Stardew Valley Not Connecting to Online Services (Fix)

ConcernedApe has done an excellent job by releasing Stardew Valley back in 2016 which is an open-world pixelated farming or life simulator game, supporting up to 8 players. For the competitive price tag, the game is still getting developer support and consistent patch updates to provide a better gaming experience. However, it seems that multiple players are facing Stardew Valley Not Connecting to Online Services issue quite often. Now, if you’re also one of them, nothing to worry about.

Overall online multiplayer gaming has seen quite stable and the number of active players has increased consistently since it was launched. The best part is that developers still pushing patch updates such as Stardew Valley 1.6 which also added multiplayer connectivity fixes. Though it’s easy to join a multiplayer game by using the invitation code shared by the host player, sometimes you may encounter multiplayer not working issues. As per several reports on the Steam community, the multiplayer co-op failed connection issue occurs even though the internet connection is active.

Fix Stardew Valley Not Connecting to Online Services

It looks like there are a couple of possible reasons can be found behind this issue such as an outdated game version, corrupted game files, conflicts with the Steam account login, incorrect invite code, fewer starting cabins, issues with the server hosting mode, incorrect Steam username, slow internet connection, conflicts with the router connectivity, issues with the antivirus & firewall blocking, port forwarding issues, conflicts with the VPN connectivity, etc.

Additionally, issues with the Visual C++ Redistributable Packages, game client conflicts, issues with the server connectivity, and more can also trigger multiple problems with connecting to online services. Luckily, here we’ve shared with you some workarounds that should come in handy. So, follow all troubleshooting methods until the issue has been fixed. Now, without wasting any more time, let’s get into it.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

First of all, you’ll need to check for the internet connection at your end because any kind of poor or unstable network will trigger connectivity issues with the game’s online services. You might need to disconnect the internet and reconnect it to check for potential issues. If the connection is having issues, try switching to a wired (ethernet) or Wi-Fi. If the problem persists, you can use a different network or contact your internet service provider (ISP) to get better technical help.

2. Restart the PC

You should always restart the PC to avoid any kind of potential system glitches or temporary cache issues. Though it may not work for everyone, we always recommend performing this task whenever program-related issues appear. To do so, open the Start menu > Click on Power > Click on Restart. Wait for the system to reboot and check for the game’s multiplayer issues.

3. Power Cycle the Wi-Fi Router

We’ll also recommend you perform a power cycle to your Wi-Fi router by following the steps below to easily clear networking glitches or temporary cache issues. Any kind of temporary networking glitches on the router might also trouble Stardew Valley players irrespective of any platform.

• Power Off the Wi-Fi Router at your end.
• After the LED indicator stops blinking, disconnect the power adapter from the router.
• Wait for around a couple of minutes.
• Reconnect the power adapter.
• Once done, Power On the Router to check for the issue again.

4. Play Stardew Valley via the Steam Client

Another thing you should do is to play the Stardew Valley game via the Steam client respectively to avoid multiple issues or glitches to some extent. Several players have reported the same and you can try it once.

5. Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

You can try downloading and installing the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables package on your Windows PC by following the steps below. It will allow most of the video games to run properly and plenty of programs will also run smoothly.

• Open Windows Settings by pressing the Win+I keys.
• Click on Apps > Search for existing VCRedist and uninstall it.
• Once done, reboot the PC.
• Now, go to the official MS website link.
• Download the X86/X64 versions of Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022.
• Install the VCRedist package and reboot the system.

6. Run Stardew Valley as an Administrator

It’s also recommended to always run the Stardew Valley game application as administrator on the Windows PC. This will allow the User Account Control (UAC) to grant the system admin access properly.

• Head over to the game installation directory on your PC.
• Right-click on the Stardew Valley (exe) app.
• Select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.

• Enable the Run this program as an administrator checkbox.
• Click on Apply > Select OK to save changes.

7. Check the Server Status of Stardedw Valley

It seems that Stardew Valley servers are getting filled up quite fast due to active players. Due to the surge in active players at the same time, it may be possible that the game servers become unresponsive. In that case, the game servers may kick out players and most of the players will experience server connectivity issues. You can follow the official ConcernedApe X handle to get server-related reports and upcoming patch update news. If the server is down, you should wait for a couple of hours and try again later.

8. Update Stardew Valley

The chances are high that you’re using an outdated game patch version for a while and developers have already released a new patch to bring more stability. In that case, you should check for the game updates and install the same at your end. To do so, check the steps below.

For Steam:

• Open your Steam client.
• Go to the Library.
• Right-click on Stardew Valley.
• Click on Properties.
• Go to the Updates tab.
• Enable the automatic updates option.
• If a new update is available, Steam will automatically install it.

For GOG Galaxy:

• Launch GOG GALAXY on the PC.
• Now, make sure to log in with your valid GOG account.
• Go to Library > Click on the Stardew Valley game.
• Click on the Customize button (next to the Play button).
• Select Check for updates from the list.
• If the new update is available, proceed to it.
• Once done, reboot the PC to apply changes.

9. Verify the Integrity of the Game Files

Sometimes missing or corrupted game files on the PC may cause some issues with the online service connectivity. So, scanning and repairing the game files might be helpful enough. You can follow the steps below to verify the integrity of the game files.

For Steam:

• Launch the Steam client > Click on Library.
• Right-click on Stardew Valley from the list of installed games.
• Now, click on Properties > Go to the Local Files tab.

• Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
• You’ll have to wait for the process until it gets completed.
• Once done, restart your computer.

For GOG Galaxy:

• Launch GOG GALAXY on the PC.
• Now, log in with your valid GOG account.
• Go to Library > Click on the Stardew Valley game.
• Click on the Customize button (next to the Play button).
• Select Manage Installation > Click on Verify / Repair.
• Wait for a while to complete the repair process.
• Once done, relaunch the client & run the game.

10. Use the Co-op Mode in Multiplayer

If you’re hosting the multiplayer game in Stardew Valley, be sure to start the game using the Co-op mode on the game screen. You can also check for the same option from the in-game Options menu followed by the ‘Multiplayer’ section.

In case, the Multiplayer section isn’t visible that means the game isn’t operating in the multiplayer mode. So, quit the game to the main menu > Click on the ‘Co-op’ button > Click on the ‘Host’ tab > Load the save file.

Keep in mind that the ‘Server Mode’ should be set to ‘Online’ so other players can also connect to your multiplayer hosting.

11. Check the Number of Cabins

Ensure that you’re selecting enough cabins depending on how many players are joining the multiplayer sessions in Stardew Valley. In case, you are starting a new game via the Co-op menu, the number of cabins should be set on the left side of the screen as follows.

Players	Required Cabins
2	1
3	2
4	3

So, if you’re hosting an existing farm, be sure to build additional cabins by visiting Robin. If cabins do not appear in Robin’s building construction list, you’ll have either reached the player capacity for the farm or not started the game in multiplayer yet.

12. Ensure the Steam or GOG Galaxy Client is Running

You’ll need to check that the Steam client or the GOG Galaxy client is running on the PC in the background irrespective of which launcher you’re using to run the Stardew Valley game. Several reports have claimed that closing the Steam or GOG Galaxy client is causing the Stardew Valley game connecting issues to the online services. So, keep running the game launcher while playing the game.

13. Enter the Correct Invite Code

The chances are high that you’re not adding the correct invite code for the co-op mode in Stardew Valley. If the ‘Enter Invite Code…’ option in the ‘Co-op join’ tab or the ‘Invite Friend…’ & ‘Show Invite Code’ in the Options menu is unavailable, it means Stardew Valley was unable to access your Steam/GOG account.

14. Use the Online Server Mode in Multiplayer

Additionally, you’ll need to use the online server mode in the multiplayer section of Stardew Valley so that the other players can get into the match easily by using the invite code.

15. Check the Correct Steam Username

It’s also suggested to check for the correct Steam username at your end because any kind of incorrect username or spaces between characters will trigger syncing with the game servers (online services). To do so, check the steps below:

• Launch the Steam desktop client.
• Go to the Profile section on the top right corner of the screen.
• Select Account Details.
• Your Steam ID will show the Steam username.

16. Update the Network Driver

You should try updating the network adapter driver on the PC to ensure there is no conflict happening with the networking connectivity. Sometimes temporary networking glitches in your internet connection might trouble you a lot.

• Press the Win+X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
• Click on Device Manager from the list.
• Double-click on Network Adapters.
• Right-click on the specific network device.

• Select Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
• If available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.
• Once done, reboot your system to change the effects.

17. Disable VPN

Disable the VPN (Virtual Private Network) service on the networking device or the gaming device directly to check if the problem has been fixed. Though VPNs can help in accessing the server connections most of the time without geo-restrictions, it seems that you may encounter ping delay and connection timed-out issues at times.

18. Check for Steam Client Updates

An outdated Steam client version installed on the PC can also cause multiple issues with the game running experience. It’s better to check for the Steam client updates manually via the application itself. Though the client version automatically gets updated whenever you launch it for the first time after the system boot, sometimes it may fail to fetch pending updates. You can try following the steps below to do so.

• Open the Steam launcher.
• Go to the Steam menu on the top left side.
• Click on Check for Steam client updates.
• Wait for the pending update to get installed.
• Once done, force close & relaunch Steam.
• Now, run the Stardew Valley game to check for server connectivity issues.

19. Temporarily Disable Antivirus

Sometimes issues with the antivirus protection blocking can also trouble you a lot. We recommend you disable the antivirus program temporarily to check there is no issue with the multiplayer gaming or server connectivity.

• Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Go to Privacy and Security.
• Click on Windows Security.
• Click on Virus and Threat Protection.
• Now, click on Manage Settings.
• Turn Off the Real-time Protection toggle.

• Turn Off the Dev Drive Protection toggle.
• Also, turn off the Cloud-delivered Protection toggle.
• Next, turn off the Tamper Protection feature.
• Once done, restart the computer to apply changes.

20. Turn Off the Windows Firewall

Windows Firewall is a connection security program that usually filters ongoing network traffic from the PC to the server and vice versa. Now, you can try disabling the game program to the Firewall protection so that it can’t block server connections with the game. You can follow the steps below to do so:

• Open the Start menu > Search for the firewall.
• Click on Windows Defender Firewall.
• On the left side, click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.

• Now, click on Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) under Private network settings.
• Again select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) under Public network settings.
• Click on OK to save changes.

21. Set Port Forwarding

If you are connected to the internet via a Wi-Fi router, you may experience several issues with the online service connectivity. Luckily, the Stardew Valley devs have provided the port forwarding value for the PC platform so that players can use it to redirect the connectivity to the respective servers. By doing that, you can set up port forwarding or enable the DMZ setting on your Wi-Fi router.

PC – TCP/UDP: 24642

In general, you can visit the router’s webpage via browser & log into the admin panel. Next, head over to the dashboard & head over to port forwarding to set the value. Then save the changes and restart the router before joining the Stardew Valley online services. For specific steps, you should check the user manual of your particular router model to perform this task.

22. Reinstall Stardew Valley

As a last workaround, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Stardew Valley game on your PC to ensure there is no issue with the game installation directory. Well, we know that uninstalling a game can be tough due to game progress losing or wasting time. Some affected players did find this method useful. So, you should try it out.

For Steam:

• Launch the Steam client on your computer.
• Now, go to Library > Right-click on Stardew Valley.
• Head over to Manage > Select Uninstall.
• If prompted, click Uninstall again.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete it.
• Once done, restart the PC to apply changes.
• Finally, launch Steam, and Reinstall Stardew Valley on a different drive.

For GOG Galaxy:

• Open the GOG Galaxy client.
• Select Stardew Valley from the Installed list.
• Click on the Customization button next to the Play option.
• Select Manage Installation > Click on Uninstall.
• Go through the on-screen prompts to complete uninstallation.
• Once done, make sure to reboot the PC.
• To reinstall the game, open the GOG Galaxy client.
• Go to the Games list on the left side.
• Next, click on the Stardew Valley game.
• Click on the Install button at the top of the page.
• Select the directory where you want to install your game. (set a different drive)
• Click on Continue > Wait for the installation progress to complete.
• You’re good to go.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.