Stardew Valley Mobile Co-op: Setup and Connection Checks

Stardew Valley’s mobile co-op remains a hidden experiment. The developer documents how to try it, but the mobile store descriptions still say multiplayer is unsupported. Treat it as something to test carefully, not a reason to buy a second copy expecting trouble-free play.

Check your edition first

This walkthrough does not cover consoles or moving saves between editions.

Set up a simple local test

Start on the same local network. The developer’s preferred setup is a PC host with a capable phone joining over Wi-Fi; cellular connections can be troublesome.

1. Check both games for official updates. In the title screen’s ? menu, find the version at the bottom left. The developer requires matching game versions; saying that both games have “the 1.6 update” is not a precise check.
2. On mobile, use the developer’s leaf diagram to identify the four tap targets. Tap up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right. Open ? and close it to reveal Co-op.
3. The host should start the farm through Co-op, then Host, rather than the normal Load menu. For a two-person test, the farm needs one cabin. A new co-op farm lets you choose starting cabins; existing farms can add them through Robin.
4. Choose Join on the phone and enter the host’s IP address. Mobile does not discover farms automatically.

Use the host’s local address

For a Windows host, open Settings > Network & internet. Select Wi-Fi and the connected network, or Ethernet for a wired connection, then find IPv4 address. Read it from the computer hosting the farm, not from the joining phone.

For this local test, you do not need to search the web for a public IP address or publish network details in a forum. Share the connection address privately with the friend joining you. Remote connections are outside this walkthrough; do not start changing router ports or enabling a DMZ to follow it.

If the connection fails

1. Recheck the edition and record both full version strings. If the game reports a mismatch, keep the exact error for support rather than downloading an unofficial APK or trying a random downgrade.
2. Have the host check that the farm was opened through Co-op and has a cabin available. If the in-game Multiplayer section is missing, return to the title screen and have the host reopen the farm through Co-op, then Host.
3. On iPhone or iPad, allow Stardew Valley access when it asks to connect to local devices. To review that choice later, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and check the app’s entry.
4. The developer notes that the first iOS join attempt can fail after permission is granted. Try joining again.

Change one thing at a time so you know what helped. If the same error persists, stop experimenting with the main save. Note the device models, editions, version strings, host platform and exact error before asking for help. Leave passwords, account details and network addresses out of public posts.

Keep firewall and antivirus protection enabled. A failed join is not a reason to disable security globally, expose the computer to the internet or erase progress. Passing these checks still does not guarantee a stable session.

Official pages checked on 31 October 2026. Recheck the developer’s mobile guide before relying on this setup after an update.

Official help