Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsYes. You can play Valheim with friends by hosting a peer-to-peer session directly from the game. Select a world, enable its in-game server option, set a password, and launch it. Your computer becomes the host; friends join through Steam or, for cross-platform play, with a Join code.
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This method does not create an always-online world. The session is available while the host is running the game. If your group needs to enter the same world when the owner is away, a separate dedicated-server process or hosted machine is the appropriate option.
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Valheim has two different multiplayer arrangements. An in-game peer-to-peer session uses the computer of the player who launches the world. A dedicated server runs as a separate process or on another machine so the world can remain available independently of any player’s game session.
For the first arrangement, no standalone Valheim Dedicated Server installation is required. Iron Gate describes the in-game option as a public or private peer-to-peer play session. You choose the world and start the session from Valheim itself.
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“When starting the game you can create your own p2p-based play session that can be either public or private.” — Iron Gate Studio FAQ
The trade-off is availability: the host’s game session is what keeps the multiplayer world reachable. This is ideal for a group that normally plays together at scheduled times, but it is not a 24/7 world for drop-in play.
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- A Valheim world: use an existing world or create a new one.
- The in-game server option enabled: this turns the launched world into the multiplayer session.
- A password: set it before launching so access is controlled.
- Matching game versions: every player should be on the same patch. The version number appears in the bottom-right corner of Valheim’s main menu.
- A plan for the connection type: same-platform Steam friends can use the normal friends or Join Game flow; cross-platform players need crossplay and a Join code.
Valheim servers support up to 10 simultaneous players. That limit includes the host, so a full session has one host and up to nine other players.
How to host a Valheim world from the game
- Open Valheim and choose a world. Select an existing save or create a new world from the world-selection screen.
- Enable the in-game server option. Turn on the server setting for that world before you launch it.
- Set a password. Enter the password while configuring the world. Give it only to the people you want in the session.
- Launch the world. Start the game normally. Your computer is now running the peer-to-peer multiplayer session.
- Choose the correct invitation method. Use Steam friends or Valheim’s Join Game flow for friends on the same platform. If anyone is joining from another platform, enable crossplay and use the displayed Join code instead.
- Keep the session running while others play. The world is reachable through this method only while the host is running the game session.
The important distinction is that “server” here describes the multiplayer session you launched, not a separate dedicated-server application. You do not need to download or configure that standalone application for this workflow.
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How same-platform friends join through Steam
For friends using the same Steam-based platform, start the world as an in-game server and use the normal Steam friends invitation or Valheim’s Join Game flow. The exact invitation can vary with how your friend list is opened, but the route remains the standard in-game/Steam joining process rather than a dedicated-server address.
Tell friends the world is ready only after the host has launched it. If they try before the session is running, there is no active peer-to-peer host for them to reach. They should also confirm that their version number matches the host’s number at the bottom-right of the main menu.
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Same-platform joining checklist
- Host has launched the selected world with the in-game server option enabled.
- Host has shared the password.
- Friend opens Steam friends or Valheim’s Join Game area.
- Both players are running the same game patch.
- The host remains in the session for the duration of the play period.
How to invite Xbox and other cross-platform friends
Cross-platform play uses Valheim’s crossplay route. Enable crossplay for the hosted world, then retrieve the code that Valheim displays in the pause menu.
- Enable crossplay before or while configuring the session. This is required for friends joining from another platform.
- Launch the world as an in-game server. The host must be inside the session before sharing its code.
- Open the pause menu. Copy the displayed Join code.
- Send the code to the friend. Share the code exactly as shown; it is the cross-platform route to this session.
- Have the friend open Join Game. Iron Gate’s documented sequence is Join Game → Add server → paste the Join code.
- Use the password when prompted. The code identifies the session; the password remains the access control you set for the world.
Xbox players cannot host a dedicated server, according to Iron Gate’s crossplay FAQ, but they can join a dedicated server when crossplay is enabled. For the in-game method covered here, the practical requirement is that the host starts a crossplay-enabled session and the other-platform player joins with the code.
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Public or private: choosing access for your group
Iron Gate’s description of the in-game session allows it to be public or private. A private session with a password is the straightforward choice for a closed group: friends receive the password directly, and the host controls when the world is available.
A public session is appropriate only when you intentionally want broader visibility. Whatever setting you choose, write down the password and Join code separately. The code is used for the cross-platform join path; the password is the credential for entering the protected world.
Before you launch
- Confirm the world selected is the one your group intends to use.
- Check the server option is enabled for that world.
- Set or verify the password.
- Turn on crossplay if any participant is on another platform.
- Tell everyone the host’s expected play window, because the session is not independently online.
What happens when the host is offline?
Friends cannot use this peer-to-peer method to enter the world while the host’s game session is stopped. The host’s computer is providing the active multiplayer session, so closing the game removes that route to the world until the host launches it again.
This is the key limitation compared with a dedicated server. A dedicated server is designed to provide a persistent world that friends can play in at any time. Iron Gate describes that option as a separate application for groups that need a persistent world; it is not required for a group that plays whenever the host is available.
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Choose in-game hosting when
- The same person usually organizes each play session.
- Your group does not need 24-hour access.
- You want the simplest setup with no separate server process.
- Your group has 10 or fewer simultaneous players.
Consider a dedicated server when
- Friends need to play while the usual host is offline.
- You want a persistent world that starts independently of a player’s game client.
- Different schedules make host-dependent sessions inconvenient.
Peer-to-peer hosting versus a dedicated server
| Option | Who keeps the world available? | How friends join | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-game peer-to-peer host | The player who launched the world | Steam friends or Valheim’s Join Game flow; cross-platform players use a Join code when crossplay is enabled | Small groups that play together and do not need 24/7 access |
| Dedicated server | A separate server process or hosted machine | Server list, IP address, or Join code depending on the backend | Groups that need a persistent world |
The dedicated-server guide lists a default port range of 2456–2457 for Steam-backend setups and a default save interval of 1,800 seconds (30 minutes). Those are dedicated-server settings, not steps you need to configure when you host from Valheim’s multiplayer screen.
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Iron Gate also notes that Steam-backend dedicated servers may require router port forwarding. A dedicated server using the crossplay backend uses a relay, so it does not need port forwarding to be reachable from outside the local network. Neither networking arrangement changes the simpler peer-to-peer procedure in this article.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting a Valheim in-game session
A friend cannot connect because of a version mismatch
Have every player return to the main menu and read the version number in the bottom-right corner. Iron Gate warns that mismatched versions may prevent connections. Do not continue troubleshooting invitations until the numbers match.
A cross-platform friend cannot find the world
- Confirm crossplay is enabled on the host’s session.
- Make sure the host has launched the world and is still in the session.
- Open the pause menu and copy the current Join code again.
- Ask the friend to use Join Game → Add server and paste the code there.
- Confirm the friend is entering the password set for the world.
A Steam friend cannot see the session
Verify that the host actually enabled the in-game server option before launching. Then have the friend refresh or reopen Valheim’s Join Game area and try the normal Steam friends route. Check the game versions on both main menus.
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The group expects to play while the host is away
That expectation conflicts with the peer-to-peer design. The host must keep the game session running for this method to remain available. Move to a dedicated-server arrangement if independent, persistent access is a requirement.
The group has more than 10 players
Valheim’s server limit is 10 simultaneous players. A peer-to-peer session cannot be used to exceed that cap; the group must organize within the limit.
A quick launch checklist
- Select or create the correct world.
- Enable the in-game server option.
- Set a password.
- Enable crossplay if any friend is on another platform.
- Launch the world.
- Use Steam friends or Join Game for same-platform players.
- For cross-platform players, copy the Join code from the pause menu.
- Tell the friend to use Join Game → Add server → paste the Join code.
- Check that every player has the same version number.
- Keep the host’s session running while the group plays.
The Bottom Line
To play Valheim without a dedicated server, enable the in-game server option for a world, set a password, and launch it. Same-platform friends join through Steam or Join Game; cross-platform friends need crossplay and the pause-menu Join code. The host must remain in the session, and no more than 10 players can be connected at once.
