How to Disable Crossplay on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Popular Games
Crossplay can be great when you want to play with friends on another console, but it is not always what you want during online matches. You may prefer playing only against people on the same system. You may want a more familiar controller pool, fewer PC opponents, or simply a smaller matchmaking group. Whatever the reason, turning crossplay off is often possible, though the setting is not found in the same place on every gaming system.
Some consoles let you block cross-network play at the system level. Other systems leave the choice to each game. A few games do not let certain players switch crossplay off at all. That difference is why a simple question like “how do I disable crossplay?” can lead you through several menus before you find the right switch.
What Does Disabling Crossplay Do?
Crossplay allows people using different gaming systems to join the same online matches. An Xbox player may be able to play against PlayStation users. Console players may also share matches with PC players, depending on how the game handles matchmaking.
When you disable crossplay, the game will usually try to match you only with players using your platform or network who have compatible crossplay settings.
That sounds simple, but there is one catch. If most players leave crossplay turned on, the pool of people available for crossplay-off matchmaking can be much smaller.
You may notice longer waiting times after switching it off. Less popular modes can take even longer, and some modes may become difficult to start at quieter hours.
Crossplay settings can also affect parties. If your friend plays on another platform, you will normally need crossplay turned on before you can join the same online party.
How to Disable Crossplay on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
Xbox gives you a system-level cross-network setting. This can be useful when a game does not provide its own easy crossplay switch.
On an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, follow these steps:
- Press the Xbox button on your controller.
- Open Profile & system.
- Select Settings.
- Open Account.
- Select Privacy & online safety.
- Choose Xbox privacy.
- Select View details & customize.
- Open Communication & multiplayer.
- Find You can join cross-network play.
- Change the setting to Block.
This tells Xbox that your account should not join multiplayer sessions with people playing outside the Xbox network when the title respects this console setting.
You may need to close and reopen the game after changing the setting. If you are already sitting in a multiplayer lobby, restarting the game can help it read the new account setting.
How to Turn Crossplay Back On on Xbox
If matchmaking takes too long or you want to play with a friend on another system, return to the same menu:
Settings > Account > Privacy & online safety > Xbox privacy > View details & customize > Communication & multiplayer.
Change You can join cross-network play from Block to Allow.
Restart the game afterward if the multiplayer menu does not react to the change straight away.
Can You Disable Crossplay on PS5?
PS5 does not offer one general system switch that shuts off crossplay for every game in the same manner as the Xbox account setting.
For most PS5 games, you need to check the multiplayer, account, online, gameplay, or network menu inside the game itself.
A common path looks like this:
- Launch the game.
- Open its main menu.
- Choose Settings or Options.
- Look for Account, Network, Online, or Gameplay.
- Find Crossplay, Cross-Platform Play, or a similar setting.
- Switch it to Off or Disabled.
If you cannot find that option on PS5, it may not be available in that particular game or mode.
Some games also move settings after major updates. If a switch you used before has disappeared, check the game’s account and privacy tabs before assuming it has been removed.
How to Disable Crossplay on PS4
The basic idea on PS4 is similar to PS5. Crossplay is commonly controlled inside the individual game.
Launch your game and check its settings menu. Crossplay controls are often placed under gameplay, online, account, privacy, or network settings.
Turn Crossplay or Cross-Platform Play off when the game gives you that choice.
The exact wording changes between games. One title may say “Crossplay,” another may say “Cross Platform Play,” while another may place the switch under a multiplayer tab.
How to Disable Crossplay on Fortnite
Fortnite handles the setting differently depending on the device you use.
Turn Off Fortnite Crossplay on PlayStation
On PlayStation, you can change Fortnite’s cross-platform setting from inside the game:
- Open Fortnite and stay in the lobby.
- Open the main menu.
- Select the gear icon and open Settings.
- Go to the Account and Privacy tab.
- Scroll to the gameplay privacy area.
- Find Allow Cross Platform Play.
- Set it to No.
Once turned off, your matchmaking choices may become more limited. You may also find that certain party setups no longer work when friends are playing on another system.
Turn Off Fortnite Crossplay on Xbox
For Fortnite on Xbox, use the Xbox cross-network account controls.
Go to:
Settings > Account > Privacy & online safety > Xbox privacy > View details & customize > Communication & multiplayer.
Set You can join cross-network play to Block.
Epic has also reported cases in which Xbox Fortnite players could still encounter players from other platforms despite having the crossplay restriction set. If that happens, check that the Xbox account setting remains on Block and watch for game updates that address the behavior.
Can You Disable Fortnite Crossplay on PC?
Fortnite does not currently give PC players a switch for completely disabling crossplay.
If you are searching through every Fortnite PC menu and cannot find the switch, you have probably not missed it. The choice available on PlayStation is not offered in the same way on PC.
Can You Disable Fortnite Crossplay on Nintendo Switch?
Fortnite does not currently let Nintendo Switch players turn the feature off through the same crossplay switch available to PlayStation users.
The same restriction applies to the mobile version.
How to Disable Crossplay in Apex Legends
Apex Legends also has platform-based differences.
On supported consoles, start from the Apex lobby:
- Open the lobby.
- Select the gear icon for the game menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Scroll until you find Cross Platform Play.
- Set it to Disabled.
After doing this, Apex will try to place you with players using the same platform who have also disabled cross-platform play.
That second part matters. You are not necessarily entering the full pool of people on your console. You may be entering the much smaller pool of people on your console who also chose to turn crossplay off.
This can cause much longer matchmaking times.
Can PC Players Disable Crossplay in Apex Legends?
No. Apex Legends currently keeps crossplay enabled for PC players.
If the Cross Platform Play setting does not appear on your PC version, that is expected behavior rather than a broken menu.
How to Disable Crossplay in Call of Duty
Call of Duty crossplay controls differ between titles and platforms, so check the account or network area of the particular Call of Duty game you are playing.
On Call of Duty titles that provide the switch on PlayStation, the path commonly begins like this:
- Open the game’s Options menu.
- Open Settings.
- Select Account & Network.
- Find the Crossplay setting.
- Set it to Off.
If you play Call of Duty on Xbox and the game does not present the switch you want, the Xbox cross-network setting may be the better route.
Remember that Call of Duty games receive frequent menu changes. The wording and location of an option can differ between releases.
How to Disable Crossplay on PC
There is no Windows-wide switch that reliably disables crossplay in every PC game.
On PC, the choice normally comes from the game developer.
Open the game and check areas named:
- Gameplay
- Online
- Network
- Account
- Privacy
- Matchmaking
If there is a Crossplay or Cross-Platform Play switch, turn it off.
If no setting appears, the game may require crossplay on PC. Fortnite and Apex Legends are two well-known cases where PC players do not receive the same off switch that some console players receive.
How to Disable Crossplay on Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch does not give every game one shared crossplay-off setting.
The choice depends on the game.
Open the title you want to play and check its gameplay, account, online, or multiplayer settings. If a cross-platform option appears, disable it there.
Some games do not permit Switch players to shut crossplay off. Fortnite is one example. Apex Legends, on supported Nintendo hardware, provides its own cross-platform control in the game menu.
Why Is the Crossplay Setting Missing?
If you cannot find the crossplay switch, several explanations are possible.
Your game may not let players on your platform turn it off. PC versions are especially likely to keep crossplay active without offering a switch.
The setting may also sit somewhere unexpected. Check account, network, privacy, online, matchmaking, and gameplay menus.
Another possibility is that the game expects Xbox users to change cross-network permissions through Xbox account settings rather than through the game.
Updates can also move menu items. A setting that used to appear near multiplayer controls may later appear under account or privacy controls.
Why Is the Crossplay Option Greyed Out?
A greyed-out option often means the game is reading a setting from your console account, the current mode requires crossplay, or your platform does not permit changing the feature through that menu.
Xbox users should check the console’s Communication & multiplayer settings.
You can also leave the current party and return to the main lobby. Some games will not let you change matchmaking rules while you are already queued or connected to a mixed-platform party.
If you changed a console permission while the game was open, close the game fully and launch it again.
Will Turning Off Crossplay Give You Easier Matches?
Not necessarily.
Disabling crossplay changes who can enter your matchmaking pool, but it does not automatically make opponents easier.
Many games still use skill ratings, ranked tiers, recent performance, connection quality, party size, or other matchmaking rules.
If your reason for disabling crossplay is avoiding keyboard-and-mouse PC players, check how your game handles input before changing anything. Some games already separate or partly separate players by input type.
Why Matchmaking Takes Longer After Crossplay Is Off
Imagine a stadium full of players. With crossplay on, the game can pull suitable opponents from several sections. Turn it off and several doors close.
Your game now has fewer available players to choose from.
The effect can be small in a popular mode during busy hours. In a low-population mode late at night, the difference can be much larger.
You may see longer queues, repeated matchmaking attempts, higher ping, or trouble filling a lobby.
If waiting becomes frustrating, turn crossplay back on and compare the queue time.
Does Turning Off Crossplay Delete Cross-Progression?
Crossplay and cross-progression are separate features.
Crossplay controls who you can play with or against. Cross-progression concerns game progress that carries between supported platforms through the same linked account.
Switching crossplay off normally does not erase your character progress, unlocked items, account level, or purchases simply because you changed matchmaking preferences.
Account transfer rules still depend on the game, so do not unlink gaming accounts just because you want to stop crossplay. Unlinking accounts is a separate action and can have very different results.
Can You Still Play With Friends After Disabling Crossplay?
You can usually play with friends who are on the same compatible platform and matchmaking pool.
Friends on another platform are the problem.
If you are on PlayStation and your friend is on Xbox, you will normally need crossplay enabled to join the same cross-platform party.
If a party invitation suddenly stops working after you changed the setting, turn crossplay back on and try again.
Should You Disable Crossplay?
Turning crossplay off makes sense if you strongly prefer same-platform matchmaking and you are willing to accept a smaller player pool.
It can also be worth testing if a particular game gives you a better experience when opponents come from the same console family.
Leave it on if you regularly play with friends on other platforms or if fast matchmaking matters more to you.
There is no permanent choice. In games and systems that let you control crossplay, you can switch it off for a few matches and turn it back on later.
Fastest Way to Disable Crossplay
For Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One, open the Xbox privacy controls and set You can join cross-network play to Block.
For PS5 and PS4, open the individual game’s settings and look for Crossplay or Cross-Platform Play.
For PC and Nintendo Switch, check the game’s own settings. Some titles do not provide an off switch on those platforms.
If the option seems to be missing, do not assume your console is broken. Crossplay rules differ from game to game. Start with your console account settings on Xbox, then check the game’s account, network, online, privacy, gameplay, and matchmaking menus.
Once you find the right switch, restart the game and test matchmaking. If the queue suddenly feels like an empty train station at midnight, you can always switch crossplay back on.