To turn off crossplay in Fortnite, open Settings from the lobby, go to the Account and Privacy tab, find Allow Cross Platform Play under Gameplay Privacy, set it to No and apply. That option only exists on PlayStation and Xbox: Epic’s help center says crossplay cannot be turned off on PC, Nintendo Switch or mobile.
Below we cover the exact steps, the Xbox privacy setting that also affects it, what changes when crossplay is off, and the input rules that decide who you actually play against.
Which Version This Covers
This guide reflects Fortnite as of Chapter 7 Season 4, Fortnite Override, on the v42.20 update. The crossplay setting is an account option rather than seasonal content, so Override did not change it. The steps below apply to PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
On the other platforms, the answer is simply no. Epic’s help center states that on Nintendo Switch, PC or mobile it is currently not possible to disable crossplay. The article does not mention Switch 2 separately, and we found no Epic statement of a crossplay toggle there.
How to Turn Off Crossplay on PlayStation and Xbox
Per Epic’s help center:
- From the Fortnite lobby, open the main menu and select the gear icon to open Settings.
- Go to the Account and Privacy tab.
- Scroll down to the Gameplay Privacy section.
- Find Allow Cross Platform Play and set it to No.
- Apply the change.
To turn crossplay back on, return to the same setting and choose Yes.
The Xbox Privacy Setting That Also Affects It
Xbox has its own privacy controls on top of Fortnite’s. If crossplay seems stuck, or you see the error “Cross-platform play currently disabled” when launching Fortnite on Xbox, Epic’s help center points to two fixes:
- Toggle the Fortnite setting. Set Allow Cross Platform Play to Yes, or switch it off and back on if it already reads Yes.
- Check Xbox privacy. Press the Xbox button to open the guide, then go to System, Settings, Account, Privacy and online safety, Xbox Live privacy, View details and customize, and Communication and multiplayer. Make sure the settings there allow cross-network play.
Epic’s further troubleshooting for the error is clearing the Xbox cache or deleting Fortnite’s local cloud save on the console.
What Changes When Crossplay Is Off
Epic is upfront about the costs in its help center:
- Longer queues. Epic says crossplay significantly lowers queue times, so turning it off shrinks your pool of players.
- Some modes may be solo only. Epic warns that with crossplay disabled, some game modes may only work in Solo mode.
- No cross-platform parties. You cannot team up with friends on other platforms. Friends on PC, Switch or mobile add you by your Epic display name, which is separate from your console name; our guide on changing your name explains the difference.
Crossplay is separate from local play. A second player on the same console, as in our guide to playing split screen, is on the same platform, so turning crossplay off does not affect them.
Queue times also depend on matchmaking regions. Since the v42.20 update, North America is one region with a Subregion Preference setting, and Epic says matchmaking widens the search when not enough players are queuing in your preferred subregion.
If Voice Chat Is the Problem
Some players turn crossplay off only to stop hearing strangers. That trades away shorter queues for a problem with a narrower fix. Per Epic’s help center, Fortnite’s settings include a Communication section where you choose who you can voice chat and text chat with, such as everybody, or only friends, team members and connections. Tightening those options keeps crossplay on while cutting out chat from people you do not know. On Xbox, the same Communication and multiplayer privacy page described above also controls voice and text with players on other networks.
If Your Real Goal Is Avoiding PC Players
Many players search for this setting because they want console-only lobbies. Crossplay is only part of that picture, because Epic also matches by input device. Epic’s matchmaking posts have said that:
- Keyboard and mouse on console counts as PC. Starting matchmaking with a keyboard and mouse puts you in the PC matchmaking pool, and so does anyone in your party using one.
- Partying with a PC player puts you in the PC pool, whatever input you use.
- Skill still decides your lobby. Epic’s matchmaking groups players of similar skill, which our guide on getting into bot lobbies covers alongside how bots fit in.
Epic does not publish how its pools are split today in more detail than that, so treat console-only lobbies as likely rather than guaranteed. For everything else, see every Fortnite guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you turn off crossplay in Fortnite on PC? No. Epic’s help center says crossplay cannot be disabled on PC, Nintendo Switch or mobile.
Where is the crossplay setting on PS5? Settings, then the Account and Privacy tab, then Allow Cross Platform Play under Gameplay Privacy. Set it to No.
Does turning off crossplay make queues longer? Yes. Epic says crossplay significantly lowers queue times, so disabling it can slow matchmaking.
Why does Fortnite say cross-platform play is disabled on Xbox? Either the Fortnite setting is off or Xbox privacy blocks cross-network play. Toggle the Fortnite setting, then check Communication and multiplayer in Xbox privacy.
Can I still play with friends on other platforms with crossplay off? No. Turning it off rules out parties with friends on other platforms, and Epic warns some modes may become solo only.