How to Set Up an Enshrouded Dedicated Server

An Enshrouded dedicated server keeps your voxel survival world online for up to 16 players, so your group can keep clearing the Shroud whether or not the host is around. Enshrouded's server is Windows-only, so on Linux you run it under Proton. This guide covers the full setup and the specs you'll need.

What you need

• A Linux VPS: Ubuntu 22.04/24.04. Enshrouded needs 6 GB RAM at minimum, with 16 GB recommended for a full 16-player world. It idles around 4+ GB.
• Open ports: UDP 15636 and 15637.

Step 1: Create a user and install dependencies

sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" enshrouded
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 steamcmd

Step 2: Download the Windows server via SteamCMD

Enshrouded's dedicated server (App ID 2278520) is Windows-only, so tell SteamCMD to fetch Windows binaries on Linux:

sudo su - enshrouded
steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows \
  +force_install_dir /home/enshrouded/server \
  +login anonymous +app_update 2278520 validate +quit

{{SCREENSHOT}}

Step 3: Run under Proton (Linux) or directly (Windows)

On Linux, enshrouded_server.exe runs through Proton/GE-Proton with a compatibility prefix. If you'd prefer no compatibility layer, a Windows VPS runs the exe natively. Either way, the config and ports below are identical.

Step 4: Open the firewall

sudo ufw allow 15636:15637/udp
sudo ufw reload

Open UDP 15636–15637 on any provider firewall as well.

Step 5: Configure the server

Launch once to generate enshrouded_server.json, then edit it:

• name — the server name shown to players.
• password — set to make the server private.
• saveDirectory and logDirectory — keep saves in a predictable place for backups.
• gamePort (15636) and queryPort (15637) — match your firewall.
• slotCount — up to 16 players.

Step 6: Run it as a systemd service

Wrap your launch command (the Proton invocation on Linux, or the exe on Windows) in a service with automatic restart:

# /etc/systemd/system/enshrouded.service
[Unit]
Description=Enshrouded Dedicated Server
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=enshrouded
ExecStart=/home/enshrouded/start.sh
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=15

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now enshrouded

Update the server on each patch by re-running +app_update 2278520 validate, or automate updates. A scheduled restart keeps memory healthy on long-running worlds.

Step 7: Join the server

In Enshrouded, choose Play → Join and use the server browser or direct IP YOUR_IP:15636 with the password. Because the server needs a decent chunk of RAM even when idle, don't try to squeeze it onto a tiny box.

Back up your world

Enshrouded writes its world and player data to the save directory you set in enshrouded_server.json. Voxel worlds accumulate a lot of terraforming and building, so snapshot the save folder on a schedule — ideally when the server is briefly stopped:

# nightly backup, keep a week
0 4 * * * tar -czf /home/enshrouded/backups/ens-$(date +\%F).tar.gz /home/enshrouded/server/savegame && find /home/enshrouded/backups -name 'ens-*' -mtime +7 -delete

Since Enshrouded idles above 4 GB and climbs as players build, keep an eye on memory with monitoring server resources on Linux. If you run several game servers, a shared backup routine from how to back up your game server automatically keeps them all covered.

FAQ

Does Enshrouded have a Linux server?

No — only a Windows dedicated server exists. On Linux you run it under Proton or Wine; a Windows VPS can run the exe directly instead.

How much RAM does an Enshrouded server need?

6 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended for a full 16-player world. The server idles above 4 GB, so 8 GB is a sensible floor for anything but the smallest group.

What ports does an Enshrouded server use?

UDP 15636 (game) and 15637 (query) by default. Open both on the OS and provider firewalls.

How many players can an Enshrouded server hold?

Up to 16, set via slotCount in the config. Each player adds roughly 100 MB, so budget RAM toward the recommended 16 GB for a full house.

Need a box with real memory headroom? Compare plans on our pricing page or launch on game server hosting with full root access.