Valheim Server Not Showing Up? How to Fix It (2026)

A Valheim server not showing up in the community list is usually one of four things: the list has not caught up yet, the server is not public, it is still starting, or the ports are not reachable. The fastest fix is to skip the list entirely and add the server by address under Join Game > Add server. This guide covers that, plus every other cause and how to fix "Failed to connect" once you do find it.

Quick fix

1. Wait until the server has fully started. On a dedicated server that is a minute or two after launch, longer the first time a big world loads.
2. In Valheim, open Join Game and click Add server.
3. Type the address with the port, for example 203.0.113.10:2456, and click Add server again.
4. Select it and click Connect.

If that works, the server is fine and it is only the community list that is slow or filtered. If it fails, work through the causes below.

Why your Valheim server is not in the list

The community list is slow

Public servers can take several minutes to appear after a start or restart, and the list does not refresh on its own. Click Refresh, and search for part of the exact name rather than scrolling. Thousands of servers are listed, so scrolling rarely finds yours.

The server is not public

The -public launch option decides whether the server is listed. -public 1 lists it, -public 0 hides it so people can only join by address. If you set it to 0 on purpose, the list will never show it, which is expected.

It is still starting or crashed

A server that is loading a world, or converting an old world to the Valheim 1.0 format, is not listed yet. That first conversion can take several minutes. Check the console: if the last lines show an error and the process stopped, the server never came up. The classic cause is a password under 5 characters or a password that is part of the server name, which makes the server refuse to start.

The ports are not open (self hosted)

If you host at home, the game uses UDP 2456 and 2457 by default, and forwarding UDP 2456 to 2458 to your server PC covers everything. Forwarding as TCP instead of UDP, forwarding to the wrong local IP, or a firewall blocking valheim_server all stop outside players from seeing or joining. Our port forwarding guide walks through the router side and how to test it.

Also check for CGNAT: if the WAN address in your router does not match what a "what is my IP" site shows, your internet provider shares one public address between customers and forwarding cannot work at all. A hosted server avoids this completely, since there is nothing to forward.

Crossplay changes how joining works

With -crossplay on, the server registers with Valheim's crossplay backend instead of only Steam. A few things change:

• The server prints a join code in its log once the world has loaded. A new code is made every time the server starts, so old codes stop working after a restart or update.
• Local addresses like 127.0.0.1 or 192.168.x.x do not work for joining a crossplay server. Use the public address, the join code or the list.
• Wait a minute or two after a restart before testing, since registration takes a moment.

Found it but it says "Failed to connect"

If the server shows up but you get "Failed to connect", "Connection failed" or it spins forever:

• Wrong port. Use the game port, usually 2456, not 2457.
• Version mismatch. You will usually see "Incompatible version" instead. See Valheim incompatible version fix.
• Mods mismatch. Players need the same mods and versions as the server. A single missing plugin can block the join.
• Your own server at home. Joining your own public IP from inside your home network fails on many routers. Use the local IP from the host PC, and let friends use the public one.
• VPN or firewall on the player's PC. Turn off the VPN and allow Valheim through Windows Firewall.

Valheim server not showing up on a hosted server

On GamezServers the ports are already open and the server has its own address, so most of the above does not apply. If friends cannot find it:

1. Check the dashboard. With Sleep when empty on, the server stops after 90 minutes with nobody online. Anyone with access starts it again in one click.
2. Copy the address from the top of the control panel and add it under Join Game > Add server.
3. If you changed the name in Settings, restart the server so the community list picks it up.

FAQ

How long does it take for a Valheim server to show in the community list?

Usually a few minutes after the server finishes starting. Adding it by address works straight away.

Why can I see my server but my friends cannot?

You are probably on the same network as the server. Your friends connect from outside, so the ports need to be forwarded, or the server is behind CGNAT.

Do I need to port forward for a crossplay Valheim server?

Iron Gate's own guide says crossplay servers do not need forwarding because traffic goes through the crossplay backend. Forwarding UDP 2456 to 2458 still does no harm and helps if you switch crossplay off later.

Can I hide my server from the list?

Yes. Start it with -public 0 and share the address with your friends. They add it under Join Game > Add server.

Skip the setup

Most "not showing up" problems come from home networks: ports, firewalls and CGNAT. A hosted server has its own address and nothing to forward, and it stays online when you log off. See Valheim server hosting or our quick start for hosting a Valheim server.