Fortnite cross-platform crossplay guide for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Mac and mobile

Fortnite cross-platform play (or crossplay) allows mobile (Android and iOS), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac and Windows PC players to play together (with a couple of exceptions that we’ll talk about below). It can be a bit tricky to figure out how to get crossplay working, though. In this guide, we’ll show you how to enable cross-platform play in Fortnite and Fortnite Battle Royale, no matter what device you’re using.

Update Sept. 26, 2018: An open beta for Fortnite PS4 cross-play is launching today. We’ll be testing it as soon as it’s live.

Update June 12, 2018: With Fortnite’s release on the Nintendo Switch, players of the portable console can now play against their friends PC, Mac, Xbox One and mobile.

Update March 29, 2018: Fortnite version 3.4 brought some quality of life improvements to cross-platform play on consoles, and we’ve updated this guide to incorporate the new information. The changes, which Epic Games calls the “next phase of crossplay improvements on console,” affect cross-platform invites, matchmaking and parties and allow you to manage your Epic Games friends on PS4 and Xbox One.

How Fortnite cross-platform matchmaking works

Fortnite matchmaking differs, depending on the platform.

Prior to Fortnite version 3.4 on mobile (Android and iOS), PS4 and Xbox One, Fortnite defaulted to matching you with players on the same platform as you and would only match you with players on different platforms if you were in a cross-platform party. With Fortnite version 3.4, the Party Finder option on the main menu (see the gallery below) includes your Epic Games friends on other platforms.

On PC, Fortnite will match you with mobile, PS4. Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch players who are in a cross-platform party — unless you’re playing Solo mode (see the gallery above). In Solo mode (which is designed to exclude teams), you’ll only be matched against solo PC players.

On all platforms, Fortnite’s Squad Fill parties (see the gallery above) refer to players on whatever platform that you’re playing on. As a concession to those who don’t want to play with console or mobile players, the Fill option is disabled when you’re in a cross-platform party on Mac and PC.

Link your Epic Games account

Regardless of where you’re playing, you need an Epic Games account if you want crossplay. (You can register for an Epic Games account on the developer’s official site.)

Your Epic Games account is the glue that binds Fortnite together across all platforms. Ultimately, you’ll use it to create a cross-platform party, which lets everybody play together. But it has other benefits, too.

Your canonical Fortnite information lives in your Epic Games account. Link that account everywhere you play, and your progress and purchased content travels with you. (Stats and leaderboards are platform-specific, though.)

So, if you want to play with friends across platforms, everyone needs to link their platform’s account — Android, iOS, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live or Nintendo Network — to their Epic Games account. If you already have an Epic Games account, you can link Fortnite to your PlayStation and Xbox accounts on the game’s official site. (Click on the the icon that looks like a person on the right side of the top menu.) On the Nintendo Switch, you’ll be asked to login when you start the game.

Mac and PC players have to link their account to play Fortnite on those platforms, so there’s no extra step there. Linking is optional elsewhere. You don’t have to connect to your Epic Games account if you’re not interested in crossplay or syncing your progress between platforms.

Add friends through your Epic Games account

Epic Games via Polygon

Your iOS, Nintendo Network, PlayStation and Xbox friends lists are locked into those platforms, but your Epic Games account breaks down the barriers between them. Epic doesn’t care where you’re playing Fortnite, and becoming friends through Epic enables cross-platform play.

In effect, you need to create a cross-platform friends list with Epic. After you’ve linked your Epic Games account to wherever you’re playing Fortnite, you can add friends to that account in the following ways:

• With the Epic Games Launcher or Fortnite on Mac and PC.
• With Fortnite on mobile.
• Through the main menu on consoles with Fortnite. Since the 3.4 update, you can add, remove and manage your Epic friends to your party from the main menu (see the image above).

On mobile, you can use your Epic Games account, Facebook, Google, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live or Nintendo Network account to sign in.

Cross-platform parties on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

Epic Games via Polygon

Beginning with Fortnite version 3.4, using the Party Finder option on your console’s main menu lets you search for your Epic friends on other platforms. You can now also send and receive crossplay party invites, as well as add, remove and manage your Epic friends through the main menu. (You’ll need your friend’s Epic Games account name or email address.)

Cross-platform play on mobile, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch

You can use the Party Finder option to search for your Epic Games friends across platforms. On mobile, you can use your Epic Games account, Facebook, Google, PlayStation Network or Xbox Live account to sign in (as you can see in the gallery above).

If you’re using Squad Fill to create a party, crossplay matchmaking for mobile (Android and iOS), PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch players only happens for players in a cross-platform party. If you’re not in one of those, you’re playing against those on your console or mobile ecosystem. However, Fortnite on Xbox One has an exclusive feature in the settings menu that allows players to block mobile and PC players.

What platforms are compatible?

Cross-platform compatibility depends on hardware. We’ve updated the chart below to reflect the PS4’s new crossplay abilities.

Fortnite cross-platform play on Mac and PC

On Mac and Windows PC, you need to download the Epic Games Launcher to play Fortnite. You’ll sign in there with your Epic Games account.

On Mac and PC, anyone on mobile, PS4 or Xbox One who’s in a cross-platform party can appear in your match — unless you’re playing in Solo mode, where you'll only play against other Mac and PC players.

When you’re in a cross-platform party on Mac and PC, the Squad Fill party option (which populates your party with people on the same system) is disabled. This allows PC players who don’t want a cross-platform party to opt out. If don’t want to play with anyone on any other platforms, choose Fortnite’s Solo mode.

Fortnite PS4 cross-platform play

To crossplay with others on mobile, Mac and PC, you need to link your Epic Games account with your PlayStation Network account. As of the beta that launched Sept. 26, 2018, you can now play with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch players.

To play with with people on other platforms while you’re on PS4:

1. Link your Epic Games account with your PlayStation Network account. (You can do that at the official Fortnite site.)
2. Add the people you want to play with as an Epic Games friend from the Epic Games Launcher on Mac or PC, from within the game on mobile or through the main menu of the game on PS4. (Hit the Options button on your PS4 controller and navigate to Epic Friends in the menu that loads.)
3. Set your Fortnite privacy settings to Public or Friends. (See the gallery above.)
4. Select Duos or Squad mode.
5. Your buddy on another platform can now join your party.

If you’re on Mac or PC and want to join a friend on PS4, you’ll need be Epic friends. (You can do that on the console, mobile. Mac and PC.) Then, as long as your PS4 pal has their game privacy settings set to Public or Friends and they’re not in a Solo queue, you can join their lobby.

Fortnite Xbox One cross-platform play

Xbox One players can crossplay with players on Mac, PC, mobile and now PS4, as long as you’ve linked your Xbox One account with your Epic Games account.

To play with others on mobile (Android and iOS), Mac and PC while you’re on Xbox One:

1. Link your Epic Games account with your Xbox Live account. (You can do that at the official Fortnite site.)
2. Add the people you want to play with as an Epic Games friend from the Epic Games Launcher on Mac, PC or from within the game on mobile or through the main menu of the game on Xbox One. (Hit the Menu button on your Xbox One controller and navigate to Epic Friends in the menu that loads.)
3. Set your Fortnite privacy settings to Public or Friends.
4. Select Duos or Squad mode.
5. Your buddy on another platform can now join your party.

If you’re on mobile, Mac, PS4 or PC and you want to play with a friend on Xbox One:

1. Link your Epic Games account with your Xbox Live account. (You can do that at the official Fortnite site.)
2. Add your friend as an Epic Games friend from the Epic Games Launcher on Mac, PC, mobile or through the main menu of the game on Xbox One. (Go to the menu in the upper right of the screen and navigate to Epic Friends in the menu that loads.)
3. Have the Xbox One player set their Fortnite privacy settings to Public or Friends.
4. Join your friend’s lobby.

Fortnite on Xbox One has a unique crossplay notification that appears when you load Save the World for the first time and when a friend on mobile or PC joins your party. If you don’t want to see that notification anymore, you can disable it in Settings > Game menu.

Fortnite Nintendo Switch cross-platform play

Nintendo Switch players can crossplay with players on Mac, PC, Xbox One, mobile and now PS4 (thanks to PlayStation’s beta), as long as you’ve linked your Nintendo account with your Epic Games account.

To play with others on mobile (Android and iOS), Mac, PC, PS4 and Xbox One while you’re on Nintendo Switch:

1. Link your Epic Games account with your Nintendo account.
2. Add the people you want to play with as an Epic Games friend from the Epic Games Launcher on Mac, PC or from within the game on mobile or through the main menu of the game on Nintendo Switch. (Hit the + button on your Switch controller and navigate to Epic Friends in the menu that loads.)
3. Set your Fortnite privacy settings to Public or Friends.
4. Select Duos or Squad mode.
5. Your buddy on another platform can now join your party.