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How to Connect

Use this guide when you want to connect to your own Valheim server. If the server is already online and reachable, go straight to the join steps. If it is not reachable yet, HaruHost Tunnel is the sure-fire way to make it accessible first.

Location

Section titled “Location”
  • Game Servers → Your Game Server Name → How to connect

Part 1: Make sure the server is reachable

Section titled “Part 1: Make sure the server is reachable”

If players cannot join yet, solve reachability first.

The easiest path is Tunnel. HaruHost prepares the connection for you so the server can be reachable over the internet without you having to manually set up port forwarding and firewall rules first.

Step 1: Open your server and start the connection guide

Section titled “Step 1: Open your server and start the connection guide”

Open your Valheim server page and use How to connect.

Step 2: Start the server if HaruHost says it is offline

Section titled “Step 2: Start the server if HaruHost says it is offline”

If the server is offline, HaruHost shows the start prompt inside the connection guide.

Valheim Direct Join Guide showing the Server Offline start prompt

Step 3: Wait for the server to finish starting

Section titled “Step 3: Wait for the server to finish starting”

After you press Start, HaruHost keeps the guide open while the server is still booting.

Valheim Direct Join Guide showing the Server Starting state

Step 4: Let HaruHost prepare the connection details

Section titled “Step 4: Let HaruHost prepare the connection details”

Once the server is running and the guide is ready, HaruHost shows the exact values to use:

  • Direct Join Address: the exact host and port to add in Valheim
  • Server Password: the password Valheim asks for after you click Connect

Valheim Direct Join Guide in HaruHost showing the direct join address and server password cards

If the direct join address is not working, treat it as a reachability problem. First check that the server shows Online in HaruHost. If the server was started without Tunnel, enable Tunnel and restart the server.

Part 2: Join the server

Section titled “Part 2: Join the server”

Valheim uses a direct join flow where you add the server address first, then enter the password later.

Step 1: Open Start Game

Section titled “Step 1: Open Start Game”

Launch Valheim and select Start Game from the main menu.

Valheim main menu with Start Game highlighted

Step 2: Choose your character

Section titled “Step 2: Choose your character”

Select the character you want to use, then press Start.

Valheim character selection screen before joining a server

Step 3: Open Join Game and click Add server

Section titled “Step 3: Open Join Game and click Add server”

Switch to Join Game, then click Add server at the bottom of the server browser.

Valheim Select Server screen on the Join Game tab with the Add server button visible

Step 4: Paste the Direct Join Address

Section titled “Step 4: Paste the Direct Join Address”

Copy the Direct Join Address from HaruHost, paste it into the Enter IP or invite code field, then click Add server.

HaruHost Valheim guide showing the direct join address card to copy from

Valheim Add server dialog with a HaruHost tunnel address entered

Step 5: Select the saved server and connect

Section titled “Step 5: Select the saved server and connect”

Choose the server entry you just added from the list, then press Connect.

Valheim server browser with a saved HaruHost server selected

Step 6: Enter the Server Password

Section titled “Step 6: Enter the Server Password”

Valheim asks for the password after you click Connect. Copy the Server Password from HaruHost and enter it here.

HaruHost Valheim guide showing the server password card to copy from

Valheim password prompt after choosing a server to join

Step 7: Wait for the world to load

Section titled “Step 7: Wait for the world to load”

After the password is accepted, Valheim loads you into the world.

Valheim gameplay after successfully joining the server

Troubleshooting

Section titled “Troubleshooting”

The server is not reachable from the internet

Section titled “The server is not reachable from the internet”

Use Tunnel as the first fix. That is the main HaruHost advantage here, because it gives you a reliable path without making you manually configure router port forwarding and firewall rules first.

Connect fails or the world does not load

Section titled “Connect fails or the world does not load”

Treat that as a reachability problem.

  • Check that the server status shows Online in HaruHost.
  • If you enabled the tunnel while the server was already running you will need to restart the server for the tunnel to be properly set up.
  • If you use manual setup for firewall and port forwarding, re-check that the rules are correct, stop the server, and run HaruHost port checker to validate that the ports are reachable over the internet.

The password is rejected

Section titled “The password is rejected”
  • Copy the exact Server Password from HaruHost.
  • Check whether the server password was changed recently and restart the server if required.
  • If HaruHost shows no password, confirm the server is not configured with a password outside HaruHost.

Summary

Section titled “Summary”

The flow is simple:

  1. Make sure the server is reachable.
  2. If reachability is the problem, use HaruHost Tunnel first.
  3. Add the Direct Join Address in Valheim.
  4. Enter the Server Password when Valheim asks for it after Connect.
Section titled “Related links”