Set up Valheim crossplayOne startup parameter decides who can see your server at all

Published on September 10, 2026 · last updated on October 21, 2026

Two backends, one decision

Valheim runs dedicated servers through one of two different network backends, and that is the core of the whole matter. Iron Gate describes the -crossplay parameter in the official server documentation like this: it makes the server run through the crossplay backend, so that players from any platform can join. Without the parameter, the Steam backend is used - and then only Steam users can see and join the server.

This difference is often underestimated. It is not a convenience feature that makes joining easier for console players, but a visibility switch. For a PS5 player, a server without crossplay simply does not exist - no matter how often they type in the address or whether they know the password.

That makes the decision almost by itself: as soon as someone in your group plays on a console, there is no alternative to crossplay. If you all play via Steam, you can stay on the Steam backend and connect via the familiar fixed server address made up of IP and port.

Which platforms play along

With the 1.0 release on 9 September 2026, Valheim is at home on a whole range of systems, and all of them meet on the same server when crossplay is active:

• PC: Steam and the Microsoft Store version, plus Linux and macOS.
• Xbox: Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
• PlayStation 5: new with 1.0.
• Nintendo Switch 2: also new with 1.0.

One detail that Iron Gate explicitly points out for consoles: crossplay has to be active on both sides - on the server and in the settings of the console itself. If a player cannot get in even though the server is set up correctly, check their game settings before you keep searching on the server.

Setting the switch

With us, you maintain the startup parameters in the web interface without touching any scripts yourself:

1. Open the server in the web interface and stop it.
2. Go to the settings with the startup parameters.
3. Activate crossplay or add -crossplay.
4. Save and start the server again.
5. Give the join code from the web interface to your group.

Switching the backend does not touch your world: the world files remain untouched, and so do the bases you have built and your progress. The only thing that changes is how players connect. If you still prefer to play it safe, make a copy beforehand - how that works is explained in Create backups.

The other switches that live in the same startup parameters - combat difficulty, resources, portal rules - are covered in World modifiers.

What changes about joining

With crossplay active, the way onto the server shifts: instead of address and port, you pass on a join code that the web interface displays. For the group, this is usually more convenient because nobody has to remember an IP.

In practice, it has proven useful to keep the code in one fixed place - pinned in the group chat or in the description of your voice channel. If you are looking for the complete way to join in both cases, you will find it in Join a server; if something goes wrong, Fix connection problems works through the usual causes one by one.

The server password remains mandatory in both cases: at least five characters, and it must not appear in the server name. That makes your world private automatically, crossplay included - details in Make your server private.

Crossplay and mods

One point that regularly catches up with mixed groups: mods via BepInEx are a PC-only affair. Console players cannot install them, and a server whose mods change the gameplay requires them from everyone involved.

That leads to a simple rule: crossplay groups play vanilla. If you want to run a large mod collection, you turn the server into a PC-only server. Pure client mods for visuals and comfort are not affected - they only concern the individual player anyway.

Both at the same time is not possible, and that is not a limitation of our plans but lies in the nature of things. How to choose a sensible plan when mods drop out and world size decides instead is explained in How much RAM do I need?. Which plan fits a group of PC and console players in concrete terms is shown in Rent a Valheim crossplay server.

When console players cannot find the server

By far the most common case is the forgotten startup parameter. Work through the list from top to bottom:

• Is the server really running with crossplay? After setting the parameter, a restart is required, not just saving.
• Is crossplay switched on on the console? The switch exists on both sides.
• Is the join code correct? After a restart, look it up in the web interface instead of copying an old code from the chat.
• Is everyone on the same game version? Valheim only connects when the versions match exactly. With us, your server is updated automatically, the clients via their respective platform.
• Are mods involved? Then console players cannot get in at all.

If a single player stays locked out while the rest of the group is in, it is almost never the server - then the version or the platform settings are the cause.

Frequently asked questions