PC [HELP] Changing host

[BlueCynder]

Hello everybody,

I want to ask if I could change the host of a multiplayer game, because one of my friend doesn't play that much und I want to continue with a other friend, but i still want to be as my character and host the game. If there is a solution to this problem then please help me.

 

[imnvs]

There is a mod, but I only have that information second hand. I'm not sure the mod's name. It would require the current host be willing to work with you to switch the host, just so you're aware.

 

[Nixxie]

Hello everybody,

I want to ask if I could change the host of a multiplayer game, because one of my friend doesn't play that much und I want to continue with a other friend, but i still want to be as my character and host the game. If there is a solution to this problem then please help me.

How to change host in a multiplayer

Credit goes to my friend cinderelaine. she did an amazing job of finding a way with the coding and the instruction belongs to her

(make a backup copy first incase something goes wrong)
(needs to install Sublime Text (https://www.sublimetext.com/)
(needs to install the Package Control extension for Sublime Text)
1. Open Sublime Text
2. ctrl+shift+p
3. Type Install Package Control, press enter
4. Type Indent XML, press enter
5. Type XPath, press enter

1. Open run (search run, then open).
2. Copy and paste "%appdata%\StardewValley\Saves" in run (without quotation marks""), and then enter.
3. Open (nameoffarm)_(codenumber like "316244521") file with Sublime Text. Example file name: Pastures_316244521
4. On the menu, click File then New File. Do this 2 times.
5. On the first tab, cntrl+f and type player.
6. You should see the 3rd line on the left highlighted.
7. Click the ▼ beside 3 to collapse the code.
8. Highlight/select text from <player> to </player> including the tab (the spaces before the <player> and <player>.
9. Copy and paste in on the second tab.
10. On the first tab, cntrl+f and type your username, and you will find the <farmhand> above it.
11. Click the ▼ on the <farmhand> line.
12. Highlight/select text from <farmhand> to </farmhand> including the tab (the spaces before the <farmhand> and <farmhand>.
13. Copy and paste in on the third tab.
14. On the second tab, edit the <player> and </player> to <farmhand> and </farmhand> (should be found in the first and last line, use scroll slider on the right).
15. cntrl+a then copy
16. On the first tab, select the collapsed <farmhand> to </farmhand> including the tabs, then paste the code there.
17. On the third tab, edit the <farmhand> and </farmhand> to <player> and </player>(should be found in the first and last line, use scroll slider on the right).
18. cntrl+a then copy
19. On the first tab, select the collapsed <player> to </player> including the tabs, then paste the code there.
20. On the menu, click File then Save.

If you are going to change host or become the host, you need to have the latest file of your progress (example file name: Pastures_316244521). This requires coordination and your members to update u if they are playing the game without you. You don't need to update your file if you have no intention to become a host or you enter the lobby thru the code given to u (which synchs your progress file)

And yes it did work because a friend of mine was the host but since she was busy, she managed to give me the code to have it switch to me. Others can be host as long as they have my latest save file to continue without me

Make sure you have the copy of these files (savegameinfo, etc) from the host and save it into your Saves folder of Stardew Valley (and yes you have to create a folder of the exact same name of the progress file):

 

[LRangerR]

Work Experience: 5 Years on the NASA Team working on the Mars Rover. ( Yes I know Mark Rober ( I Know what i'm talking about ))

I don't believe you

 

[SunnyDaomi]

How to change host in a multiplayer

Credit goes to my friend cinderelaine. she did an amazing job of finding a way with the coding and the instruction belongs to her

(make a backup copy first incase something goes wrong)
(needs to install Sublime Text (https://www.sublimetext.com/)
(needs to install the Package Control extension for Sublime Text)
1. Open Sublime Text
2. ctrl+shift+p
3. Type Install Package Control, press enter
4. Type Indent XML, press enter
5. Type XPath, press enter

1. Open run (search run, then open).
2. Copy and paste "%appdata%\StardewValley\Saves" in run (without quotation marks""), and then enter.
3. Open (nameoffarm)_(codenumber like "316244521") file with Sublime Text. Example file name: Pastures_316244521
4. On the menu, click File then New File. Do this 2 times.
5. On the first tab, cntrl+f and type player.
6. You should see the 3rd line on the left highlighted.
7. Click the ▼ beside 3 to collapse the code.
8. Highlight/select text from <player> to </player> including the tab (the spaces before the <player> and <player>.
9. Copy and paste in on the second tab.
10. On the first tab, cntrl+f and type your username, and you will find the <farmhand> above it.
11. Click the ▼ on the <farmhand> line.
12. Highlight/select text from <farmhand> to </farmhand> including the tab (the spaces before the <farmhand> and <farmhand>.
13. Copy and paste in on the third tab.
14. On the second tab, edit the <player> and </player> to <farmhand> and </farmhand> (should be found in the first and last line, use scroll slider on the right).
15. cntrl+a then copy
16. On the first tab, select the collapsed <farmhand> to </farmhand> including the tabs, then paste the code there.
17. On the third tab, edit the <farmhand> and </farmhand> to <player> and </player>(should be found in the first and last line, use scroll slider on the right).
18. cntrl+a then copy
19. On the first tab, select the collapsed <player> to </player> including the tabs, then paste the code there.
20. On the menu, click File then Save.

If you are going to change host or become the host, you need to have the latest file of your progress (example file name: Pastures_316244521). This requires coordination and your members to update u if they are playing the game without you. You don't need to update your file if you have no intention to become a host or you enter the lobby thru the code given to u (which synchs your progress file)

And yes it did work because a friend of mine was the host but since she was busy, she managed to give me the code to have it switch to me. Others can be host as long as they have my latest save file to continue without me

Make sure you have the copy of these files (savegameinfo, etc) from the host and save it into your Saves folder of Stardew Valley (and yes you have to create a folder of the exact same name of the progress file):
View attachment 10676

Great tutorial, thank you so much!


I just wanted to add a few things for anyone reading this in the future, especially those of us running version 1.6 in 2025 with SMAPI and mods.


One thing I noticed is that if you look closely at the <player> and <farmhands> sections in the code, you’ll see that the <farmhands> section contains an additional <farmer>some content</farmer> within it. If you just copy and paste the <player> and <farmhands> sections without this in mind, it can cause issues and potentially break your save file.


What worked for me as a simple fix was this:

1. Using Sublime Text (or a similar editor), copy the <Farmer>your content</Farmer> code from the farmhands section (this is where the character you want to be the host is listed).
2. Paste it into a new file and replace <Farmer> and </Farmer> with <player> and </player> instead.
3. Select everything in the page, then press Shift + Tab to shrink the indentation by one tab.
4. Go back to your original save file, find <player>your content</player>, and replace it with the content you just copied over.

In simple terms, instead of switching the host player and farmhands directly, I’m copying over my farmhand data (since I’m the player) into the host’s section (my friend who quit) and leaving the other farmhands unchanged.


I’m doing this because I intend to play this save file in single-player mode, with mods, and I don’t plan on inviting other friends back. So, I wasn’t too concerned about adjusting the farmhands sections for other players.


I’ve tested this fully, and everything works as expected—I now have all my progress from the last game, and I’m playing as the host.


Also, there’s a YouTube video that may help explain this process further, though I haven’t watched it myself.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Hope this helps someone out there!