getting "Failed to connect" whenever trying to join friend server

[Takoni]

whenever i try to join a friends server it says connecting and then failed to connect, i've had the issue only the past week and a half, before then i was able to join even with mods, but since i have had the issue, i havent been able to connect even after uninstalling the game, removing all mods and then reinstalling the game i still have the issue, i have verified my files integrity each time i try to connect and even reset my firewall settings as per solutions i found online but i still have the issue.

[MaCarBre]

Originally posted by Takoni:

If all of your friends are using Steam, the simplest solution is to disable crossplay feature before starting the server.

There are two kinds of servers in Valheim. Those that use Steam network, and those that use PlayFab. If the crossplay (needed if you indented to play with Xbox console, PC MS Store or Apple Store platforms) is enabled on the server, you will connect through PlayFab services. This services are incompatible with strict NAT that some VPN services use, and in some cases even Internet Service providers.

When viewing servers in Valheim menu, you can differentiate Steam servers from Crossplay/PlayFab servers by checking if the server has intertwined arrows icon next to their name or not. As the name suggests, crossplay servers will have this arrow icon, and Steam servers won't.

What both you and your friend should test, is disable VPN services in device manager or services.msc and attempt to connect to some random Steam server in the community tab, to see if you can reach password prompt. Then do the same test for some Crossplay server in the community tab to see if you can reach password prompt. The player who can't reach the password prompt has issues. It will most likely be the crossplay server that they will have issues connecting to.

[Takoni]

Originally posted by MaCarBre:

Originally posted by Takoni:

If all of your friends are using Steam, the simplest solution is to disable crossplay feature before starting the server.

There are two kinds of servers in Valheim. Those that use Steam network, and those that use PlayFab. If the crossplay (needed if you indented to play with Xbox console, PC MS Store or Apple Store platforms) is enabled on the server, you will connect through PlayFab services. This services are incompatible with strict NAT that some VPN services use, and in some cases even Internet Service providers.

When viewing servers in Valheim menu, you can differentiate Steam servers from Crossplay/PlayFab servers by checking if the server has intertwined arrows icon next to their name or not. As the name suggests, crossplay servers will have this arrow icon, and Steam servers won't.

What both you and your friend should test, is disable VPN services in device manager or services.msc and attempt to connect to some random Steam server in the community tab, to see if you can reach password prompt. Then do the same test for some Crossplay server in the community tab to see if you can reach password prompt. The player who can't reach the password prompt has issues. It will most likely be the crossplay server that they will have issues connecting to.

thank you for your response, i appreciate the suggestions alot, i have tried disabling my vpn and it is still not working, however i dont know where to find services.msc

for more context, the host server is run by someone playing the game on pc and from a game pass account. All my other friends are playing using their steam versions of the game and are able to connect, and one of those friends playing with their steam account use the same ISP as i do

[Takoni]

Originally posted by MaCarBre:

Originally posted by Takoni:

If all of your friends are using Steam, the simplest solution is to disable crossplay feature before starting the server.

There are two kinds of servers in Valheim. Those that use Steam network, and those that use PlayFab. If the crossplay (needed if you indented to play with Xbox console, PC MS Store or Apple Store platforms) is enabled on the server, you will connect through PlayFab services. This services are incompatible with strict NAT that some VPN services use, and in some cases even Internet Service providers.

When viewing servers in Valheim menu, you can differentiate Steam servers from Crossplay/PlayFab servers by checking if the server has intertwined arrows icon next to their name or not. As the name suggests, crossplay servers will have this arrow icon, and Steam servers won't.

What both you and your friend should test, is disable VPN services in device manager or services.msc and attempt to connect to some random Steam server in the community tab, to see if you can reach password prompt. Then do the same test for some Crossplay server in the community tab to see if you can reach password prompt. The player who can't reach the password prompt has issues. It will most likely be the crossplay server that they will have issues connecting to.

Update 2:
i was able to join a random PlayFab server where it promoted me for the password, where as i am not able to get to the password prompt for my friend, it just says connecting and then the failed to connect pop up shows

[MaCarBre]

Originally posted by Takoni:

PC gamepass can't create non-Crossplay/non-PlayFab servers. For some VPN, like NordVPN, it's not enough to just disable them in the app. They have to be disabled on service level. Go start → type services → find the VPN service right click stop → properties and disable the service.

If you can reach password prompts for random playfab server, then the issue is probably on your friend's side. Have you tried hosting a world for your friend, and has your friend tested joining some other random PlayFab server?