Multiplayer Stardew Valley game
Image via ConcernedApe

How to play Stardew Valley multiplayer on mobile

Keep your friends close, literally

As part of the release of the 1.6 update for Stardew Valley on console and mobile platforms, ConcernedApe has in🥂clu🔴ded a hidden extra for those playing on mobile devices — Multiplayer. 

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Multiplayer is something that players on PC and console have been able to enjoy sin✅ce the 1.3.27 update way back in 2018, but it’s something very new and exciting for mobile players. However, it’s also experimental and not without issue, with ConcernedApe giving the following warnings about the feature:

  • You can only connect to farms via an IP
  • Connecting to a farm or trying to host a farm on a cell phone network will likely result in issues such as lack of connection, disturbed gameplay, and crashes 

Ape also notes that as thisꦆ is a very new and experimental feature, bugs and issues may still be present. To avoid frustration, ✤try to go into this process without the expectation of a flawless experience. 

How to unlock mobile multiplayer in Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley on a mobile device with Co-op button available
Image by Destructoid

Even unlocking the ability to play witꦓh friends is a bit of a process, and it involves at least the first part of the much-loved Konami Code. In case you have no idea what the Konami Code is, it’s as follows:

  • Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start

You can disregard the “B, A, Start” part of t💙his, but you’🃏ll need to remember the rest in order to unlock Multiplayer on mobile devices. 

Main menu of Stardew Valley on a mobile device
Screenshot by Destructoid

When you first open up Stardew Valley on a phone or tablet, you’ll get the same old menu screen with the logo, and options to start a new game or load a game at the bottom. Take a closer look at the logo, and take note of the four sets of leaves. Each set of l♚eaves corresponds to a direction, as shown below:

Each set of leaves corresponds to a direction on Stardew Valley on mobile devices
Image by Destructoid

You’ll need to touch the leaves iꦑn order of the Konami Code, so:

  • Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right

Bear in mind that the press only counts if you hear the leaves rustle when you touch them. Then press t✤he “?” button in thꦅe bottom right corner of the screen, exit the window that pops up, and you should now have the “Co-op” button available to press on the home screen menu. 

How to host or join a game in mobile Multiplayer in Stardew Valley

Host a new farm on Stardew Valley on mobile device
Screenshot by Destructoid

Sadly, the mobile Multiplayer does not allow for farm “discovery”, meaning you’ll need to either hand out your IP address if you’re looking to host a game, or know the hosts IP ꦺad💧dress if you’re wanting to join a game. 

According to ConcernedApe, the way to get the best experience out of mobile Multiplayer is to connect to a PC-hosted farm from a high-end mobile device on a local network, such as Wi-Fi. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t try to set up a game or𓄧 connect via cell phone data, but you may need to set up a mobile wi-fi hotspot in order for things to run as smoothly as possible. 

This does mean that mobile Multiplayer is more intended for players who are in the same location, rather than those who are playing together from a distance. As well as this, all players must be playing the same software version of Stardew Valley in order to connect with each other.

Enter IP Address to join a multiplayer game of Stardew Valley on mobile devices
Screenshot by Destructoid

If you’re looking to host a game, you’ll need to set up the farm and make sure there are cabins available for anyone who will eventually join. Then🥂, anyone who trying to join will need to enter the IP Address of whoever is hosting. To avoid disconnection issues, the host should find out their IP Address before setting up their farm, and can do so in either of the following ways:

  • For iOS users: Settings > Wi-Fi > Click the “i” next to your Wi-Fi name > Look up IP Address
  • For Android users: Settings > Network & Internet > Internet > Click the cog next to your Wi-Fi name > Look for IP Address

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Paula Vaynshteyn
With her first experience of gaming being on an Atari ST, Paula has been gaming for her entire life. She’s 7,000 hours deep into Final Fantasy XIV, spends more time on cozy games than she would care to admit, and is also your friendly resident Whovian. Juggling online adventuring with family life has its struggles, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.