Do this first

The quick route

  1. Verify that the intended save owner has already started the hosted session.
  2. Refresh the friends-game menu after the host is fully in the session.
  3. Try the current Join Code, especially for cross-platform players.
  4. Install pending Big Walk and system updates on both devices.
  5. Restart the game on both ends and have the host create one fresh session.

What should normally happen

According to the official FAQ, a friend's active game should automatically appear in the friends-game menu when that person is on your platform friends list. Players outside that platform relationship can join with the code from the live host session.

Run one controlled retry

Close the session once, update both copies of the game, restart both devices, then let only the intended host create the session. Wait until it is active before the guest refreshes or enters the new code. This keeps an old code or half-started session from confusing the test.

Escalate with useful details

Big Walk has no public official live server-status page or published error-code list that we could verify on August 14. If the controlled retry fails, save the exact message, each player's platform and game version, and whether friends-list discovery and Join Code entry failed in the same way, then send those details to publisher support.

Sources checked

Where this answer comes from

Links and claims last checked August 14, 2026. Community sources describe reported symptoms, not guaranteed fixes.