Enshrouded leaves Early Access on October 15, 2026, and plenty of co-op groups will want a world that stays online after the host logs off. Peer-to-peer sessions end the moment the host quits, which freezes everyone else’s building and exploring. An Enshrouded dedicated server fixes that. This guide walks through the full setup on Windows 11, from SteamCMD to auto-updates, and explains when renting a server is the more practical choice.
Why a Dedicated Server Beats Hosting From the Game
When you host from the in-game menu, the world lives on your PC and only exists while you are playing. A dedicated server is a separate program that runs on its own, with no game client attached. Your friends can log in at 2 a.m. while you sleep, and the world keeps its state.
Keen Games splits progress in a way that suits this setup. World progress, including bases, terrain changes and Flame Altars, is stored on the server. Character progress stays on each player’s own machine. The server writes a save every five minutes, and a single world supports up to 16 players.
The server tool itself is free and separate from the game. You don’t need to own Enshrouded to download it, although every player who connects does. One thing to keep in mind with the 1.0 launch: the server version must match the game client. When the full release patch lands, any server that hasn’t been updated will turn players away until it is.
What Your Windows 11 Machine Needs
Enshrouded is heavier on server hardware than most survival games. Keen’s recommended server specifications call for a 6-core, 12-thread CPU around 3.2 GHz, 16 GB of RAM and an SSD with at least 30 GB free for a group of four to six players. For a full 16-player world, Keen suggests stepping up to 8 cores and 16 threads at around 3.7 GHz.
The server process itself is less hungry than those numbers suggest. Keen’s own FAQ puts idle usage at roughly 4.4 GB of RAM, plus up to 100 MB per player, with a ceiling of about 6 GB. The 16 GB recommendation leaves room for Windows and background tasks. If you plan to play on the same PC that runs the server, 32 GB is a far more comfortable target, since the game client and server will compete for memory and CPU time.
Your internet connection matters just as much. Keen recommends 2 Mbit/s of upload per player, so eight friends need around 16 Mbit/s of steady upload. You also need a connection that accepts inbound traffic. Many mobile broadband plans, some fiber providers and Starlink place customers behind carrier-grade NAT, which blocks port forwarding completely. A quick check is to compare the WAN IP in your router with the address shown by a “what is my IP” search. If they differ, you are likely behind CGNAT, and inbound connections from friends won’t reach your PC until you work around it.
Uptime is where most home setups struggle. Enshrouded’s progression loop of Flame Altar upgrades, crafting stations and boss runs means players drift in and out at different hours, and a world that is offline half the day slows the whole group down. Players who start looking into enshrouded rank boosting to catch up with friends often find the real fix is a world that never goes offline, whether it runs on a spare PC or a rented machine. A stable connection helps everyone return to the same world without waiting for the host to come online.
Before installing anything, set two Windows 11 options. Open Settings, then System, then Power and set sleep to Never while plugged in. Then give the PC a fixed local address, either through a DHCP reservation on your router or a static IP in the network adapter settings. Port forwarding breaks the moment the PC’s local IP changes.
Step 1: Install the Server Files With SteamCMD
If you own the game, the dedicated server appears in your Steam library under Tools. That works, but SteamCMD is the better route for a server you want to script and update automatically.
Valve’s SteamCMD documentation covers the basics. Download the Windows zip, create a folder such as C:\steamcmd and extract the files there. Run steamcmd.exe once so it can update itself, then type quit.
Next, open Command Prompt and run:
C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\enshrouded-server +login anonymous +app_update 2278520 validate +quitA few details are worth knowing here. App ID 2278520 is the Enshrouded Dedicated Server, not the game itself, which uses 1203620. The anonymous login works because the server doesn’t require a Steam account. Valve also recommends setting the install directory before logging in, which is why force_install_dir comes first. The server files take up around 13 GB, so give the download a few minutes.
Step 2: Generate and Edit enshrouded_server.json
Open C:\enshrouded-server and run enshrouded_server.exe once. A console window appears, and the server creates a configuration file called enshrouded_server.json in the same folder. When the log shows the session has reached Host_Online, the server is fully started. Close the window so you can edit the config.
Open the file in Notepad or VS Code. A clean configuration for a small group looks like this:
{
"name": "Embervale Crew",
"saveDirectory": "./savegame",
"logDirectory": "./logs",
"ip": "0.0.0.0",
"queryPort": 15637,
"slotCount": 8,
"gameSettingsPreset": "Default",
"userGroups": [
{
"name": "Admin",
"password": "ChangeThisAdminPass",
"canKickBan": true,
"canAccessInventories": true,
"canEditBase": true,
"canExtendBase": true,
"reservedSlots": 1
},
{
"name": "Friend",
"password": "ChangeThisFriendPass",
"canKickBan": false,
"canAccessInventories": true,
"canEditBase": true,
"canExtendBase": true,
"reservedSlots": 0
},
{
"name": "Guest",
"password": "ChangeThisGuestPass",
"canKickBan": false,
"canAccessInventories": false,
"canEditBase": false,
"canExtendBase": false,
"reservedSlots": 0
}
]
}Older guides tell you to set a single “password” line. That field no longer controls access. Keen’s server roles configuration explains the newer userGroups system, where the password a player enters decides their permissions. Admins can kick and ban, Friends can build and open chests, and Guests can explore and fight without touching your bases. The reservedSlots value holds spots open for a group even when the server is busy.
The gameSettingsPreset line accepts Default, Relaxed, Hard, Survival and Custom. Relaxed thins out enemies and boosts loot, which suits building-focused groups. Survival adds extra mechanics and tougher enemies. The detailed gameSettings block only takes effect when the preset is set to Custom, which catches on a lot of first-time hosts.
Newer builds may also add lines for voice and text chat. Leave any keys you don’t recognize at their defaults. A single missing comma will stop the server from loading the file, so paste it into a JSON validator if something looks off.
Step 3: Open the Windows Firewall and Forward Ports
By default, the current server uses query port 15637. Older configurations also used 15636 as a separate game port, and many router guides still list both. Opening 15636 to 15637 on UDP and TCP covers every version without causing problems.
Open PowerShell as administrator and add two inbound rules. Microsoft’s New-NetFirewallRule reference lists every parameter if you want to scope the rules to a specific network profile or program:
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Enshrouded Server UDP" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 15636-15637 -Action Allow
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Enshrouded Server TCP" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 15636-15637 -Action AllowIf Windows Defender Firewall shows a prompt the first time enshrouded_server.exe runs, allow it as well. Check that your network profile is set to Private, because Public profiles block more inbound traffic by default.
On your router, forward the same ports to the PC’s fixed local IP. The menu name varies by brand, usually Port Forwarding, Virtual Server or NAT. If you changed queryPort in the JSON, use that number everywhere instead.
Step 4: Automate Startup and Updates
Running the server by hand works until the first patch arrives. A short batch file keeps the server current every time it starts, which matters a great deal during the 1.0 launch week. Create start_enshrouded.bat in C:\enshrouded-server:
@echo off
cd /d C:\enshrouded-server
C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\enshrouded-server +login anonymous +app_update 2278520 +quit
start "" enshrouded_server.exeThis version drops the validate flag. Valve notes that validation overwrites modified files and suggests using it for first installs or troubleshooting. Your config file isn’t part of the download, but there is no reason to re-check 13 GB of files on every boot.
To start the server with Windows, open Task Scheduler and create a new task. Set the trigger to “At startup,” point the action at the batch file and select “Run whether user is logged on or not.” When a new patch drops, restarting the PC or the task pulls the update before the server comes back online.
Step 5: Connect and Test the Server
Launch Enshrouded, select Join and open the server filter. Turn on the option to show dedicated servers, because the list hides them by default. Your server should appear by name.
If it doesn’t show up, add it manually through the Steam client. Open View, then Game Servers, choose Favorites and add your public IP followed by the query port, such as 203.0.113.25:15637. Players on your home network should use the PC’s local IP instead. Enter the password for the role you want, and you’re in.
Always test from outside your network before inviting the group. Ask one friend to connect, or join from a laptop tethered to a phone hotspot. A server that works on your LAN but not from outside almost always points to port forwarding, the firewall profile or CGNAT.
Back Up Your World Before Update Day
The world save lives in the savegame folder inside your server directory. Save files start small and can grow to around 100 MB on worlds with large bases. Since everything your group has built sits in that folder, copy it before any major patch, and especially before the 1.0 update.
A short PowerShell script creates a timestamped copy:
$stamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd_HHmm"
Copy-Item "C:\enshrouded-server\savegame" "D:\Backups\Enshrouded\$stamp" -RecurseStop the server before running it so you don’t copy a save mid-write. You can schedule the script in Task Scheduler for a daily run and keep a copy on a second drive or cloud folder.
Fixing Common Enshrouded Server Problems
The server doesn’t appear in the browser
Confirm the dedicated server filter is turned on, then try the Steam favorites method above. If it still won’t show, the query port isn’t reachable from the internet, so recheck the router rule and the Windows firewall.
You can join, but friends can’t
This is nearly always a network issue on the host side. Check that the network profile is Private, that the router forwards to the correct local IP and that your connection isn’t behind CGNAT. If port forwarding isn’t possible at all, virtual LAN tools such as Radmin VPN or ZeroTier can act as a fallback, with friends connecting to the server’s virtual IP through Steam favorites.
Players get a version mismatch
The game client is running a newer version than the server. Rerun the SteamCMD command or restart your startup task to pull the latest build.
Custom difficulty settings are ignored
Set gameSettingsPreset to Custom. Any other preset overrides the values in the gameSettings block.
The world lags with more players online
Lower slotCount, close other heavy programs on the host PC and check your upload speed. Each slot adds load, and Keen specifically suggests reducing player slots when CPU or RAM becomes the bottleneck.
When It’s Easier to Rent an Enshrouded Server
Self-hosting is free in theory, but the costs show up in other places. A capable PC running around the clock at about 120 watts uses roughly 86 kWh a month. At $0.18 per kWh, that comes to around $15 a month in electricity, and more in regions with higher power prices. Managed Enshrouded plans commonly start around $6 to $10 a month for small groups and climb past $20 for full 16-slot worlds.
| Factor | Self-hosted on Windows 11 | Rented server |
| Upfront cost | Hardware you already own or buy | None |
| Monthly cost | Electricity, often $10 to $25 | Plan fee, often $6 to $21 |
| Uptime | Depends on your PC, power and ISP | Data center uptime |
| Updates | Your script or manual SteamCMD runs | Handled by the host |
| Port forwarding | Required, blocked by CGNAT | Not needed |
| Control | Full file and OS access | Panel or file access, varies by host |
| Latency for friends | Good near you, worse far away | Pick a region central to the group |
Renting tends to make sense if you don’t have a spare PC, sit behind CGNAT, have less than about 2 Mbit/s of upload per player or have friends spread across continents. It also saves a lot of hassle in launch week, when patches may arrive quickly and someone has to keep the server current.
Self-hosting is the better fit if you already own capable hardware, have a fast fiber connection and enjoy having full control over the machine. It’s also ideal for LAN groups who mostly play under one roof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Enshrouded dedicated server free?
Yes. The server tool is free to download through SteamCMD with an anonymous login using App ID 2278520. You only pay for the hardware, power and internet connection that run it. Every player who joins still needs their own copy of Enshrouded.
Can I run the server and play on the same Windows 11 PC?
Yes, and many small groups do. The catch is that the game client and the server share CPU and memory, so performance can dip for everyone. A machine with 32 GB of RAM and a strong multi-core CPU handles both far better than a 16 GB system.
How many players can join an Enshrouded dedicated server?
A single server supports up to 16 players. The slotCount setting accepts any value from 1 to 16. Lowering it reduces the load on your hardware, which helps on weaker PCs.
Which ports does an Enshrouded server use?
Current builds use query port 15637 by default. Older configurations also used 15636, so opening 15636 to 15637 on UDP and TCP is the safest approach. Players connect using your IP and the query port.
How much RAM does an Enshrouded server need?
Keen reports that the server process idles at about 4.4 GB and adds up to 100 MB per player, staying under roughly 6 GB in total. The recommended system has 16 GB, so Windows and other tasks have room. Plan on more if you also play on that PC.
Does the Enshrouded dedicated server run on Linux?
Not natively. Keen ships only a Windows build, and Linux hosting relies on compatibility layers like Wine or Proton. That works for experienced admins, but Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server remain the officially supported options.
Will my character progress carry over to a dedicated server?
Yes. Character progress is stored on each player’s own PC, while world progress is stored on the server. Players can bring the same character into your dedicated world and keep their level and gear.
Why can’t my friends find my Enshrouded server?
The most common causes are the dedicated server filter being switched off, a missing port forward, and a firewall rule set to the wrong profile or CGNAT on your connection. Adding the server through Steam favorites with IP and port helps rule out the browser itself. If that fails, the problem sits on the network side.
How do I update my server after the 1.0 release?
Stop the server and rerun the SteamCMD app_update command for App ID 2278520. If you use the startup batch file from this guide, a restart handles it automatically. Back up the savegame folder first, since major updates are when things are most likely to go wrong.
Is it cheaper to rent or self-host an Enshrouded server?
It depends on your electricity rate and hardware. Running a capable PC around the clock can cost roughly as much as a small rental plan in power alone. Renting usually wins if you’d need to buy hardware, while self-hosting wins if a spare machine is already sitting idle.
Conclusion
Setting up an Enshrouded dedicated server on Windows 11 takes less than an hour once you know the steps: install with SteamCMD, configure roles in enshrouded_server.json, open the right ports and automate updates. With 1.0 arriving on October 15, that last step matters most. If your connection or hardware can’t keep a world online around the clock, renting is the simpler path, and your group gets the same persistent world either way.
