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Prefer not to run the server on your own PC? Godlike.Host offers hosted Valheim servers with free DDoS protection and up to three free backups a day.
To host a persistent Valheim world for PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 players, run the separate Valheim Dedicated Server application on an always-on Windows or Linux PC (or rent a compatible game-server host), add the -crossplay startup argument, and give players the join code. PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 are supported Valheim 1.0 platforms, and Iron Gate’s 1.0 FAQ says crossplay works between all platforms.
What you need to know first
- Consoles do not run the dedicated server. The server software runs on a PC or rented host; PS5 and Switch 2 connect as clients.
- Use the crossplay backend. Add
-crossplaywhen starting the server. This uses the relay backend and allows players on different platforms to find and join the world. - Use a join code for consoles. Players enter it through Join Game → Add server.
- Port forwarding depends on the backend. Crossplay relay hosting does not require router port forwarding. Steam-backend hosting uses ports 2456–2457 by default and must be reachable from the internet.
- The host must stay online. A dedicated world is available only while the server process and its computer (or rented host) are running.
Iron Gate describes a dedicated server as “a great way to provide a persistent world in which you and your friends can play anytime.” It also states that it does not provide official servers or have access to players’ saved worlds or characters.
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Can PS5 and Switch 2 players play Valheim together?
Yes. Iron Gate’s Valheim 1.0 FAQ lists PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 among the supported platforms and says crossplay works between all platforms. A mixed group can therefore use one dedicated world, provided the server is started with the crossplay backend and every player is on a compatible current game build.
The 1.0 FAQ estimates a download of about 4.3 GiB for most platforms, with platform-specific exceptions. Treat that as a download estimate, not as the amount of storage a growing world will permanently consume.
Dedicated server versus hosting from a console
A PS5 or Switch 2 can host a normal multiplayer session while its owner is playing, but that is not the same as a persistent dedicated server. A dedicated server is a separate application that keeps the world running independently of a player’s console session. The application is installed from Steam’s library on a PC, or supplied by a third-party host.
Iron Gate does not operate official servers. If you rent hosting, the provider is responsible for the machine and control panel, while you remain responsible for selecting a service that supports the current Valheim 1.0 build, PS5, Switch 2, crossplay, and join-code connections.
Choose the correct networking backend
| Backend | How players connect | Port forwarding | Platform reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossplay relay | Join code, server list, or another supported public connection method | Not required; traffic is relayed | Mixed-platform play, including PS5 and Switch 2 |
| Steam backend | Steam-based server discovery and connection | Forward the selected port and the next port; defaults are 2456–2457 | Only Steam users can see and join the server |
The official dedicated-server guide says that without -crossplay, the Steam backend is used and only Steam users can see and join the server. That setting is therefore unsuitable for a PS5/Switch 2 group.
Crossplay relay mode does not support connecting through a local IP address or loopback address. Do not troubleshoot it by trying 127.0.0.1, a LAN address, or a manually typed local address; use the join code, server list, or another supported public method instead.
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Self-hosting requirements
- A Windows or Linux PC that can remain powered on whenever the world must be available.
- Steam installed on that PC, with access to the Valheim Dedicated Server tool.
- Sufficient disk space for the server software, world saves, backups, and logs. The 4.3 GiB figure in the 1.0 FAQ is a general download estimate, not a guaranteed server footprint.
- A server name, world name, and password. Keep the password private and share it only with the intended group.
- Reliable internet access. Ethernet can improve stability, but it is optional infrastructure rather than a requirement stated by Iron Gate.
- A plan for backups and updates, because Steam updates can overwrite the original startup script.
Install and configure the dedicated server on Windows
- Open Steam and go to Library.
- Enable the Tools filter. Find and install Valheim Dedicated Server.
- Right-click the tool, choose Manage → Browse local files, and locate
start_headless_server.bat. - Make a copy of that batch file in the same folder. Edit the copy rather than the original; Iron Gate warns that Steam updates can reset the supplied script.
- Set the server identity and world options in the copied script. The documented arguments include
-namefor the server name,-worldfor the world name,-passwordfor access control,-publicfor visibility,-saveintervalfor save frequency, and backup-related arguments. - Add
-crossplayto the startup arguments. Keep it in the same command that launches the server executable. - Save the file and run the copied batch file. Leave its console window open; closing it stops the server.
A command line will normally contain the same settings in one line. For example, the structure is:
valheim_server -nographics -batchmode -name "Your Server Name" -port 2456 -world "YourWorld" -password "YourPassword" -public 1 -crossplayUse the argument names and syntax shipped with your installed version. The important cross-platform setting is -crossplay; the server name, world, password, visibility, save interval, and backup values are your choices.
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- Install the Valheim Dedicated Server tool through Steam on the Linux machine that will stay online.
- Use Steam’s local-files option to open the installation directory.
- Copy
start_server.shbefore editing it. Steam updates may restore the original script. - Edit the copied script and set
-name,-world,-password, visibility, save interval, and backup options as needed. - Add
-crossplayto the launch arguments. - Start the copied script from the server’s terminal environment and keep the process running.
Do not delete the original script. Keeping an untouched copy makes it easier to compare changes after an update or restore the vendor defaults if a custom edit prevents startup.
Choose world, visibility, saves, and backups
World and server names
The value of -world identifies the save that the server opens. Use a stable name and do not change it casually: changing it points the server at a different world or creates a new one. The -name value is what players recognize in the server listing or join flow.
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Password and visibility
Set -password before sharing the join code. Use -public according to whether you want the server discoverable in the supported listing. A private group should keep the code and password together only in a trusted channel.
Save interval and backups
The dedicated-server guide documents -saveinterval and automatic-backup arguments. Select a save interval that balances recovery points with disk use, and enable automatic backups if your storage allows it. Backups are especially important before game updates, world edits, or experiments with mods and configuration changes.
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Start the server and find the join code
- Launch the copied Windows batch file or Linux shell script.
- Wait for the server to finish loading the world. The startup output should remain open while the server is running.
- Open the server’s in-game or server interface and locate the displayed join code.
- Send the code, the password, and the server’s name to the PS5 and Switch 2 players.
The code is tied to the running crossplay session. If you stop and restart the server, check the interface again and send the currently displayed code rather than assuming an old one is still valid.
How console players join
- Start Valheim on PS5 or Nintendo Switch 2 and sign in to the player’s profile.
- Choose Join Game.
- Select Add server.
- Paste or enter the dedicated server’s join code.
- Select the entry, enter the server password when prompted, and connect.
Players should use the code supplied by the running crossplay server. In crossplay mode, a local IP address or loopback address is not a supported substitute for the code.
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Do you need port forwarding?
When you use -crossplay
No. Iron Gate says crossplay traffic goes through a relay server, so the router does not need inbound port forwarding. This applies whether the dedicated server is on your own PC or on a rented host.
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Steam-backend hosting is different. The guide identifies 2456–2457 as the default range and explains that the selected port and the next port must be forwarded to the server and reachable from the internet. Only Steam users can discover and join that configuration, so it does not meet the PS5/Switch 2 requirement.
Self-hosting or renting a server
| Consideration | Self-hosted PC | Rented game-server host |
|---|---|---|
| Always-on availability | Requires your PC and server process to stay running | Usually remains online without your home PC |
| Initial setup | Install the Steam tool and edit a startup script | Often configured through a control panel |
| Networking | Crossplay avoids forwarding; Steam backend requires it | Crossplay still avoids forwarding, subject to the provider’s implementation |
| Control | Direct access to scripts, saves, logs, and backup settings | Control depends on the provider’s panel and file access |
| Compatibility responsibility | You update and troubleshoot the installation | Verify support for the current Valheim 1.0 build, PS5, Switch 2, crossplay, and join codes |
Self-hosting is practical when someone already has a machine that can stay online and is comfortable maintaining files. Renting is more convenient for an always-available world, but Iron Gate does not endorse a specific provider, so confirm compatibility before paying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Maintenance after launch
- Keep the server process running: closing the batch window, shell session, or host panel usually makes the world unavailable.
- Update deliberately: stop the server cleanly, let Steam update the dedicated-server tool, review your copied script, and start it again with
-crossplaystill present. - Recheck the join code: after a restart or update, read the current code from the server interface.
- Protect saves: retain automatic backups and make an extra copy before major updates or configuration changes.
- Keep access details private: a join code is not a replacement for a password.
Troubleshooting
PS5 or Switch 2 cannot see the server
- Confirm the startup script contains
-crossplay, not just the server name and password. - Check that the server process completed world loading and is still running.
- Use Join Game → Add server and the current join code instead of a local IP address.
- Confirm that the console and server are running compatible Valheim 1.0 builds.
The server works for Steam players but not consoles
This usually indicates that the server is using the Steam backend. Stop it, add -crossplay to the copied script, restart, and distribute the new join code.
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You are trying to forward ports for crossplay
Remove that extra step. Relay mode is designed not to require inbound forwarding. Port forwarding is relevant to the Steam backend, not to the crossplay relay connection.
The server stopped after a Steam update
Steam may have replaced the original startup script. Reopen the local files, compare your saved copy with the updated original, restore your settings and -crossplay in the copy, and launch that copy again.
Bottom line
Install Valheim Dedicated Server on an always-on PC or compatible rented host, configure the world and password, add -crossplay, start the server, and give console players the displayed join code. PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 can then share the same Valheim world without router port forwarding. Use the Steam backend only for Steam-only groups, because it cannot provide the mixed-platform access this setup requires.
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