If you’ve ever gotten frustrated with lag during late-night Enshrouded base builds or random public server trolls ruining your hard-earned loot, you’ve probably wondered how to host an Enshrouded server of your own. Running a private server lets you set your own rules, control who joins, and tweak settings to fit exactly what your playgroup wants. I’ve set up half a dozen Enshrouded servers for my own friend group over the past few months, and I’ve worked out all the kinks so you don’t have to waste hours troubleshooting random errors.
Pre-Requisites Before You Host an Enshrouded Server
You have two main options for hosting: running the server locally on your own PC, or paying for a third-party game server hosting service. Both work well, but they have different tradeoffs depending on your budget and how often you want the server to be online. Local hosting is free, but you’ll need to leave your PC on whenever anyone wants to play, and your home internet connection will determine how smooth gameplay is for everyone. Third-party hosting costs $5 to $15 a month on average, but offers 24/7 uptime, built-in DDoS protection, and no extra strain on your personal device.
No matter which option you pick, you’ll need to meet some minimum requirements to avoid constant lag or crashes. Minimum CPU requirement is a 4-core 3GHz processor for up to 4 players, and a 6-core 3.5GHz processor for 5 to 10 players. RAM needs start at 8GB for small groups, and go up to 16GB for larger groups or if you plan to run multiple mods down the line. Minimum upload speed is 10Mbps for 4 players, with an extra 2Mbps per additional player if you’re hosting locally. If your internet plan only offers 5Mbps or less upload speed, you’re almost certainly better off using a third-party host to avoid ruining the experience for your friends.
Step-by-Step Local Enshrouded Server Setup
Once you’ve confirmed your hardware meets the requirements to host an Enshrouded server, you can move on to the actual setup process. First, open your Steam library, switch to the “Tools” tab, and search for “Enshrouded Dedicated Server”. Install the tool like you would any other Steam game, it only takes a few minutes even on slower internet connections.
Next, navigate to the server’s installation folder, find the “config.json” file, and open it with a basic text editor like Notepad. Here you can set your server name, add a password, adjust max player count, toggle PvP, and enter your preferred world seed. Always set a strong server password if you don’t want random players joining your private world, that’s the most common mistake I see new hosts make that leads to uninvited guests ruining builds.
After you save your config changes, you’ll need to set up port forwarding on your home router. You’ll need to forward both TCP and UDP port 15636 to the local IP address of the PC running the server. The exact steps for port forwarding vary by router brand, but you can find simple guides for almost every model online in two minutes or less. You’ll also need to allow the Enshrouded dedicated server tool through your Windows Firewall or third-party antivirus, otherwise your friends won’t be able to connect even if port forwarding is set up correctly.
Once that’s all done, launch the dedicated server tool, wait two to three minutes for the world to generate, then send your public IP address to your friends so they can join directly through the Enshrouded server browser.
Key Settings to Tweak for Your Custom Enshrouded Server
One of the biggest perks of running your own server is being able to adjust almost every gameplay setting to fit your group’s playstyle. You don’t have to stick to the default vanilla settings if they don’t work for you, and small tweaks can make a huge difference in how fun the game feels for everyone. Some of the most useful settings to adjust include:
- World seed: Pick a seed you love from community recommendations to spawn near rare resources like aluminum or flax right at launch
- PvP toggle: Turn this off entirely for casual playgroups to avoid accidental fights over loot or base builds
- Resource respawn rate: Bump this up 20-30% if you have a large group so you don't run out of basic materials like stone and wood quickly
- Death penalty: Lower or remove the penalty for dying if you're playing with newer players who are still learning the game's combat mechanics
- Shroud time limit: Extend the time you can spend in the Shroud if your group likes to take long exploration runs without rushing back to safety
Test all settings with one or two friends first before inviting the whole group, so you don't have to restart the server mid-play session to make changes. Keep in mind that changing the world seed after you’ve already started playing will wipe all existing progress, so make sure you pick a seed you’re happy with before you start building and exploring. You can also adjust these settings later if you find something isn’t working, just remember to restart the server for changes to take effect.
Common Enshrouded Server Issues and Quick Fixes
Even if you follow all the setup steps perfectly, you’ll probably run into a couple of small issues when you first launch your server. Most of these have very simple fixes, and you don’t need any advanced technical knowledge to solve them. The most common issue is friends being unable to connect to the server. If this happens, first double check that port forwarding is set up correctly, that the server is running on your end, that the firewall has an exception for the server tool, and that you sent your friends the correct public IP address.
If you’re noticing consistent lag during gameplay, first check if any device on your home network is using a lot of bandwidth, like streaming 4K video or downloading large files. If you’re hosting locally and the lag persists even when no one else is using the internet, you probably need to upgrade your RAM or reduce the max player count on the server. If you’re using a third-party host, reach out to their support team, as the issue is likely on their end.
If your server crashes repeatedly after a game update, wait 24 hours for server tool updates from the devs, most major content updates break dedicated servers temporarily until the backend dedicated server tool is patched. Back up your save files at least once a week to avoid losing weeks of build progress if your server crashes or your hard drive fails. You can find save files in the “save” folder of your dedicated server installation directory, just copy them to a separate folder on a different drive for safekeeping.
At the end of the day, taking the time to host an Enshrouded server is 100% worth it if you play with the same group regularly. You’ll get zero random interruptions, settings tailored exactly to how you like to play, and full control over every part of your world. If you don’t want to deal with port forwarding or leaving your PC on 24/7, even a cheap hosted server costs less than a coffee a month for 10 player slots. Don’t be intimidated by the setup process—most first-time hosts get their server running in under 20 minutes if they follow the steps we laid out, and you’ll be exploring the Shroud with your friends before you know it.