How to Play Valheim With Friends: Complete Multiplayer Guide

Every Way to Play Valheim Together

Valheim is at its best with friends. Building longhouses, sailing to new biomes, and fighting bosses all hit harder when you have a crew. But actually getting everyone into the same world can be confusing — especially with crossplay between Steam and Xbox now in the mix.

This guide covers every multiplayer method, when to use each one, and how to set them up.

The 3 Ways to Play Multiplayer

Method 1: Host & Play (Easiest)

This is the quickest way to get friends into your world. One person hosts, everyone else joins.

How to set it up:

1. Launch Valheim and select your character
2. Click Start Game
3. Select an existing world or create a new one
4. Check Start Server and set a password
5. If you want crossplay, check Crossplay
6. Click Start

How friends join:

• With crossplay enabled: Share the Join Code shown in the top-left corner. Friends enter it under Join Game and click Join by Code.
• Without crossplay: Friends go to Join Game, find your server in the list, or click Add by IP and enter your public IP with port 2456.

Pros:

• Zero setup — just check a box and share the code
• Free (no server costs)
• Works immediately

Cons:

• The world is only accessible when the host is playing
• The host's internet and hardware affect everyone's experience
• If the host has high ping, everyone suffers

Method 2: Self-Hosted Dedicated Server

Running a dedicated server on your own PC or a spare machine means the world stays online even when you close Valheim.

Requirements:

• A PC with at least 4 GB free RAM
• A stable internet connection
• Port forwarding access on your router (ports 2456-2458 UDP)

How to set it up:

1. Open Steam and install Valheim Dedicated Server from your library (it is a separate entry, not the game itself)
2. Edit the startup script to set your server name, world name, and password
3. Forward ports 2456-2458 UDP on your router
4. Run the startup script
5. Share your public IP and port with friends

Pros:

• World stays online while the PC runs
• You control the hardware

Cons:

• Uses your PC resources and electricity 24/7
• Port forwarding can be tricky on some routers
• Your upload speed limits how many players can connect smoothly
• No DDoS protection — your home IP is exposed

Method 3: Hosted Dedicated Server (Recommended for Groups)

A hosted server runs on professional infrastructure — always online, protected from attacks, and accessible from anywhere without port forwarding.

How to set it up with HostedGG:

1. Go to the Valheim server page and pick a plan
2. Name your server and set a password
3. Enable crossplay if you have Xbox/Game Pass friends
4. Your server is online in under 60 seconds
5. Share the IP or Join Code with your group

How friends connect:

• Crossplay enabled: Use the Join Code from the server console
• Direct IP: Go to Join Game and enter the server IP and port

Pros:

• Always online 24/7 — friends can play without waiting for anyone
• DDoS protection included
• No port forwarding, no electricity costs
• Automatic backups protect your world
• Professional hardware means no lag from your home internet
• Install mods and Valheim Plus without touching your own PC

Cons:

• Monthly cost (starts from the lowest 3-day rental price)

For most groups, a hosted server is the best balance of convenience and reliability. No one wants to be the designated "host" who has to be online for everyone else to play.

Get a Valheim server running in 60 seconds

Setting Up Crossplay (Steam + Xbox + Game Pass)

Valheim supports crossplay across Steam, Xbox, and PC Game Pass. Here is how to enable it:

On a hosted server:

1. Log into your server control panel
2. Go to Startup settings
3. Set Enable Crossplay to 1
4. Restart the server
5. The console will show a Join Code — share it with everyone

On Host & Play:

1. Check the Crossplay box when starting your world
2. Share the Join Code shown in the top-left corner

For Xbox/Game Pass players joining:

1. Launch Valheim
2. Select your character
3. Click Join Game
4. Enter the Join Code
5. Click Join by Code

Important: When crossplay is enabled, all players — including Steam users — must use the Join Code. Direct IP connection does not work with crossplay enabled.

For a deeper dive, check our crossplay setup wiki guide.

Connection Troubleshooting

"Server not responding" or "Disconnected"

• Make sure you are entering the correct IP and port
• If using crossplay, use the Join Code instead of IP
• Check that the server password matches (it is case-sensitive)
• Restart the server from the control panel

High ping or lag

• Choose a server location closest to your group
• If one player has high ping, it does not affect others on a dedicated server (unlike Host & Play)
• Reduce world complexity: fewer lit torches and large builds in one area helps
• Check our performance optimization guide for server-side settings

Cannot find server in browser

• Wait 5-10 minutes after starting — Steam browser takes time to list new servers
• Use Add by IP instead of searching the browser list
• Make sure your server is set to Public in the settings

For more solutions, visit the Valheim troubleshooting wiki.

Which Method Should You Pick?

2-3 friends, casual sessions: Host & Play works fine. The host starts the world when you want to play, and everyone joins.

4-10 friends, regular sessions: Get a hosted dedicated server. Having the world always available means people can jump in and build whenever they want — not just when the host is free. This is how most Valheim groups end up playing.

Tech enthusiast with spare hardware: Self-hosting is an option, but factor in electricity costs, port forwarding headaches, and no DDoS protection. For most people, a hosted server is cheaper than running a PC 24/7.

Ready to Start Your Viking Adventure?

Skip the port forwarding and the "is the host online?" messages. Deploy a Valheim server in under 60 seconds and start exploring with your crew.

Deploy your Valheim server now — free for 3 days, no credit card required.

Already have a world? Upload your save files via FTP and pick up right where you left off. Check the world transfer guide for instructions.