How to Connect to Your Valheim Server

Start Here: Which Method Applies to You

Crossplay is ON by default on every GameGrid Valheim server, and that decides how people join.

With crossplay on, the server runs on Microsoft's PlayFab backend and relays player traffic. It does not listen on its own game port at all, so the join code is the connection method that works - for Steam players as much as for Xbox and Game Pass players.

With crossplay off, the server runs on the Steam backend and does listen on its game port. Direct IP and the community browser are then the way in, and there is no join code.

To check which you have: open the server and look at Connection Info on the Overview tab. A crossplay server shows a Crossplay Join Code row, and its Server Address reads like "203.0.113.50:28000 (crossplay - join code 284005)". A Steam-only server shows a plain address and no join code row.

Before anyone connects, make sure the server shows as Online. If it was just started, give it 30-60 seconds to load the world - and up to a minute more for PlayFab to issue the join code, which is why that row can be missing briefly after a start.

Crossplay Server - Join Code (the default)

This is the method for every platform on a crossplay server: Steam, Xbox and Game Pass alike.

1. Read the Crossplay Join Code from Connection Info on the server Overview tab. It is a six-digit number.

2. In Valheim, click "Start Game", pick your character, then "Join Game".

3. On the Join Game screen, use the option for joining by code and enter the six digits. Do not type an address.

4. Connect, and enter the server password if one is set.

PlayFab issues a new join code every time the server restarts, so share the current one from the panel rather than an old one.

Because the traffic is relayed, there is nothing to port-forward and nothing for a player's firewall to allow.

Steam-Only Server - Direct IP

This method needs crossplay turned OFF in Settings and the server restarted. On a crossplay server the address in the panel has no listener behind it, so adding it by hand will not connect.

1. Open Valheim from your Steam library.

2. From the main menu, click "Start Game" then "Join Game".

3. Click "Add Server" at the bottom of the server list.

4. Enter the Server Address exactly as Connection Info shows it - the host and the assigned port, e.g. 203.0.113.50:28000. GameGrid allocates the port from its own 28000-39000 pool, so it is not Valheim's stock 2456.

5. Click "Add" then "Connect".

6. Enter the server password when prompted.

7. Select your character and you will load into the world.

Steam-Only Server - Community Server Browser

The community browser also needs crossplay off, and it needs the server to be listed.

Listing is off by default. Turn on "List in Server Browser" in Settings, set a Server Password of at least 5 characters (Valheim refuses to list a server that has none), and restart.

1. Open Valheim and click "Start Game" then "Join Game".

2. Switch to the "Community" tab in the server browser.

3. Search for your server name in the filter box.

4. Click it, then "Connect", and enter the password.

A newly started server can take several minutes to appear. Direct IP works immediately and is the faster check.

Steam Favorites

Steam favorites work on a Steam-only server, for the same reason direct IP does - there has to be something listening on the address.

1. Open Steam > View > Game Servers.

2. Go to the Favorites tab and click "Add a server".

3. Enter the Server Address from Connection Info and click "Find games at this address".

4. Select the server and click "Add selected server to favorites".

5. In Valheim, the server appears in your "Friends" tab under Join Game.

On a crossplay server this will find nothing. Use the join code instead.

Connection Issues

Nothing happens when you type the address: check whether the server is on crossplay. A crossplay server is joined by code, not by address - see the first section.

The Crossplay Join Code row is missing: either crossplay is off (then use the address), or the server has not finished registering with PlayFab yet. Give it a minute after a start.

The code stopped working: it changes on every restart. Take the current one from the panel.

"Connection could not be established" on a Steam-only server: verify the address and port match Connection Info exactly, and that the server is Online.

Password error: check the password in Settings. It is case-sensitive, must be at least 5 characters, and Valheim refuses to start if the password appears inside the server name.

You switched crossplay on or off: Valheim can cache the old backend. Remove the server from your recent connections list in game and add it again by the method that now applies.

See the Connection Issues guide for more troubleshooting.