplay. A Steam-backend server will not become cross-platform merely because an Xbox player knows its address.
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Xbox hosting and joining
Iron Gate’s Crossplay FAQ makes two points clear: an Xbox console cannot run a dedicated server, but an Xbox player can join a dedicated server from the console when both the Xbox and the server have crossplay enabled. In practice, the dedicated process must include -crossplay, and the Xbox client must use its crossplay-enabled connection path.
How players connect to a crossplay server
Iron Gate documents three connection methods for a crossplay server:
- The server’s public IP address and configured port.
- A join code generated for the server.
- The in-game server list when the server is publicly visible.
Crossplay connections do not support a local IP address or loopback address. A player on the same home network should therefore use the documented crossplay connection methods rather than assuming that 127.0.0.1 or a private LAN address will work.
Do you need port forwarding?
With crossplay enabled, Iron Gate says router port forwarding is not required. The configured port still matters when more than one server shares a public IP address, because the port distinguishes the services.
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Dedicated, session-hosted and crossplay options compared
| Decision point | Session-hosted world | Self-hosted dedicated server | Crossplay-enabled dedicated server |
|---|---|---|---|
| World availability | Only while the host’s game session is running | Can remain online independently of players | Can remain online independently of players |
| Separate server program | No | Yes, installed from Steam Tools | Yes, with -crossplay |
| Steam-only restriction | Depends on the session’s networking mode | Yes when using the default Steam backend | No; PlayFab supports cross-platform joining |
| Xbox can join | Only when the session uses compatible crossplay | Not on a Steam-backend server | Yes, when Xbox and server crossplay are enabled |
| Browser visibility | Controlled by the public setting | -public 1 or -public 0 |
-public 1 or -public 0 |
| Port forwarding | May be needed for non-crossplay internet sessions | May be needed with the Steam backend | Not required according to Iron Gate |
| Operator workload | Low; host starts the world | Updates, scripts, firewall, backups and uptime are your responsibility | The same maintenance, plus crossplay compatibility checks |
Which arrangement should your group choose?
Choose a session-hosted, community-visible world when simplicity matters most
Use the in-game host option when the same person normally plays with the group and everyone can meet at the same time. Enable browser visibility if convenient, but keep a password and make regular copies of the world. This avoids server scripts and router administration at the cost of availability when the host is offline.
Choose a self-hosted dedicated server for asynchronous play
Use a dedicated process when players need to enter the world at different times and someone can maintain an always-on PC or Linux machine. Plan the world name, password, visibility, port and backup settings before inviting players. Decide who applies Valheim updates and who restores a backup if the world files are damaged.
Choose a crossplay-enabled dedicated server for mixed platforms
If Xbox or Microsoft Store/Game Pass players must join a PC-hosted world, add -crossplay and confirm that every client is on a compatible version. Give players a join code or public address and port. Do not troubleshoot a failed crossplay connection by switching to a local IP; local and loopback addresses are unsupported for crossplay connections.
Choose managed hosting when you want uptime without running the machine
A managed Valheim server can provide an always-on process, a control panel and provider-managed infrastructure. Before committing, verify the provider’s current support for crossplay, mods, backup retention, server region, update process, uptime terms and pricing. Those policies vary and are not established by Iron Gate’s documentation.
Setting up and operating a dedicated server safely
- Install the server tool: open Steam’s Tools library and install the Valheim dedicated-server application.
- Create the startup configuration: set
-name,-world,-passwordand a port. Add-public 1for browser discovery or-public 0for hidden access. - Select the backend: add
-crossplayif Xbox, Microsoft Store or Game Pass players need to connect. Leave it out for a Steam-only server. - Configure backups: set the documented
-backups,-backupshortand-backuplongoptions, then verify that backup files are actually being created. - Start the process: launch the server and watch its console output for errors. Keep the machine powered and connected during the hours players need access.
- Test with one player: join using the server list, join code, or public IP and port supported by your backend. Test from outside the host’s local network if remote players will use it.
- Document recovery: record the world location, startup arguments, password-change procedure and backup location so another trusted person can restore the service.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The server does not appear in the browser
Check that -public 1 is present and that the server process started without an argument error. If the server is intentionally hidden with -public 0, use a join code or the appropriate direct connection method instead of searching the list.
Steam players can join but Xbox players cannot
Confirm that the server was started with -crossplay and that the Xbox client is also using crossplay. A server running on the default Steam backend is visible only to Steam users.
A crossplay player is trying a private IP
Private LAN addresses and loopback connections are not supported for crossplay. Use the join code, the public IP and port, or the server list.
Players cannot connect after the host closes the game
This indicates session hosting rather than an independent dedicated process. Start the host session again, or migrate the world to a dedicated server that can remain running.
The world rolled back after a failure
Stop making changes until you identify the newest valid backup. Check that the automatic backup arguments are configured, preserve several restore points, and copy important backups away from the server machine so a disk failure does not remove both the world and its backups.
Maintenance responsibilities
Dedicated hosting removes the requirement for a player to stay in-game, but it does not remove administration. The operator must apply compatible game updates, protect the password, monitor disk space, keep the host available, maintain backups and review firewall or router rules after network changes. Modded worlds add another compatibility dependency: the server and every client must use matching, supported mod versions.
For a private group, hiding the server with -public 0 limits casual discovery, while a strong password controls actual access. For a larger community, -public 1 improves discoverability but makes password management and moderation more important.
Quick Recap
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