To play Elden Ring co-op with a friend, you both enter the same multiplayer password, the helper uses a Tarnished's Furled Finger to place a gold summon sign, and the host uses a Furlcalling Finger Remedy to see it and then touches the sign. Standard co-op is three players, one host and two helpers, it only works inside the host's world, and PC, PlayStation and Xbox cannot play with each other.
We checked the community Elden Ring wiki, guides and news coverage on November 2, 2026. Where sources disagreed, we left the detail out and say so.
Quick facts
| Topic | What we found |
|---|---|
| Co-op size | Host plus two helpers, three players in total |
| Helper item | Tarnished's Furled Finger, places your own gold summon sign |
| Host item | Furlcalling Finger Remedy, lets the host see nearby summon signs |
| Password | Same multiplayer password on both sides, set in the Multiplayer tab |
| Level limits | Removed when passwords match; higher-level guests are scaled down |
| Crossplay | None between PC, PlayStation and Xbox |
| Switch 2 edition | Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, released August 28, 2026 |
| Switch 2 online | No crossplay confirmed, Nintendo Switch Online needed |
Step by step: summon a friend
- Pick who hosts. Co-op happens in one player's world, and that player drives the story. The helper is a guest.
- Set the same multiplayer password. Both of you open the Multiplayer tab in the menu and type the same password. Without it, the game matches you with strangers and applies its normal level and weapon upgrade brackets. With it, those brackets are removed, and a guest at a higher level than the host is scaled down.
- Helper: get the Furled Finger. The Tarnished's Furled Finger is a reusable item that places your gold summon sign. Only one sign can be active at a time. You loot it near the exit lift of the Stranded Graveyard, the opening area, so a new helper character needs to get that far first.
- Helper: place the sign. Use the item near the boss fog gate or the spot you agreed on, then wait.
- Host: use a Furlcalling Finger Remedy. Without one, the host cannot see summon signs. Craft it from two Erdleaf Flowers or buy it from Merchant Kale at the Church of Elleh. If signs stop showing later, use another one.
- Host: touch the sign. The helper is pulled into your world. When you are done, the host or helper can leave with the Finger Severer.
Passwords and group passwords
A multiplayer password does two jobs. It lets you find each other, and it bypasses the usual level and weapon upgrade range, so a level 30 friend can join a level 150 host. Passwords do not stop invasions: a red phantom can still appear in a world that has helpers.
A group password works differently. It does not change matchmaking: it marks the summon signs, messages and bloodstains left by people in the same group, so you can spot your community's signs among the others. You can hold up to five at once. It suits a Discord server that agrees on a shared word, but it does not replace a multiplayer password if you only want your two friends.
If your friend cannot see your sign, check these in order:
- the passwords match exactly,
- the host has just used a Remedy (use another one if in doubt),
- the helper's sign is in the same area as the host,
- you are on the same platform family.
What progresses for the guest
Much of this is the part people get wrong. In another player's world:
- Story progress does not carry over. A boss killed in the host's world does not count in the helper's own save, so the helper still has to beat it later.
- The host progresses. The host's world is the one that moves forward.
- Helpers get a reward. Guides say a helper who survives until the boss dies receives a Rune Arc and some runes.
- Sessions end in a few ways. The boss dies, the host dies or disconnects, or someone leaves with the Finger Severer. If the host dies, helpers are sent home without the reward.
A guide we read gave conflicting statements on what runes and items a helper keeps when leaving, so we do not make a claim there. Test it with a friend on a spare character before you rely on it.
For a full playthrough together, take turns as host so both saves move forward.
Seamless Co-op, the community mod (PC only)
Vanilla co-op has no continuous play: sessions end at each boss and the helper goes home. The community answer is the Seamless Co-op mod on Nexus Mods, which is not made by FromSoftware or Bandai Namco and is not supported by them.
What we could confirm from the mod's own FAQ and the guides around it:
- It uses a separate launcher that starts the game without Easy Anti-Cheat, so you play outside the official online mode.
- It uses a different save file extension from the base game. Guides warn that mixing modded and vanilla saves can lead to a permanent ban, so keep them apart and never take a modded character into vanilla online play.
- The game's title screen may say inappropriate activity was detected and that it is starting in offline mode. Guides describe that as normal with the mod.
We did not reach the Nexus Mods page directly, so check the current version, player limit and compatibility with the latest game patch there before installing. Modding is your own risk.
Switch 2: Tarnished Edition
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28, 2026. It includes the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, plus extra armor and customization, according to Game Informer. As with other Switch 2 games, online play needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
We found no source confirming crossplay between the Switch 2 and other platforms, so plan on playing with other Switch 2 owners only. Listings disagreed on the online player count, so we do not state one.
Finding people to play with
If your friends are not available, the in-game route is a group password shared by a Discord server: signs and messages from that group stand out from the rest. Subreddits and Discord LFG servers work too, and our list of the best LFG Discord servers in 2026 shows where to post. Say your platform, level, which boss or area you need, and whether you want PvE only.
GameVerse is one more option. It is a desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, with mobile coming soon, that shows players online now for the same game and region, chill or competitive, and lets you message them. You can search for up to 8 players at once, and it does not match on rank, role or schedule, so agree on the details in chat. On the Elden Ring page you can see how it works for this game, and the find players page lists the rest. If you want a game made for co-op from the start, Elden Ring Nightreign is a separate multiplayer spin-off.
FAQ
How many players can play Elden Ring co-op?
Standard co-op is three players: one host and two helpers. Invaders can still enter a world that has helpers.
Do I need a password to play Elden Ring with friends?
Yes, if you want to find a specific friend. Both of you enter the same multiplayer password, and the game then removes its normal level and weapon upgrade range for you.
Does the summoned player keep their progress in Elden Ring?
Bosses beaten in the host's world do not count in the helper's own save. A helper who survives the fight gets a Rune Arc and some runes, according to guides.
Is Elden Ring crossplay?
No. PC players can only play with PC players, PlayStation with PlayStation, and Xbox with Xbox. We found no confirmation of crossplay for the Switch 2 edition either.
Can I play Elden Ring co-op on Switch 2?
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, released on August 28, 2026, has online co-op with other Switch 2 players, with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. We found conflicting online player counts, so check the store page before you buy.
Is the Seamless Co-op mod safe?
It is a community mod and not supported by the developer. It runs without Easy Anti-Cheat, so keep its saves separate from your vanilla ones and do not go online with a modded character.