If you’ve ever wanted to squad up for a game of Apex with a friend who plays on a different device, your first question is probably does Apex Legends have crossplay. I’ve been jumping into the Outlands across PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch for four years now, and I’ve tested crossplay with friends on every supported platform, so I can walk you through exactly how it works, what limitations you might run into, and how to fix common snags. Respawn Entertainment rolled out crossplay a few years after launch, and it’s been refined constantly to make playing across devices as smooth as possible.
Does Apex Legends Have Crossplay Across All Platforms?
The short answer is yes, crossplay is supported across every current platform you can play Apex Legends on. That includes PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, Nintendo Switch, and PC via both Steam and the EA App. Crossplay is enabled by default for all supported platforms, so you don’t have to download any extra updates or DLC to access it. The only exception is the now-discontinued Apex Legends Mobile, which never supported crossplay with console or PC versions before it was shut down.
If you’ve been asking does Apex Legends have crossplay for Switch, the answer is also yes, and Switch players are included in the same crossplay pool as all other platforms. One common misconception is that crossplay only works between same-generation consoles, but that’s not true. You can easily squad up with a friend on a base PS4 even if you’re playing on a brand new Xbox Series X, no extra steps required. The only time platform generation matters is for performance; newer consoles will run the game at higher frame rates and resolutions, but that doesn’t block cross-play functionality at all.
How to Enable or Disable Crossplay in Apex Legends
While crossplay is turned on by default, you can adjust the setting if you’d prefer to only play with people on the same device type as you. If you’re a console player who’s been worried does Apex Legends have crossplay that forces you to play against PC players, you’ll be glad to know you can turn it off entirely with just a few clicks. This is a popular option for console players who don’t want to go up against PC mouse and keyboard players, who often have a faster reaction time advantage. Disabling crossplay on console will only match you with other players on the same console family – for example, if you turn crossplay off on PS5, you’ll only be matched with other PS4 and PS5 players, no Xbox, Switch, or PC players included.
It’s important to note that PC players can’t turn off crossplay entirely. PC players cannot disable crossplay, as the PC player base is smaller than combined console player bases, so turning it off would lead to extremely long queue times, especially for less popular game modes like Ranked Arenas. If you’re still unsure does Apex Legends have crossplay after loading into the lobby, you’ll spot small platform icons next to most players in pre-game lobbies, even in random fill matches. If you’re a PC player who uses a controller, you don’t have to worry about unfair matches though, as input-based matchmaking will prioritize placing you with other controller players across all platforms.
Adjusting your crossplay settings only takes a few seconds, no matter what platform you’re on:
- Open the settings menu from the main lobby, then navigate to the "Gameplay" tab at the top of the screen
- Scroll down to the "Cross Platform Play" toggle and switch it on or off as needed
- Save your changes and exit the menu – settings apply immediately for your next match, no restart required
Key Crossplay Features You Should Know About
Crossplay in Apex isn’t just limited to matching with players on other platforms. There are a handful of connected features that make playing across devices even more convenient, starting with cross-progression. Lots of new players ask does Apex Legends have crossplay that works with cross-progression, and the good news is the two features are fully integrated, so you don’t have to manage separate accounts for different platforms. A few years back, Respawn rolled out full account sync for all players, meaning you can carry all your progress across every platform you play on. Cross-progression is automatically enabled once you link all your platform accounts to your primary EA account, so you won’t lose your skins, battle pass progress, rank, or in-game currency if you switch from Xbox to PC, for example.
You can also send friend requests and join squads with players on any platform without needing their specific platform gamertag. All you need is their EA account display name, and you can add them directly through the in-game friends list. You’ll see a small icon next to their name showing what platform they’re playing on, so you can easily tell which of your friends are on PC, console, or Switch at a glance. You can even join cross-platform clubs, so you can meet new players to squad up with no matter what device they use to play.
Input-based matchmaking is another underrated crossplay feature that most players don’t even notice. It works in the background to match controller players with other controller players, and mouse and keyboard players with other mouse and keyboard players, no matter what platform they’re on. Input-based matchmaking reduces unfair matches between controller and mouse & keyboard players across all platforms, so you won’t get thrown into a lobby full of sweats on PC just because you’re playing crossplay on your Switch. This feature applies to both casual and ranked matches, so you don’t have to worry about unfair rank losses from mismatched input types.
Common Crossplay Issues and How to Fix Them
While Apex’s crossplay system is pretty reliable, you might run into a few small issues from time to time, especially if you’re playing with friends across multiple regions. The most common issue is not being able to send or receive friend requests from players on other platforms. Most crossplay friend request issues come from incorrect EA account privacy settings, not platform restrictions. To fix this, log into your EA account on the official EA website and make sure your profile is set to public, and that friend requests are enabled. Most players never run into any of these issues, and the vast majority of the time, crossplay works exactly as advertised, so you don’t have to stress about whether does Apex Legends have crossplay when you’re trying to squad up for a quick match.
Another common issue is higher than usual lag when playing with friends on other platforms. This almost always happens if you’re connected to different server regions. Before you queue for a match, make sure all squad members have their server set to the same location, preferably the one closest to the majority of the squad. You can check and change your server location from the main lobby by clicking the small data center icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. If lag still persists, try having the player with the most stable internet connection act as the party leader, as the leader’s connection determines the lobby’s server priority.
If you can’t see your cross-platform friends online even though you know they’re playing, try restarting your game client first. Most of the time, this will refresh your friends list and show their online status correctly. If that doesn’t work, double check that both of you have crossplay enabled, and that your EA accounts are linked properly. For console players, also make sure your active platform subscription (PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass Core, or Nintendo Switch Online) is up to date, as lapsed subscriptions will block all online play, including crossplay.
At the end of the day, if you were asking does Apex Legends have crossplay, the answer is a clear yes, and it’s one of the most well-implemented cross-platform systems in any live service game right now. I play with friends across three different platforms every week, and we almost never run into issues that take more than 30 seconds to fix. If you’re new to crossplay, just double check your privacy settings before you send friend requests, and pick a server that works for everyone in your squad, and you’ll be dropping wins with your friends no matter what device they play on in no time.