If you’ve ever been mid-ranked grind on your PlayStation and wanted to queue up with a friend who only plays on their gaming laptop, you’ve probably asked does Apex Legends have crossplay with pc. It’s one of the most common questions players ask before jumping into a group queue, especially since so many competitive shooters lock cross-platform play behind paywalls or limit it to specific game modes. I’ve tested crossplay across every supported Apex platform over the last three years, from casual trios to ranked arena matches, so I’m breaking down exactly how it works, what limitations you’ll run into, and how to get the most out of cross-platform play without running into unfair matches.
Does Apex Legends Have Crossplay With PC Across All Platforms?
The short answer is yes, full crossplay between PC and all major console platforms is available for all Apex Legends players, no extra purchases or subscriptions required. Supported console platforms include PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch, so you can queue with friends no matter what living room device they use. The only exception is the standalone Apex Legends Mobile build, which is kept separate from PC and console pools to keep mobile lobbies fair for touchscreen players.
Crossplay works for every game mode in Apex, from casual trios and duos to ranked play, Control, Gun Run, and all limited-time event modes. You can even join friends in the firing range to test weapons or practice movement together across platforms. Crossplay between PC and console is 100% free for all players, no PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscription required for cross-platform play, though you will need those services for regular online play if you’re on console.
It’s worth noting that PC players are split between two launchers: Steam and the EA App. PC players on both launchers are fully connected for crossplay, so you don’t have to worry about being locked out of lobbies if you use Steam and your friend uses the EA App. Both launcher pools also connect freely to all console platforms, with no extra steps required to link them.
How to Enable and Use PC Crossplay in Apex Legends
Crossplay is enabled by default for all new Apex Legends accounts, so you don’t have to toggle any special settings to access it right out of the gate. The only extra step you’ll need to take is adding cross-platform friends via their EA ID, instead of their platform-specific username, which is a common pain point for new players.
If you’ve never added a cross-platform friend before, follow these simple steps:
- Open the friends menu from the main lobby screen, then select “Add Friend” near the top of the menu
- Enter your friend’s full, case-sensitive EA ID in the search bar, not their PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch gamertag
- Send the friend request, and once they accept, you can invite them to your lobby the same way you would invite a friend on your own platform
I see new players mess this up all the time by searching for their friend’s console username instead of their EA ID, which almost always returns no results. If you can’t find a friend, double check that they’ve given you the exact spelling of their EA ID, including any numbers, special characters, or capitalization. You can find your own EA ID by opening the settings menu, navigating to the “About” tab, and looking for the “EA Account” field if you don’t know it off the top of your head.
If you ever want to turn off crossplay for any reason, you can do so by opening the settings menu, navigating to the “Gameplay” tab, and toggling the “Crossplay Play” option off. This will restrict you to only matching with players on your own platform, but we’ll cover the pros and cons of that choice later.
Key Limitations and Fairness Rules for PC-Console Crossplay
A lot of console players worry about queuing with PC friends and running into mouse and keyboard players who have a clear aim advantage, and that concern is totally valid. Respawn has built in a few matchmaking rules to keep lobbies as fair as possible, but there are still limits you should know about before you queue with a cross-platform group.
The biggest rule to remember is that if your lobby has even one PC player, the entire lobby will be placed in the PC crossplay pool. That means you will match against other PC players and crossplay groups, not just console-only players. That’s a big deal for controller-only console players, because you’ll be going up against mouse and keyboard users who often have faster reaction times and more precise aim for long-range fights.
Controller players on PC are not separated from mouse and keyboard players in standard lobbies, so if you’re a controller player on PC queuing with console friends, you’ll still be placed in the PC pool. Input-based matchmaking is only available for high-ranked lobbies above Diamond rank right now, so for all casual and lower-ranked matches, you’ll be matched based on your overall skill rating, not your input method.
Cheating is another common concern with PC crossplay, and while Respawn’s anti-cheat system has improved drastically in the last two years, PC lobbies still have a slightly higher rate of cheaters than console-only lobbies. You can turn off crossplay entirely in your settings if you only want to play against other players on your own platform, but note that queue times will be much longer, especially for less populated modes like ranked arenas or limited time events. I’ve tested both crossplay on and off on my PlayStation 5, and queue times for trios jump from 10 seconds with crossplay on to almost 3 minutes with it off, so it’s a clear tradeoff between speed and lobby fairness.
Top Tips for Enjoyable PC Crossplay Matches
Crossplay can be a ton of fun if you set your lobby up correctly, especially if you have friends spread across different platforms. I’ve put together a few tricks I’ve picked up over hundreds of crossplay matches to keep games fair and fun for everyone in your group, no matter what device they use.
First, if you have a mix of controller and mouse and keyboard players in your group, consider sticking to casual play for group sessions, unless everyone is comfortable going up against higher-skilled PC players in ranked. Casual lobbies are generally much more forgiving, and you won’t risk losing rank if you get outplayed by a mouse and keyboard squad with way more experience.
If you’re a console player queuing with PC friends, enable the “advanced look controls” in your controller settings to adjust aim assist strength to match your playstyle. Aim assist is still fully active for controller players in crossplay lobbies, so tuning it to your preference can help close the gap between you and mouse and keyboard opponents, especially for close-range fights.
If you’re worried about running into cheaters, make sure you have the “report player” function memorized, and avoid queuing for high-tier ranked matches with random PC players if you don’t want to risk running into hacked accounts. Most PC players are legitimate, but it’s better to be cautious if you’re grinding for a higher rank.
Finally, if you’re playing with friends who are on much lower skill levels than you, consider using the “fill” option for your third squad member to get matched with players of similar overall skill, instead of getting thrown into lobbies that are way too hard for new players. This keeps the game fun for everyone, instead of forcing new players to get demolished by squads with thousands of hours of playtime.
At the end of the day, asking does Apex Legends have crossplay with pc is just the first step to playing with all your friends no matter what device they prefer. The feature works seamlessly for almost all use cases, and the small tradeoffs around lobby fairness are well worth it for the ability to queue up with anyone, anywhere. If you’re still on the fence about enabling crossplay, test it out for a few casual matches first to see how it feels for your playstyle, and adjust your settings as you go to get the best possible experience.