How to Enable Crossplay on Your Valheim Server
Enable crossplay on your Valheim dedicated server so Steam, Xbox, Microsoft Store, and Game Pass players can all connect.
Valheim supports crossplay between Steam, Xbox, Microsoft Store, and Game Pass via Microsoft's PlayFab relay service. When crossplay is enabled, the server uses relay networking — port forwarding is not required for external connections.
Enable Crossplay
Open Startup
In the XGamingServer Panel, click Startup in the sidebar.
Toggle Crossplay on
Find the Crossplay variable (maps to -crossplay) and enable it.
Restart the server
Go to Console and restart.
Get the join code
Once the server starts, check Console for a 6-character join code in the startup output. Players use this code to connect from any platform.
How Players Connect
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| Steam | Server browser, direct IP, or join code |
| Xbox | Join code (no IP method) |
| Microsoft Store | Join code |
| Game Pass PC | Join code |
The join code is the easiest way for cross-platform groups — share it once and everyone uses the same code regardless of platform.
Crossplay Limitations
| Limitation | Details |
|---|---|
| Mods | Xbox/Game Pass players cannot install mods. Modded servers will reject them entirely |
| Performance | Relay networking adds latency compared to direct connect. Players in different regions may notice it |
| Connection issues | If PlayFab has an outage, all crossplay servers become unreachable |
Crossplay-Compatible Mods
Server-only mods (mods that run on the server but don't require client-side files) work with crossplay if all players including console users have them — but console players can't install mods, so this rarely works in practice. For modded servers, you'll usually want crossplay disabled and use direct IP for Steam-only players.
Related Guides
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Valheim Console Commands Reference
Complete list of all Valheim console commands — player, admin, dev, world modifier, and emote commands for dedicated servers.
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