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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For a standard Steam-backend Valheim dedicated server, forward UDP ports 2456 and 2457 from your router to the computer running the server, then allow the server through that computer’s firewall. Valheim uses the port set with -port and the immediately following port. If you start the server with -crossplay, its relay backend removes the need for inbound router forwarding for players connecting from outside your local network.
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The ports Valheim uses
Valheim’s dedicated server does not use one isolated port. Iron Gate’s server guide states that the server uses the configured port and Port+1. With the default setting, -port 2456, that means the range is:
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| Setting | Port | Protocol | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Configured server port | 2456 by default | UDP | Forward it to the server computer |
| Following port | 2457 by default | UDP | Forward it to the same computer |
These are inbound rules on your home router. They are separate from the operating-system firewall on the server computer, which must also permit the Valheim server executable or the same UDP traffic.
Why two UDP ports are required
The server’s command-line port is the first value in the range; Valheim also uses the next port. Forwarding only 2456 leaves part of the server’s network traffic unavailable and can produce a server that appears online locally but cannot be joined reliably from the internet. A correct default rule therefore forwards both UDP 2456 and UDP 2457 to the same local address.
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When the numbers are different
If you change the command-line value, the router rules must change with it. For example, a server started with -port 3000 uses UDP 3000 and UDP 3001. Do not forward the default pair while the server is listening on another pair; the router configuration and the server command must match exactly.
Steam backend versus Crossplay
The forwarding requirement depends on the backend selected when the server starts.
| Setup | External network path | Router forwarding | Typical join method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam backend | Direct inbound connection to the host network | Forward the configured UDP port and the next port; allow the server through the host firewall | Server list or the host’s public address and configured port |
| Crossplay backend | Relay server carries traffic between players and the host | No inbound port forwarding is required for access from outside the local network | Supported server-list or join-code flow |
Iron Gate describes the Crossplay exception explicitly: when -crossplay is enabled, the server transmits data through a relay server and therefore does not require port forwarding to be accessible from outside the local network. The server still has a configured port internally, and the host operating system still has to let the server run. Crossplay also enables participation by players on other supported platforms when it is configured appropriately.
Do not apply the Steam-backend forwarding instructions automatically to a Crossplay server. First check the startup arguments and identify which backend you intend to use.
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What to prepare before changing the router
1. Confirm the startup arguments
Find the launch script, shortcut, or service definition that starts the dedicated server. Record the value after -port, or confirm that it is using the default 2456. Also note whether -crossplay is present. This prevents a common mismatch in which a router rule is built for 2456–2457 while the server is listening on a custom pair.
2. Give the server computer a stable local address
Port forwarding points to a private address such as 192.168.1.50. If the router later gives that computer a different address through DHCP, the forwarding rule continues to point at the old device and outside players cannot connect. Create a DHCP reservation in the router, or otherwise assign a stable local address using the router and operating-system documentation. The exact menu name varies by router and firmware.
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Forwarding does not start the game server or wake a sleeping computer. The dedicated server process must be running, and the machine must remain connected to the local network. If the computer is shut down, disconnected, or moved to another network, the forwarding rule has no active destination.
4. Identify the router that owns the public connection
The forwarding rule must be created on the device performing NAT for the internet connection. In a simple home network this is usually the only router. If you have an ISP gateway plus a second personal router, both devices may be routing; that arrangement can require forwarding through each NAT layer or switching one device to bridge/access-point mode. Router interfaces differ, so use the manual for the exact model rather than assuming that labels or screens are identical.
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How to forward the default Steam ports
The labels differ among router vendors, but the network logic is the same. Look for a page named Port Forwarding, NAT, Virtual Server, or a similar term.
- Start the dedicated server with the intended port. For the default Steam setup, use
-port 2456. Decide at this point whether-crossplayshould be enabled. - Open the router’s forwarding page. Sign in to the router administration interface and open its port-forwarding or NAT section. If the router offers an application preset, verify that it creates UDP rules; a generic game preset is not proof that the correct ports were selected.
- Create a UDP rule for 2456. Set the external or public port to 2456, the internal or private port to 2456, choose UDP, and set the destination to the server computer’s reserved local IP address.
- Create a second UDP rule for 2457. Use the same destination IP address and UDP protocol, with 2457 as both the external and internal port unless your router specifically separates those fields.
- Save and apply the configuration. Some routers apply immediately; others require an explicit save, apply, or reboot. Do not change the destination address after saving unless you also update the forwarding rules.
- Allow the server through the host firewall. Accept the operating-system prompt for the dedicated server executable, or create equivalent inbound UDP allowances for 2456 and 2457. The router can deliver a packet to the computer, but the host firewall can still reject it.
- Restart or reload the server if needed. If you changed the command-line port, restart the process so it actually binds to the new value. Then confirm that the startup output or server configuration reflects the same pair you entered in the router.
Operating-system firewall rules
Windows
When Windows asks whether to allow the Valheim dedicated server through the firewall, permit it on the network profile used by the server. If the prompt was dismissed, open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security and add an inbound rule for the server executable, or for UDP ports 2456 and 2457. Keep the rule limited to the required executable, protocol, and ports rather than disabling the firewall entirely.
Linux
Linux distributions and firewall tools differ. Add equivalent inbound UDP allowances for the configured port and the following port in the firewall framework used by that installation, then reload the rules. The exact command depends on whether the system uses a distribution firewall frontend, nftables, or another ruleset, so follow that system’s documentation. The important values remain the same: UDP -port and UDP -port+1.
How players connect
Steam backend
Steam-backend players can look for the server in the appropriate server list or use the host’s public address together with the configured port when the join interface supports direct addressing. They must not use the server computer’s private address, such as a 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x address, when they are outside the home network; those addresses are local-only.
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Players on the same home network may be able to connect using a local address even when internet access is misconfigured. That is not proof that forwarding works. Test the actual path your friends will use, from outside the local network, after the server is running.
Crossplay backend
For a server started with -crossplay, use the supported server-list or join-code workflow. The relay design is intended to provide outside access without an inbound router rule. A local or loopback address is not the outside-access method described by Iron Gate’s guide.
Custom ports: a reliable rule for any value
Changing the port is acceptable when another service already uses 2456 or when your network plan calls for a different value. Apply the same formula every time:
- Read the value after
-port. - Forward UDP on that value.
- Forward UDP on the next integer.
- Point both rules to the server computer’s stable local IP.
- Allow the same pair through the host firewall.
For example, -port 4000 requires UDP 4000 and UDP 4001. If the router rule says 4000–4001 but the launch script still says 2456, the server and router are not describing the same service. Keep a written record of the chosen value if several people administer the network.
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Troubleshooting connection failures
The server is visible locally but not to friends
- Confirm that the friends are testing from outside the home network. A local test can succeed without proving internet forwarding.
- Check the startup arguments and compare the actual
-portvalue with every router rule. - Verify that both ports are UDP, not TCP-only.
- Check that both rules target the current local IP of the server computer.
- Confirm that the dedicated server process is still running and has not stopped after an error.
- Review the operating-system firewall and allow the executable or the required UDP pair.
It worked until the computer or router restarted
The most likely cause is a changed private IP address. Recheck the computer’s current local address and create or repair a DHCP reservation. Also verify that the router retained the rules after applying or rebooting.
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Only one port was forwarded
Valheim uses the configured port and the next port. Add the missing UDP rule to the same destination. Forwarding 2456 alone is incomplete for the default configuration.
The server uses a custom port
Do not assume that 2456–2457 still apply. Read the command line, calculate the next port, and update both router and firewall rules. Restart the server after changing the command line.
Crossplay players still cannot join
Check that -crossplay is actually present in the running server’s launch configuration and that players are using the supported server-list or join-code path. The relay removes the need for inbound router forwarding, but it does not compensate for a stopped server, a blocked host process, or an incorrectly configured join method.
Nothing works despite correct local settings
Some internet connections do not provide a directly reachable public IPv4 address. Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) at the ISP can prevent unsolicited inbound connections even when the home router rules are correct. Iron Gate’s guide does not provide a universal workaround for ISP-level NAT. Ask the ISP whether inbound connections or a public address are available, or use a hosted server that supplies the required external connectivity.
Home hosting versus rented hosting
| Consideration | Home-hosted server | Rented or managed Valheim server |
|---|---|---|
| Router access | Requires control of NAT and, for Steam backend, UDP forwarding | Usually avoids changes to your home router |
| Machine availability | Your computer and network must stay online | Provider keeps the server infrastructure online according to its service terms |
| Maintenance | You handle the OS, firewall, updates, and network troubleshooting | Some operational work is handled by the provider; exact responsibility varies |
| Connectivity limitation | CGNAT or restrictive ISP policies can block inbound access | A hosted service can be an alternative when the home connection cannot accept inbound traffic |
Rented or managed hosting is practical when you cannot configure the router, share the network with someone who controls it, or keep a home machine online. Check the provider’s current platform support, backup policy, access controls, and port configuration before signing up; those details are service-specific and are not established by Valheim’s port documentation.
Quick Recap
Security and maintenance checklist
- Forward only the required UDP pair for the configured port.
- Keep the destination on a reserved local IP so the rule cannot silently point at another device.
- Allow the server executable or required UDP ports through the host firewall instead of disabling the firewall.
- Record whether the server uses Steam or Crossplay, because the external network path is different.
- After changing
-portor adding-crossplay, restart the server and recheck the matching settings. - Remove obsolete forwarding rules when you stop using a custom port or retire the server.
- If the ISP uses CGNAT, treat that as an upstream connectivity limitation rather than repeatedly rebuilding the same local rules.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the default Valheim server ports? | UDP 2456 and UDP 2457 for the default Steam backend. |
What if I use -port N? |
Forward UDP N and UDP N+1 to the server computer. |
Do I need port forwarding with -crossplay? |
Not for outside access through the Crossplay relay backend. |
| Is forwarding enough? | No. The server must be running, the destination IP must be correct, and the host firewall must permit the server. |
| Why can’t friends connect although local players can? | Check the public path, both UDP rules, the current local IP, the firewall, and possible ISP CGNAT. |
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