Fix common Valheim server errors

Most Valheim connection problems come down to a version mismatch, a typo in the address or password, or crossplay settings. This page lists the messages players really see, starting with the most common, and how to fix each one.

The messages below are Valheim’s English text. The wording can change a little between game versions.

Quick checks

Before anything else:

1. Is the server running? Overview shows its status. A server that says Stopped won’t wake from a join.
2. Did you copy the address and port from the address card? The port is picked for your server, not 2456.
3. Is everyone on the same Valheim version? It’s in the bottom right of the main menu.
4. Is crossplay on, if anyone plays outside Steam?

Errors when joining

“Incompatible version”

Your game and the server run different versions of Valheim. You may also see “You’re running an older version of Valheim that is incompatible with this server” or “This server is running an older version of Valheim that is incompatible with your version”. It happens most right after a game update.

How to fix it:

1. Update Valheim on your device. On Steam, restart Steam if no update shows up.
2. In the panel, open Settings and check the game version. If it’s pinned to an older build, pick the newest one and restart.
3. With mods, every player needs the same mods at the same versions as the server. Share the profile from Mods again. See Valheim mods.

Valheim updates sometimes reach other platforms a few days after Steam. Iron Gate usually keeps crossplay working during that time, but not always. If only one platform gets the error, wait for its update.

“Failed to connect”

The game couldn’t reach the server.

1. Check Overview. If the server is still starting, wait until it’s running, then try again.
2. Copy the address and port again from the address card. One wrong digit is enough to fail.
3. If crossplay is on and the server is asleep, open the wake link, play.wilderack.com/w/vikings, wait for it to wake, then join. Crossplay joins can’t wake it.
4. If crossplay is on, use the join code instead of the address.
5. If it’s a Steam-only server and was asleep, try once more. The first try sometimes times out while it wakes.

“Wrong password”

The password doesn’t match the server’s.

1. Check capital letters. Passwords are case sensitive.
2. Ask the owner for the current password. They can see and change it in Settings.
3. If the owner changed it recently, the server needs a restart before the new one works.

The server isn’t in the Community list

1. Wait a few minutes after the server starts. Lists take time to update.
2. Type the server name in the filter box. The list is very long.
3. Check that the server is set to show in the list (-public 1) in Settings.
4. A sleeping server isn’t in the Community list. Add it once with Add server and it stays in your Favorite list, which works while it sleeps.

“The server owner does not allow users from other platforms than their own to play on their server.”

You’re on Xbox, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, the Microsoft Store or the Mac App Store, and the server is Steam-only. The owner turns on crossplay in Settings and restarts. Then join with the join code. See the crossplay guide.

“Your platform privilege settings prevent you from playing on servers that allow crossplay with other platforms.”

Your Xbox account isn’t allowed to play with other platforms. Allow crossplay in your Xbox privacy settings. On a child account, a parent changes this in the Xbox family settings.

On PlayStation 5, the game’s PS5 only option hides crossplay servers. Turn it off.

“Couldn’t resolve join code”

The game can’t find a server with that code.

1. Check that you typed the code right.
2. The code changes every time the server restarts. Get the new one from the pause menu of someone in the game, or from the log in Console.
3. If the server is asleep, open the wake link, then try the code again once it’s awake.
4. Make sure crossplay is still on. A Steam-only server has no join code.

“DNS lookup failed!”

The game couldn’t find the address you typed. Check the spelling of the name before the port. It’s the name on your address card, like vikings.play.wilderack.com:30412. Copying it with the copy button avoids typos.

“The input is not a valid IP, URL or invite code!”

What you typed in Add server isn’t an address, a join code or a mix the game understands. Remove spaces, and make sure there’s a colon between the address and the port.

“Server full”

Valheim allows 10 players at once. Someone has to leave before you can join.

“Banned” or “You have been kicked from the server.”

An admin removed you. A kick lets you join again. A ban stays until an admin unbans you with unban in the F5 console, or removes your ID from the ban list in Settings.

Server problems

The server stops right after it starts

Open Console and read the last lines. The crash helper often explains the problem.

• A password error: Valheim wants a password of at least 5 characters that isn’t part of the world name or seed. Change it in Settings, avoiding the server name too, and start again.
• A mod error: a mod may not work with the current game version. Remove it in Mods, or wait for its update.
• Out of memory: your world or mods need more RAM. Move up a plan, or remove heavy mods.

The world is empty or brand new

Valheim makes a new world when it can’t find one with the name in -world.

1. In Files, open /data/home/valheim/worlds_local and check the world’s exact name.
2. In Settings, set the world name to match. Capital letters count.
3. Restart. Your old world loads again.

If you uploaded a world, see bring your single-player world.

Admin commands don’t work

1. Check your ID in adminlist.txt matches what F2 shows, letter for letter.
2. Restart the server after changing the list.
3. Open the console with F5. If it doesn’t open on Steam, add -console to Valheim’s launch options.

Admin commands are kick, ban, unban, banned and save. Cheat commands don’t work on a dedicated server.

Players lag or rubber-band

This is usually one player’s PC or connection, not the server. See why Valheim lags.

Still stuck?

Write to us at support@wilderack.com. Real people answer. Tell us your server name, what you tried and the exact message. The help form in the panel can attach your server’s last log lines for you.