To join a Valheim server by IP, open Join Game, choose Add server or Join IP, and enter the server’s public address with its game port. A Steam-backend server normally requires the host to forward ports 2456–2457 and allow the server through the firewall. A Crossplay server uses a relay, so outside players do not need router port forwarding; they can join with a public address and port, a numeric join code, or the server list. The client and server must be running the same game patch.
Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted Valheim servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
What you need before entering an IP
Ask the server owner for three things before opening Valheim:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute- The server’s public or external IP address, unless the owner is giving you a join code or the server is visible in the list.
- The configured game port.
- The server password, if one is set.
An address supplied for an Internet connection is normally entered in IP:port form, for example 203.0.113.25:2456. The example is only a formatting illustration, not a real server. Do not substitute the host’s private address, such as 192.168.x.x, when you are connecting from another network. Private addresses work only in the appropriate local-network setup.
The exact connection path depends on how the dedicated server was started. A Steam-backend server exposes its ports directly and normally needs router forwarding. A Crossplay server is relayed and supports additional joining methods.
Steam-backend servers: join by public IP
1. Get the address and port from the owner
The owner should provide the external address and the value used for the server’s -port setting. If the owner did not change the setting, Valheim’s documented default uses ports 2456 and 2457. The server uses the selected port and the next port, so forwarding only one of them can leave the connection incomplete.
2. Open the IP entry screen
- Start Valheim and select Join Game.
- Select Add server or Join IP, depending on the wording shown by your game build.
- Enter the address in the provider’s expected
IP:portformat. - Submit the entry and select the server when it appears.
- Enter the server password when Valheim asks for it.
If the game separates address and port into different fields, put the numeric address in the address field and the game port in the port field. Do not add a second port, a web-panel port, or a query-port value unless the owner specifically identifies it as the game port.
3. What the host must configure
IP entry cannot bypass an incorrectly configured server. For a Steam-backend Internet server, the owner must:
- Forward the server’s configured port and the next port from the Internet-facing router to the computer running Valheim.
- Make sure the forwarding rule points to the current local address of that computer. A DHCP address change can silently make an old rule point at the wrong device.
- Allow the dedicated-server executable through the operating-system firewall for the relevant network profiles.
- Start the server and wait for the console message “Game server connected.”
Iron Gate Studio’s official support guidance describes Internet access to the server’s port range as the key Steam-backend requirement. Port forwarding is a host-side task; the joining player cannot repair it by trying a different private address.
Crossplay servers: IP, join code, or server list
Crossplay changes how outside connections reach the server. The dedicated server must be started with the Crossplay backend enabled, using the -crossplay option. The relay means the owner does not normally have to forward router ports for players outside the local network.
Rank #2
- Viking Game laminated laptop stickers All approx 3"-4" in length
- Laminated, Not UV Proof. Will fade in sun. Best used indoors.
- Great for Laptops, Phones, Computers, Tablets and more!
- Handmade by a Stay at Home Small Business Mama!
Join with a public IP and port
Open Join Game, choose Add server or Join IP, and enter the public address and game port supplied by the owner. The address still needs to identify the server’s Internet-facing endpoint; Crossplay does not make a host’s local or loopback address valid for an Internet join.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Join with a numeric code
- Ask the owner to start the Crossplay server.
- Have the owner open the in-game pause menu and copy the displayed numeric Join code.
- In your game, open Join Game and select Add server.
- Paste or type the code in the join-code field and confirm.
Iron Gate’s Crossplay FAQ says that a join code is available when a player starts or hosts a server and checks the pause menu. A code is often easier than exchanging an address, particularly when the owner’s public address changes.
Join from the server list
If the owner has published the server through Crossplay, search for it in the server list and use the password when prompted. If it does not appear, use the public address and port or the numeric code instead; list visibility and direct address entry are separate connection methods.
Xbox and Microsoft Store players
Players using Xbox or the Microsoft Store version need Crossplay enabled on the server and in the participating setup. A Steam-backend server configured only for the documented Steam path does not automatically accept those clients. The official Valheim crossplay announcement specifically says dedicated-server hosts must enable Crossplay for non-Steam players to join.
Steam versus Crossplay at a glance
| Connection path | How players identify the server | Router port forwarding | Who can use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam backend | Public IP and game port | Normally required; the documented default uses 2456–2457 | Steam users in the documented Steam setup |
| Crossplay backend | Public IP and port, numeric join code, or server list | Not required for outside access because traffic is relayed | Cross-platform players when Crossplay is enabled |
Changing the joining method does not change the server’s backend. If a server owner has not enabled Crossplay, entering a join code will not convert a Steam-backend server into a Crossplay server.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #3
- Gaming Inspired Design
- Geek Culture
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
Which address should you enter?
Public address for Internet players
Use the router’s external address when you are outside the host’s home or office network. The owner can obtain that address from the router’s Internet status page or the service used to manage the server. Your friend should send the address exactly as displayed, together with the configured game port.
Private address for a local network
A local player may use a private address for a non-Crossplay LAN setup when both devices are on the same network. Examples include addresses beginning with 192.168., 10., or 172.16. through 172.31.. This is a different case from an Internet friend joining over the public Internet.
Loopback address
An address such as 127.0.0.1 points back to the device on which it is entered. It is useful only for software on that same device and is not an address another player can use. Crossplay explicitly does not accept local or loopback addresses.
How the host confirms the server is ready
The owner should check the dedicated-server console before asking anyone to troubleshoot the client. The console should report “Game server connected.” If that message has not appeared, the process may still be starting, may have stopped, or may be unable to reach the backend.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The owner should then verify that:
- The server is running the intended backend: Steam for a direct Steam connection or Crossplay with
-crossplayfor relay-based cross-platform access. - The configured
-portvalue matches the port given to players. - The router rule targets the actual server computer when Steam-backend forwarding is required.
- The operating-system firewall permits the dedicated-server application.
- The server password supplied to players is current.
These checks should be completed on the host before changing a player’s address. A wrong public IP, blocked port, and stopped process produce similar “cannot connect” symptoms from the player’s perspective.
Rank #4
- Valheim Boar Loves You quote. A perfect design for fans of the best selling Viking game.
- An amazing and unique design which is also perfect as a gift.
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
Troubleshooting a failed IP connection
“Server not found” or no response
- Check that you entered the public address, not the host’s
192.168.x.xor another private address. - Check the separator and port. If the owner supplied
address:port, keep the colon and enter the digits exactly. - Ask whether the server uses Steam or Crossplay. A Crossplay server can also be reached with its numeric code; a Steam-backend server cannot use that method.
- Ask the owner to confirm the console’s “Game server connected” message.
Wrong port or a changed server setting
Valheim uses the selected game port and the following port. If the owner changed -port, the forwarding rule and the address given to players must reflect that change. An old bookmark can therefore fail even though the server computer and world are unchanged.
Xbox or Microsoft Store player cannot join
Confirm that the dedicated server was started with -crossplay. Crossplay must be enabled for the participating setup as well. A Steam-only backend does not provide cross-platform access simply because the player enters the correct public IP.
Crossplay address is rejected
Do not test a Crossplay server with the host’s LAN address or 127.0.0.1. Use the public address and port, the numeric join code, or the server list. If the owner is testing from the same home network, that local test can be misleading because it is not the same path an outside player uses.
Version or patch mismatch
Update the game client and the dedicated server so they use the same patch. Valheim’s official announcement warns that a different patch can prevent a connection. A correct address and open port cannot compensate for an incompatible client and server version.
Firewall or NAT problem on Steam
If the address and port are correct but outside Steam players still cannot connect, the owner should check the host firewall and router forwarding. The forwarding destination must be the server computer, not another device that happened to receive the same local address in an earlier session. The firewall rule must allow the dedicated-server executable rather than only the game launcher.
Best Value
- Gaming Inspired Design
- Gaming and Geek Inspired
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
Password prompt appears, then entry fails
Confirm the password with the owner and enter it exactly. A password failure is different from an unreachable port: if Valheim reaches the server and asks for credentials, the address has at least led the client to a responding service.
Joining from the same home network
A LAN player and an Internet player do not necessarily use the same address. For a non-Crossplay local setup, the LAN player can use the host computer’s private address. The external player uses the public address and the configured port, subject to the Steam-backend forwarding requirements.
Do not treat a successful LAN test as proof that Internet access works. Local traffic may never pass through the router’s external interface, so it can succeed even when forwarding or firewall rules are wrong. Conversely, Crossplay’s relay path has its own requirements and does not accept the local or loopback address as a substitute.
Using a managed Valheim host instead
A managed server provider can remove much of the router and firewall work. After renting and starting a Valheim instance, open the provider’s control panel and copy the connection address it displays. In Valheim, choose Join IP and enter that address in the format the provider specifies, including the game port if it is shown separately.
Check the provider’s instructions for the backend, supported platforms, password, and any required startup option. Managed hosting does not remove the need for matching game patches or the correct Crossplay setting when Xbox or Microsoft Store players are involved; it mainly moves server hardware, network forwarding, and process management to the provider.
Practical checklist for players
- Confirm whether the server is Steam backend or Crossplay.
- Get the public address and game port, or request the Crossplay join code.
- Update Valheim so your patch matches the server.
- Open Join Game and select Add server or Join IP.
- Enter the address and port exactly, or paste the numeric code.
- Enter the password when prompted.
- If it fails, ask the owner to verify the backend, running status, firewall, forwarding, and port setting before trying random addresses.
What the host should send to a group
A clear invitation prevents most entry mistakes. The host should identify the backend, provide the public address and game port for direct joining, include the numeric code if Crossplay is enabled, and state the password separately. For Xbox or Microsoft Store players, the invitation should explicitly say that Crossplay is enabled. If the host changes the port, public address, backend, or password, the group needs the replacement details rather than the old saved entry.
For Steam-backend hosting, the host should also confirm that the server console reports “Game server connected” and that the router forwards the configured port and its next port to the dedicated-server machine. For Crossplay hosting, the host should confirm that -crossplay was used and should warn players not to enter a LAN or loopback address.
Quick Recap
Key facts to remember
- Join IP requires the server address and the correct game port.
- Steam-backend Internet hosting normally needs forwarding for the documented default pair, 2456 and 2457.
- Crossplay uses a relay, accepts a public address and port, a numeric join code, or the server list, and rejects local or loopback addresses.
- Cross-platform players require Crossplay enabled.
- The client and dedicated server must use the same patch.
- A managed host can remove much of the router and firewall configuration, but backend and version requirements still apply.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
