Enshrouded Dedicated Server Setup Guide

Install and configure an Enshrouded dedicated server on Windows, open the query port, and connect through Steam.

Last updated: 2026-07-27

Install Enshrouded Dedicated Server from the Tools section of Steam, run its executable once, edit enshrouded_server.json, allow the configured query port through the firewall and router, then connect from Enshrouded or add the server in Steam by IP.

Before you begin

For 4-6 active players, Keen Games recommends:

  • A 6-core/12-thread Intel Core i7 3.2 GHz or equivalent AMD CPU
  • 16 GB RAM
  • An SSD with at least 30 GB free
  • About 2 Mbit/s upload capacity per active player

The host should use a wired network connection and a stable local IPv4 address. If you cannot forward ports because your provider uses carrier-grade NAT, self-hosting may not be reachable from the public internet; ask the ISP for a public IPv4 address or use managed hosting.

1. Install the server

  1. Open Steam Library and enable the Tools filter.
  2. Install Enshrouded Dedicated Server.
  3. Open its Properties, choose Installed Files, then Browse.
  4. Run the dedicated-server .exe directly from that folder.
  5. Wait for the first start to create enshrouded_server.json, then stop the server before editing it.

Keen currently documents Windows as the supported dedicated-server platform.

2. Configure the basics

The generated file contains settings like these:

{
  "name": "Enshrouded Server",
  "saveDirectory": "./savegame",
  "logDirectory": "./logs",
  "ip": "0.0.0.0",
  "queryPort": 15637,
  "slotCount": 16,
  "voiceChatMode": "Proximity",
  "enableVoiceChat": false,
  "enableTextChat": false,
  "gameSettingsPreset": "Default"
}

Change the public server name and lower slotCount if the machine is intended for a smaller group. Valid slot counts are 1-16. Keep ip at 0.0.0.0 unless your network setup specifically requires binding to one interface.

You can create these core values with the Server Config Generator.

The presets are Default, Relaxed, Hard, Survival, and Custom. Start with Default; select Custom only when you are adding individual values from Keen's current gameplay-settings reference.

3. Allow the network traffic

The default queryPort is 15637. If you leave that value unchanged:

  1. Allow the server executable or UDP query port 15637 through Windows Firewall.
  2. In the router, forward UDP port 15637 to the server PC's stable local IPv4 address.
  3. Do not place the server PC in a router DMZ just to make the game work.
  4. If you change queryPort, use that same value in the JSON, firewall, router, and connection address.

Steam may use additional ports documented in Steam Support. Avoid opening broad port ranges that your setup does not need.

4. Confirm the server is online

The server console or log should report HostOnline and a transition to Host_Online. The default log directory is ./logs.

In Enshrouded, choose Join, enable the dedicated-server filter, and search for the configured name. If it does not appear:

  1. Open Steam.
  2. Choose View > Game Servers.
  3. Open Favorites and add the public IP and query port as IP:15637.
  4. Return to Enshrouded; favorites are prioritized in its server list.

Do not share an administration password publicly. Use separate server roles and passwords when different players need different permissions.

Next steps

Official references

Related pages