# How to Play Co-op with Friends (Join Each Other's Raids) (/docs/escape-from-tarkov/play-with-friends)



import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

You can log in to your SPT-Fika server and see each other online, but when you try to **join a friend's raid** you get **"unable to connect to server."** This is the most common Fika co-op issue, and it's almost always a client-side setting — not a server problem.

Why This Happens [#why-this-happens]

Fika works in two parts:

* **The SPT server** (your XGamingServer instance) handles logins, profiles, traders, and progression. When you connect through the SPT Launcher, this is what you're reaching. This part working is why you can *see* each other.
* **The raid itself is peer-to-peer.** One player *hosts* the raid and the others connect **directly to that player**, not to the server. For this to work through home routers, Fika uses a **NAT punch** service on the server so nobody has to manually port-forward.

If NAT punching isn't set up correctly, the raid host is unreachable and joining fails — even though the login worked fine.

> 📝 **Note:** New SPT-Fika servers on XGamingServer have NAT punching **enabled automatically** — there's nothing to configure on the server. The fix below is entirely on each player's game client.

The #1 Mistake [#the-1-mistake]

Most people try to fix this by setting **Force IP** to the server's address and forwarding the server port (or changing the UDP port in the Fika plugin). **This is wrong and will break joining.** Force IP is for advanced/manual setups only.

If you've changed either of those, undo them before continuing:

* **Force IP** should be **blank**.
* Don't forward the SPT server port on your PC or router — the server's NAT punch handles it.
* Don't type a UDP port into the Fika plugin — the client discovers it from the server automatically.

The Fix (Every Player Must Do This) [#the-fix-every-player-must-do-this]

Each person who wants to play co-op — **the host and everyone joining** — needs these settings in the Fika client config. Open them with **F12** in-game (BepInEx configuration manager), or edit `BepInEx/config/com.fika.core.cfg` in your SPT folder.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Clear "Force IP" [#clear-force-ip]

    Find the **Force IP** setting and make sure it is **empty**. Remove any server IP you previously typed in.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Enable "Use NAT Punching" [#enable-use-nat-punching]

    Turn **Use NAT Punching** **ON**. This lets the client discover the raid host through the server automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Disable "Use UPnP" [#disable-use-upnp]

    Turn **Use UPnP** **OFF** if it's enabled. It conflicts with NAT punching and isn't needed.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Remove any port forwards [#remove-any-port-forwards]

    Undo any port-forwarding rules you added to your PC or router for Tarkov/Fika, and revert any UDP port changes you made in the plugin.
  </Step>
</Steps>

After everyone has applied these settings, **fully restart your game clients**. Then one player hosts a raid and the others join from the Fika lobby.

> 💡 **Tip:** Only the *raid host* needs a stable connection — they act as the P2P host for that session. You can take turns hosting.

Still Can't Connect? [#still-cant-connect]

* **Double-check every player** did the four steps above — one person with a leftover Force IP can cause "unable to connect."
* **Restart the game fully** after changing settings — Fika reads them at launch.
* **Strict / CGNAT networks:** a small number of ISPs (often mobile or shared-IP connections) block the direct P2P link that NAT punching relies on. If one specific player can never host, have *someone else* host instead — that usually works. If nobody can host, open a ticket and we'll help set up an alternative.
* **Older servers:** if your server was created a while ago and NAT punching still isn't running, contact [support](https://discord.xgamingserver.com/) — we'll enable it on your instance in a couple of minutes.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [How to Configure Your SPT-Fika Server](/docs/escape-from-tarkov/configure-your-server)

If you get stuck, join our [Discord](https://discord.xgamingserver.com/) and we'll help you get your co-op raids working.