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Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted Enshrouded servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
To host an Enshrouded dedicated server, install the official server from Steam’s Tools section, run its executable once to create enshrouded_server.json, edit the settings, allow the server and Steam traffic through your network, then start the executable and have players join from Enshrouded’s dedicated-server browser. The procedure below follows Keen Games’ published installation, configuration, FAQ and specification guidance.
The practical decision is whether your own Windows machine can remain online with enough CPU, memory, SSD space and upload bandwidth. Self-hosting gives you control over files and settings; a managed game-server host removes most machine and networking maintenance but requires you to check its current Enshrouded support, location, backup controls, file access and renewal pricing.
What you need before installing
Prepare the host before downloading anything. Keen Games’ installation article documents Windows support and said Linux support was planned when that article was updated on February 23, 2024. Because platform support can change, check the current Dedicated Server Installation on Steam article before choosing a Linux host.
- A Steam account that owns and has unlocked Enshrouded. The dedicated-server executable is provided with the game in Steam’s Tools section.
- A machine that can stay online for the times your group needs the world.
- An SSD with at least 30 GB of free space. Keen Games’ FAQ reports approximately 13 GB for uncompressed server files, while the larger free-space recommendation leaves room for installation and save data.
- IPv4 network access. Keen Games’ FAQ explicitly states that the server uses IPv4.
- Permission to change the host firewall and, when the machine is behind a router, the relevant router or network configuration.
Choose hardware for your player count
Keen Games bases its recommendations on active players, not merely the number of configured slots. Use the higher tier if you expect a full server or want more headroom.
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| Active-player target | CPU recommendation | Memory | Storage | Upload capacity | Download capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4–6 players | Intel Core i7 at 3.2 GHz or equivalent AMD CPU; 6 cores/12 threads | 16 GB RAM | SSD with at least 30 GB free | 2 Mbit/s per active player | Roughly match upload capacity |
| Up to 16 players | Intel Core i7 at 3.7 GHz or equivalent AMD CPU; 8 cores/16 threads | 16 GB RAM | SSD with at least 30 GB free | 2 Mbit/s per active player | Roughly match upload capacity |
These are published recommendations from Keen Games’ Recommended Server Specifications article, published January 12, 2024. At the 16-player tier, the stated upload recommendation works out to about 32 Mbit/s for 16 active players; for six active players, it is about 12 Mbit/s. Those calculations apply the documented 2 Mbit/s-per-player guidance, rather than representing a separate benchmark.
The newer Dedicated Server FAQ, published February 21, 2025, gives operational memory figures: approximately 4.4 GB while idle, with up to 100 MB of additional RAM per player, and a statement that total server memory should not exceed 6 GB. The FAQ figure and the 16 GB machine recommendations describe different things: one is observed server-process usage guidance, while the other is Keen Games’ broader host specification. Keep the 16 GB recommendation when selecting the machine rather than treating the 6 GB figure as a promise for every workload.
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- Open Steam and switch to the Library view.
- Make sure tools are visible. In the Library filters, enable the Tools category if the server entry is not listed.
- Find and download the Enshrouded dedicated server. Keen Games says it is bundled with Enshrouded and appears for users who own and have unlocked the game.
- Right-click the installed server entry and choose Manage or Browse local files (the exact wording can vary with Steam’s current client layout).
- Open the installation folder and launch the dedicated-server executable directly. Keen Games recommends against using Steam’s normal Launch button for this server.
The first launch is intentional even if you have not selected settings yet: it creates the configuration file that you will edit next. If Steam does not show the tool, confirm that the game is owned and unlocked on the account, that the Tools filter is enabled, and that Steam has finished downloading the server files.
Generate and edit enshrouded_server.json
Run the executable once, wait for it to initialize, and then stop it cleanly. A file named enshrouded_server.json should appear in the server installation directory. Open it in a plain-text editor, make one change at a time, and preserve valid JSON punctuation. The official defaults documented by Keen Games are:
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| Setting | Documented default | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Server name | Enshrouded Server |
The name players see when looking for the server. |
saveDirectory |
./savegame |
World-save location relative to the server directory. |
logDirectory |
./logs |
Current log location. |
| IP | 0.0.0.0 |
Listen address documented for the server. |
queryPort |
15637 |
Port used for server queries by default. |
| Slots | 16 | Maximum configured player slots; the supported range is 1–16. |
| Proximity voice mode | Enabled as the documented mode | Voice behavior setting. |
| Voice chat | Disabled | Whether in-game voice chat is enabled. |
| Text chat | Disabled | Whether in-game text chat is enabled. |
| Game settings preset | Default |
The ruleset applied to the world. |
Use the exact property names and capitalization already present in the generated file. Do not delete commas, quotation marks or braces around unchanged entries. Keep a copy of the original file before making substantial edits so you can restore a known-good configuration if the executable refuses to start.
Set player slots and gameplay difficulty
Player slots
The configuration guide supports 1–16 slots. Set the count to the number of people who may join concurrently rather than adding unused capacity automatically: Keen Games notes that each additional slot increases the server’s performance impact. A six-person group can therefore use six slots instead of leaving the default 16 if the machine is modest.
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| Preset | Documented behavior | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
Default |
Continues the pre-0.7.3.0 settings and is recommended for first-time players. | A first world or a group that wants the standard rules. |
Relaxed |
Reduces enemies and increases resources and loot. | Exploration-focused groups or players who want less combat pressure. |
Hard |
Increases enemy numbers and aggression. | Groups seeking more demanding combat. |
Survival |
Adds survival mechanics alongside more aggressive enemies. | Players who specifically want survival systems and tougher encounters. |
Custom |
Exposes individual settings for adjustment. | Groups that want to tune particular mechanics instead of selecting a complete preset. |
These descriptions come from Keen Games’ Dedicated Server Configuration guide. Decide on the preset before inviting players, because changing world rules after people begin progressing can affect the shared experience.
Allow network access safely
The dedicated server uses IPv4 and the documented default query port is 15637. A player outside the host’s local network must be able to reach the configured query port and the Steam-required ports. Allow those ports in the host operating system’s firewall and in the router or upstream network that receives the public connection.
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Keen Games’ FAQ does not provide one universal router recipe or a single consolidated TCP/UDP rule that applies to every network. Do not copy a port-forwarding rule from another game without checking your router, firewall and internet provider. If you change queryPort in the JSON file, use that new value consistently in the firewall and router configuration.
- Record the host machine’s local IPv4 address so a router rule targets the correct computer.
- Permit the configured query port in the host firewall.
- Configure the router or managed network to pass the required traffic to that machine, following the router’s own interface and protocol requirements.
- Restart the server after changing the JSON or network rules.
- Test from a player connection outside the host’s local network when possible. A local test can succeed even when inbound internet access is blocked.
If your internet connection does not provide a reachable public IPv4 address, inbound hosting may not work without a network change or a managed host. The official documentation establishes IPv4 use but does not promise that every consumer connection can accept inbound traffic.
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- Close the text editor and launch the dedicated-server executable directly from its installation folder.
- Watch the console or log output while it initializes.
- Look for the FAQ’s typical startup indicators:
[Session] 'HostOnline' (up)!and the transition toHost_Online. - Leave the server process running. Closing its console stops the world from accepting connections.
If startup fails immediately after an edit, restore the last known-good JSON file and compare the changed line for invalid syntax or an unsupported value. If the process starts but players cannot find it, troubleshoot discovery and network access separately rather than repeatedly reinstalling the server.
How players join
Use Enshrouded’s dedicated-server browser
- Start Enshrouded on the client.
- Choose Join.
- Enable the dedicated-server filter.
- Search for the server name you configured and select it when it appears.
The server must be fully started before it can appear. Names can be duplicated, so give your group a distinctive name and confirm the player count and other visible details before joining.
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Use Steam Game Servers as a fallback
If the server is running but does not appear in Enshrouded’s list, open Steam and choose View → Game Servers. Add the server’s reachable IP address as a favorite, using the configured query port where Steam requests it. Then refresh the favorites list and launch Enshrouded to join. Keen Games documents this as the fallback when in-game discovery does not show the server.
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Understand saves, logs and backups
Dedicated-server world progression is stored on the server. Character progression is stored only on each player’s client, so moving the world to another machine does not move a character’s local progression automatically.
The default world location is ./savegame. The server creates save files every five minutes. Keen Games says a world save can range from about 1 MB to 100 MB, with larger, heavily built worlds nearer the upper end. Before changing hosts, replacing files or performing major configuration work, stop the server and copy the complete world-save directory to separate storage.
Current logs go to ./logs. Earlier logs are archived under ./logs/backup. When diagnosing a failed start or a connection problem, preserve the relevant log before restarting repeatedly; the timestamped output can show whether the issue occurs during configuration loading, session startup or network publication.
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Troubleshoot the problems most hosts see
The dedicated server is missing from Steam
- Confirm the Steam account owns and has unlocked Enshrouded.
- Enable the Library’s Tools filter.
- Allow Steam to finish downloading and updating the server tool.
- Browse the installed files instead of relying on Steam’s normal Launch button.
The executable starts and then stops
- Check that
enshrouded_server.jsonis valid JSON and that property names were not altered. - Restore the last working configuration, then reapply changes individually.
- Review the newest file in
./logsand compare it with the archived files in./logs/backup. - Verify that the server has write access to its installation directory, save directory and log directory.
The server never appears in the browser
- Wait for the startup indicators
[Session] 'HostOnline' (up)!andHost_Online. - Confirm that the dedicated-server filter is enabled in Enshrouded’s Join screen.
- Check that the configured query port is the port allowed in the host firewall and router.
- Confirm that Steam-required ports are also permitted.
- Verify that the host has reachable IPv4 connectivity.
- Add the server IP through Steam’s View → Game Servers favorites as a discovery fallback.
Players connect locally but not from the internet
This pattern usually separates a server configuration problem from an inbound-network problem. Recheck the host’s local IPv4 address, the router destination, firewall permissions and the public IPv4 address players are using. The official FAQ confirms IPv4 operation but does not define a port-forwarding recipe that is guaranteed for every router, carrier-grade NAT arrangement or provider.
The world or player progress appears missing
Check the server’s ./savegame directory first. World progress resides there, while character progression resides on clients. If you moved only the server files and not the world-save directory, the new host may start a different world. Restore the most recent backup only after stopping the server.
Self-hosting or a managed server?
Self-hosting is appropriate when you control a suitable Windows machine and network, can keep it available, and want direct access to the executable, JSON file, logs and saves. You also accept responsibility for operating-system maintenance, bandwidth, firewall and router configuration, backups, updates and recovery.
A managed game-server host is useful when an always-on world matters but maintaining the machine is inconvenient. Before paying, verify the provider’s current Enshrouded support rather than relying on a generic “game server” label. Compare the following items:
| Decision factor | Questions to verify |
|---|---|
| Game support | Does the service currently support the Enshrouded dedicated server and its current release? |
| Location and latency | Is there a region close to the players, and can you change regions later? |
| Player capacity | How many slots are included, and can the slot count be changed without replacing the world? |
| Updates | Are server updates automatic, scheduled, or manually triggered? |
| Backups | Can you download, restore and retain world-save backups independently of the provider? |
| File and configuration access | Can you edit enshrouded_server.json, inspect logs and retrieve saves? |
| Price | What is the renewal price after any introductory term, and are storage, backups or extra slots charged separately? |
No provider is endorsed by Keen Games in the documentation cited here, and commercial features and prices can change. Treat a managed host as an operational choice, not as a substitute for checking current Enshrouded compatibility and retaining your own world backups.
A practical launch checklist
- Steam shows the Enshrouded dedicated server under Tools.
- The server executable has been launched once and generated
enshrouded_server.json. - The server name, slot count, preset, save path, log path and query port are intentional.
- The slot count is between 1 and 16 and matches the expected active group.
- The host meets the appropriate CPU, RAM, SSD and upload recommendations.
- The host firewall and network configuration allow the configured query port and Steam-required ports.
- The executable reaches
[Session] 'HostOnline' (up)!andHost_Online. - Players can find the server with the dedicated-server filter or through Steam’s Game Servers favorites.
- The
./savegamedirectory is included in a regular backup plan.
Bottom line: the simplest reliable setup
For a small group, install the official tool through Steam, keep the generated configuration close to its defaults, choose a slot count that reflects actual players, and use the documented Default preset unless your group wants a different ruleset. Put the server and its save directory on an SSD, provide the published CPU, memory and upload capacity, allow IPv4 traffic through the host’s real network path, and verify startup before troubleshooting discovery. If maintaining Windows, networking and backups is more work than the world is worth, rent a managed server only after confirming its current Enshrouded support and preserving independent access to your saves.
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