How to Enable Crossplay on a Valheim Server

A friend on Xbox, another on Steam, a third on PS5. You set up a dedicated Valheim server, everyone tries to connect, and only the Steam player gets in. The other two cannot even see the server in their list. The problem: crossplay is disabled by default on Valheim dedicated servers. Enabling it takes 30 seconds, but there is a catch nobody mentions.

Key takeaways

• Crossplay is enabled by adding -crossplay to the dedicated server launch line, then restarting.
• Since Valheim 1.0 (Deep North, September 9, 2026), crossplay supports Steam, Xbox, PC Game Pass, PS5 and Switch 2.
• Crossplay routes traffic through Microsoft PlayFab instead of the Steam network, which adds a little latency.
• Mods are incompatible with crossplay. This is the main trade-off. Modded server = no crossplay.

Which platforms are supported

Valheim introduced crossplay in 2022 with the Xbox/Game Pass release. Since the 1.0 Deep North update of September 9, 2026, support extends to five platforms:

• Steam (PC)
• Xbox (console)
• PC Game Pass (Microsoft Store)
• PlayStation 5
• Nintendo Switch 2

Steam players can join a server with or without crossplay enabled. Xbox, Game Pass, PS5 and Switch 2 players can join only servers with crossplay enabled. If your group includes at least one non-Steam player, crossplay is mandatory.

How to enable crossplay on a dedicated server

The procedure depends on your hosting, but the principle is identical in all cases: add the -crossplay parameter to the server's startup command.

On a self-hosted server (Windows or Linux)

Open your server launch script (start_headless_server.bat on Windows, or your .sh script on Linux). Find the line that launches valheim_server.exe (Windows) or valheim_server.x86_64 (Linux), and add -crossplay at the end of the parameters:

valheim_server.exe -nographics -batchmode -name "MyServer" -port 2456 -world "MyWorld" -password "mypassword" -crossplay

Save the file and restart the server. That is all.

On Linux, if you have not yet installed the dependencies needed for crossplay, you will also need to run:

sudo apt install libpulse0 libatomic1

Without these packages, the server may hang at startup with no clear crossplay-related error message.

At a game server host

Most hosts offer a "Crossplay" button or checkbox in their management panel (Pterodactyl, AMP, proprietary panel). Activation takes one click, without touching configuration files. Some hosts place the option in the command-line settings (Commandline Manager), others in a "Startup" or "Settings" tab.

If you cannot find the option in the panel, contact your host's support. The -crossplay parameter simply needs to be added to the launch line, they can do it in a few seconds.

How players connect

Once crossplay is enabled, the server generates a 6-character Join Code at each startup. This code is visible in the console logs when the server launches. You can also find it in game by pressing Esc.

Steam players: they can connect by direct IP, through the server browser, or by Join Code. All three methods work. Nothing changes for them apart from a slight latency increase due to PlayFab routing.

Xbox, PC Game Pass, PS5, Switch 2 players: they connect through the in-game server browser (searching for the server name) or via the Join Code. Direct IP connection is not available for these platforms. The Join Code is the most reliable method.

The Join Code changes at every server restart. Remember to share it again with your group after each reboot.

The trade-off: crossplay or mods, not both

This is the point most guides mention in passing, but it deserves bold: Valheim mods (BepInEx, Valheim Plus, etc.) are incompatible with crossplay. Xbox, PS5, Switch 2 and Game Pass players cannot install mods. A modded server with crossplay enabled will prevent these players from connecting, or cause desyncs in game.

If your group plays exclusively on Steam and you want mods, disable crossplay and use direct IP connection. If your group is cross-platform, stay vanilla. There is no possible compromise between the two in 2026.

Mods that run only server-side (with no client component) work in theory with crossplay, but in practice, console players have no way to check compatibility, and bugs are frequent. We advise against mixing the two.

Latency and performance with crossplay

Without crossplay, Valheim uses the Steam network for connections. With crossplay, traffic goes through Microsoft PlayFab, a relay service that bridges platforms. This routing adds between 10 and 30 ms of latency compared with a direct Steam connection, depending on the distance between players and the nearest PlayFab servers.

For a cooperative PvE game like Valheim, this extra latency is barely noticeable. We are not talking about a competitive FPS where every millisecond counts. In the field, players who move from a Steam-only server to a crossplay server generally do not notice the difference during normal gameplay. The only times the extra lag may be felt are boss fights with many simultaneous effects and several players in the same area.

Common problems and solutions

The server does not appear in the list for Xbox/PS5 players: check that the -crossplay parameter is indeed in the launch line (not in a config file, in the command line). Restart the server and wait until it is fully loaded before players try to connect. If it still does not work, use the Join Code.

The Join Code does not work: the code changes at every restart. Check that you are using the current code in the server logs. If the server crashed and restarted automatically, the code has changed.

Unable to disable crossplay after enabling it (at some hosts): on some hosting panels, enabling crossplay changes the server's network permanently. Unchecking the box is not always enough to return to Steam-only mode. Contact your host's support if you run into this problem. On a self-hosted server, just remove -crossplay from the launch line and restart.

All players must be on the same version of Valheim: updates do not always roll out at the same time on all platforms. If Steam received a patch but Xbox did not, Xbox players will not be able to connect until their version is up to date. There is nothing to do on the server side, you have to wait for the update on all platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does crossplay work in "Play" mode (local hosting)?

Yes. If you host a game from Valheim's "Start game" menu (not a dedicated server), there is a crossplay option in the game settings. Enable it before launching the world. Other players will be able to join via the Join Code displayed in the Esc menu. This method is simpler than a dedicated server, but the world is only accessible when the host is connected.

Does crossplay affect saves?

No. World save files are identical with or without crossplay. You can enable crossplay on an existing world without losing progress, and disable it later if you want to go back to Steam-only. The world and characters are not affected.

Can you have a server password with crossplay?

Yes. The password works normally with crossplay enabled. Players must enter the password in addition to the Join Code or browser connection. Both protections can be combined.

Is crossplay available on the Microsoft Store version of Valheim?

Yes. The Microsoft Store version (Game Pass PC) uses the same PlayFab backend as the Xbox, PS5 and Switch 2 versions. It works only with crossplay-enabled servers. Game Pass PC players cannot connect to a Steam-only server.

Is port forwarding required with crossplay?

No. When crossplay is enabled, connections go through Microsoft's PlayFab relay, which removes the need to forward ports on your router. This is a considerable advantage for players who self-host and do not want to touch their router's network configuration. Without crossplay, ports 2456-2458 must be open.