How to set up an Enshrouded dedicated server
Set up an Enshrouded dedicated server on berrybyte, Windows with Steam or SteamCMD, or Linux with Docker and Proton. Configure role passwords, open the query port, and invite friends.
berrybyte installs Enshrouded after checkout. Wait for HostOnline
in Console, then share the allocated address and a suitable role password.
Set up on berrybyte
Choose a plan and location
Open Enshrouded hosting. Check the plan's slots and RAM, choose a region near your group, and complete checkout. See requirements for sizing.
Let setup finish
The dashboard shows installation progress.
Press Start if the installed server is offline.
Wait for HostOnline in Console.
Set the name and access
Stop the server. Change Server Name in Settings → Game Settings.
In Files, open enshrouded_server.json and check the passwords
under userGroups. Keep Admin's password private.
Choose difficulty and restart
Set gameSettingsPreset in the same file if needed.
Save and start. Server settings
covers presets and permissions.
Invite friends
Copy Overview → Server address, including the port. Friends open Play → Join → Search by IPv4/Domain, enter it, and use their assigned role password.
Follow join a server for browser filters and Favorites. If joining fails, use connection fixes.
Self-host on Windows
Check the machine requirements and leave at least 30 GB free. The host needs to stay powered on and connected while friends play.
Install the dedicated server
In Steam Library, enable Tools and install Enshrouded Dedicated Server. Open Properties → Installed Files → Browse. Keen recommends launching the executable from that folder.
Alternatively, install SteamCMD and download server app 2278520:
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\enshrouded-server +login anonymous +app_update 2278520 validate +quitGenerate and edit the config
Run enshrouded_server.exe once to create enshrouded_server.json,
then stop it with Ctrl+C. Open the JSON in a text editor.
Set the name, slots, difficulty, and separate role passwords as described below.
Open the port and start
Allow UDP 15637 in Windows Firewall and forward it on your router
to this machine's LAN address. If you changed queryPort, use that number.
Run enshrouded_server.exe again and wait for HostOnline in the console
or logs/enshrouded_server.log.
See Keen's Windows installation guide.
Self-host on Linux with Docker
Linux can run the Windows server through Proton. This example uses the community sknnr container, which handles SteamCMD downloads and the compatibility runtime. Use a Linux x86-64 host with Docker Engine and Compose.
Download the container setup
Install Git, then clone the project and select its external-config template:
git clone https://github.com/jsknnr/enshrouded-server.git
cd enshrouded-server/container
cp docker-compose-external-config.yaml compose.yamlSet your name and role passwords
Edit enshrouded_server_external.json in this directory.
Set different, private passwords for Admin and Friend under userGroups
before the first start. Choose the name, slots, and difficulty below.
This container requires ownership 10000:10000 for the config:
sudo chown 10000:10000 enshrouded_server_external.jsonOpen the port and start
Allow UDP 15637 through the host firewall and any VPS firewall.
At home, also forward it on your router. The template publishes that port.
Start from the directory containing compose.yaml:
docker compose up -d
docker compose logs -f enshroudedThe first start downloads the game. Wait for HostOnline.
Ctrl+C leaves the log viewer; the container keeps running.
The template mounts your config into the server and stores the world in
the Docker volume enshrouded-persistent-data (Compose adds a project prefix).
Use docker compose stop before edits or backups, then docker compose up -d
to start again. Preserve that volume and the JSON; docker compose down -v
deletes the world volume.
Self-hosted settings and joining
Edit the existing JSON while the server is stopped. This is an excerpt to merge,
so preserve the generated userGroups and other keys:
{
"name": "Our Enshrouded World",
"ip": "0.0.0.0",
"queryPort": 15637,
"slotCount": 8,
"gameSettingsPreset": "Default"
}Slots can be 1–16. Set passwords inside userGroups; keep Admin's password
separate from the one you give friends. The settings guide
covers permissions and difficulty. See Keen's configuration reference
for the full file.
Friends join with your public IPv4 address or domain plus :15637 and their
role password. Use the actual query port if you changed it; update Docker's port
mapping too. 0.0.0.0 is a listening address, so share your reachable address.
Keen's server FAQ
covers readiness and networking. If your ISP uses CGNAT, ordinary router forwarding
may need a public IPv4 address from the ISP or a different host.
Before an update, stop and back up the config and complete save folder.
On Windows, update through Steam or rerun the SteamCMD command.
For this Linux container, after backing up run docker compose pull, then
docker compose up -d --force-recreate; it checks Steam for game updates at startup.
Update the players' clients too, then test one connection.
Existing worlds and updates
- Move an existing world: copy the complete save family while both sides are stopped.
- Update your server: back up first, then enable Auto Update and start.
- All Enshrouded guides: current PC coverage and 1.0 preparation.
If setup stops progressing, open a support ticket with the server linked.
Frequently asked questions
Does my PC need to stay on for a berrybyte Enshrouded server?
No. The dedicated server holds the shared world and runs independently of your computer.
Can I use an existing Enshrouded world?
Yes, you can migrate a compatible world. Preserve the complete save family and the original copy, then follow the migration guide or ask support for help.
Can I run an Enshrouded dedicated server on Linux?
Yes, through a Windows compatibility layer such as Proton. This guide uses a community Docker container that installs the Windows server with SteamCMD and runs it through Proton. Keen's documented installation route is Windows.
Which port should I open for a self-hosted Enshrouded server?
Allow and forward the UDP queryPort from enshrouded_server.json, normally 15637. Use that port in the address you give players. On berrybyte, use the allocated Server address from Overview.