Valheim Crossplay Server: Join Codes for Xbox, PS5 and Switch 2
To let Xbox, Game Pass, PS5 and Switch 2 players join a Valheim dedicated server, the server must be started with the -crossplay option, which uses Microsoft's PlayFab network. On ChicagoServers that is the Crossplay (Xbox / Game Pass) field on the Startup tab. Console players then join with a six-digit join code, and Steam players can still join by IP address.
This guide covers turning crossplay on, finding and sharing the join code, how each kind of player connects, and the trade-offs. It was checked on 2026-11-15 against host documentation written for Valheim 1.0 and our own server setup. Several details, such as platform support, come from host write-ups and not from Iron Gate's own patch notes, so confirm anything critical in the game after an update.
- Open the Startup tab, tick Crossplay (Xbox / Game Pass), click Save startup and Restart.
- Console and Game Pass players use the six-digit join code: Join Game, Add server, type the code, then the password. No IP address or port is needed.
- The join code changes every time the server restarts, so check it after any restart or update.
- Steam players can join a crossplay server by IP and port or from the server list. Xbox, PC Game Pass, PS5 and Switch 2 players can only join crossplay-enabled servers.
- Host guides report that BepInEx mods do not run on a crossplay server, and that crossplay uses 1 to 2 GB more memory. Treat both as things to test on your own server.
On this page
What crossplay changes
Without crossplay, a Valheim server uses Steam networking and only Steam players can join. With the -crossplay option, the server registers with PlayFab, Microsoft's multiplayer service, and players on Steam, Xbox, PC Game Pass and, since Valheim 1.0, PS5 and Switch 2 can all play together. Because PlayFab does the matchmaking, you do not forward ports for it.
| Player platform | Crossplay off | Crossplay on |
|---|---|---|
| Steam (PC, Mac, Linux) | Can join | Can join by IP, join code or server list |
| Xbox, PC Game Pass | Cannot join | Can join with the join code or by searching the server list |
| PS5, Switch 2 | Cannot join | Can join with the join code or by searching the server list |
Turning crossplay on or off does not touch the world save. Players must also have crossplay enabled on their side when they join.
Turn crossplay on
- Open the Startup tab
Sign in at panel.chicagoservers.co, open your Valheim server and go to the Startup tab.
- Tick Crossplay
Tick Crossplay (Xbox / Game Pass). Check the Join password while you are here: it must be at least five characters and must not appear inside the world name, or a public server will not start.
- Save and restart
Click Save startup, then Restart. The server registers with PlayFab as it starts.
- Wait for the server to list
After a restart the server list can take a few minutes to show the server. The join code works sooner.
Find the join code
The join code is a six-digit number issued when the server registers its session. You can find it in three places:
- At the top of your server page in the panel.
- On the Console tab: search the output for join code and use the most recent line that has a number. Right after startup the line can briefly show no number, and it fills in a few seconds later.
- In the game: open the pause menu while you are on your own server and click the code to copy it.
How each player joins
- Xbox, Game Pass, PS5 and Switch 2
Open Join Game, choose Add server, enter the six-digit join code and then the server password. They can also search the server list for your server name.
- Steam players
Use Join Game, then Add server, and enter the server's IP address and port, or find the server in the community list. The IP address and port are shown on your server page. Local and loopback addresses do not work with crossplay.
SERVER-IP:PORT
If someone cannot find the server, check the version first. The game and server versions must match, so after a Valheim update use Update now on the Steam update bar before you troubleshoot anything else. Our server not showing and can't join guide covers the rest.
Crossplay and mods
Host documentation for Valheim 1.0 reports that BepInEx and crossplay cannot be used together: BepInEx can stay installed, but no mods run while crossplay is on, and there is no partial workaround when any player is on a console. Our existing BepInEx mods guide describes server-side-only mods as the safest for a crossplay server. If mods matter to you, test on a copy of the world before you tell your friends crossplay is ready.
Performance and memory
One host reports that a crossplay server needs about 1 to 2 GB more RAM than the same server without it, and that PlayFab adds a few milliseconds of latency. These figures are not from Iron Gate, so treat them as a guide and watch your own server's memory on the Console tab and panel graphs after you turn it on.
Crossplay problems and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| The join code is rejected | The server restarted and the code changed. Read the new one. |
| No code appears in the log | Crossplay is off. Tick Crossplay (Xbox / Game Pass) on the Startup tab, save and restart. |
| Console player cannot find the server | Crossplay is off, the server is hidden from the list, or it was just restarted. Give them the code. |
| The server will not start with crossplay on | The password is under five characters or appears in the world name. The console shows an error about the password. |
| Steam player cannot connect by IP | Wrong IP address or port, or the game and server versions differ. |
| Mods stopped working | Crossplay and BepInEx mods do not run together on 1.0, according to host documentation. |
| Version mismatch after an update | Use Update now on the Steam update bar, then restart. |
For every launch option and the password rules, see the Valheim dedicated server setup guide. Looking for a host? See Valheim server hosting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my Valheim server crossplay?
Tick Crossplay (Xbox / Game Pass) on the Startup tab, click Save startup and Restart. The server then uses PlayFab and console and Game Pass players can join with the join code.
Where do I find the Valheim join code?
At the top of your server page in the panel, in the Console tab output (search for join code), or in the game's pause menu while you are on the server. It is a six-digit number.
Why does the Valheim join code keep changing?
Each server restart creates a new session and issues a new join code. Check the code after every restart or update.
Can PS5 and Switch 2 players join a Valheim dedicated server?
Host documentation for Valheim 1.0 says yes, when the server has crossplay on. They join with the join code or by finding the server in the list.
Can Steam players join a crossplay server?
Yes. They can join by IP address and port, with the join code or from the server list.
Do Valheim mods work with crossplay?
Host documentation reports that BepInEx mods do not run while crossplay is on. Server-side-only mods are the safest option, but test on a backup first.