Connecting to a Valheim Gameserver

Your Valheim server is live, and now it’s time to get your group actually playing on it together.

Whether you connect straight from the game client, add the server to your Steam favorites, or join from a console, the steps only take a couple of minutes. In this Nitrado guide, we’ll show you how to connect to your Valheim game server on PC, share the password with your players, and get console players in via Crossplay.

In-Game Direct Connect

PC players can connect straight from the game client.

1. Launch Valheim, select your character, then click Start.

1. Select the Join Game tab, then click Join IP.

1. Type in the IP and port of the server exactly as shown in your Nitrado Web Interface.

Note: The IP and port must match your Web Interface exactly. Use the Game Port when you join in-game, and switch to the Query Port only for the Steam favorites list below.

Important: The server does not respond when the wrong port is used.

Note: If your server is password protected, you’ll be prompted to enter the password when you connect.

Steam Favorites List

Steam’s favorites list is a faster way back in once your server is added, since you won’t need to retype the IP every time.

1. Open Steam, then select View > Servers from the top menu bar.

1. Switch to the Favorites tab, then click Add Server in the bottom right corner.

1. Enter your server’s IP address, but use the Query Port instead of the Game Port. The Query Port is always the Game Port plus one: if your Game Port is 85.190.156.150:13000, your Query Port is 85.190.156.150:13001.
2. Click Find games at this address, then select Add this address to favorites once your server appears.
3. If you try to connect right away and get an error, close the window, click Refresh in the bottom right corner, then try again.

1. Select your server from the list, then click Connect.

Server Password

Your Valheim server needs a password set to work correctly, and only the players you share it with can get in. You’ll find it under Settings > General in your Web Interface, in the Base settings section.

Don’t delete the password from your server settings. It can’t be part of your server name and needs to be at least 5 characters long.

Crossplay and Console Players

Console players connect a different way. Turn on Crossplay under Settings > General, save your changes, and restart the server. This switches your server to the crossplay backend, so players on any platform can find and join it. Leave Crossplay off, and only players on Steam can see your server in the list.

On a crossplay server, players can connect using the server’s public IP and port, the join code, or the in-game server list. The join code is the simplest route on console: it’s shown in the pause menu while you’re connected to the server. Copy it, send it to your friend, then have them open Join Game > Add Server and enter it.

Xbox players need Crossplay enabled on both their client and your server before they can connect. At the Valheim 1.0 launch on September 9, 2026, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 players join the same way.

Note: The public server list can take some time to update after you toggle Crossplay, since the developer’s master servers need to cache the change.

Welcome Aboard!

That’s your Valheim server connected, whether you joined from the game client, Steam favorites, or a join code on console. If anyone still hits an error, see our guide on fixing ‘Failed to Connect’ errors in Valheim. Share the password with your crew, gather everyone in the same world, and set sail into Valheim together! ⛵