How to Host an Enshrouded Server for Free (and the Catches)

You can host an Enshrouded server for free two ways: host a multiplayer game from your own copy, or run Keen Games' free dedicated server (Steam app 2278520) on a Windows PC you leave on. Neither costs anything in software. The catches: the PC must stay on, UDP port 15637 must be open, and you handle updates and backups.

Can you host Enshrouded for free?

Yes. Keen Games does not charge for the dedicated server and it needs no game license. Here are your options side by side:

Every player still needs their own copy of Enshrouded on Steam.

Option 1: Host a game from your own copy

This is the fastest free option:

1. Launch Enshrouded and click Play.
2. Pick your world and set it to multiplayer, with a password if you want one.
3. Friends join from Join Game, through your Steam friends list.

The catch: the world only exists while you are playing. If you log off, everyone is kicked and nobody can build or farm until you come back. Your PC also runs the game and the world for everyone at once, which gets heavy as bases grow.

Option 2: Run the free dedicated server yourself

The dedicated server runs the world on its own, so friends can play without you. It is free, but it is a Windows program. On Linux it runs through Wine or Proton, which works but takes more setup.

What PC do you need to host Enshrouded?

Add memory for Windows itself, and an SSD with at least 30 GB free. If the same PC also runs the game for you, add the game's own needs on top. Enshrouded keeps the whole voxel world and every base loaded, so RAM use grows with base size, not just players. Our Enshrouded how many players guide has more detail.

Set it up in five steps

1. Install SteamCMD and download the server:

steamcmd +force_install_dir "C:\enshrouded-server" +login anonymous +app_update 2278520 validate +quit

2. Run enshrouded_server.exe once so it creates enshrouded_server.json, then stop it.
3. Edit enshrouded_server.json: set name, slotCount (up to 16) and the passwords for each role in userGroups. Our enshrouded_server.json guide explains every key, and the password and permissions guide covers roles.
4. Open UDP port 15637. Forward it on your router to the server PC and allow it through Windows Firewall. In current versions this is the only port the server listens on, set by queryPort.
5. Start the server and have friends search for its name in Join Game, with Show dedicated servers and Show password protected servers ticked.

The full walk through with screenshots of each file is in our guide to making an Enshrouded server.

What are the catches of hosting Enshrouded for free?

Free hosting moves the costs, it does not remove them:

• Electricity. A PC running around the clock uses real power. At 150 W that is about 108 kWh a month, roughly 18 USD at 0.17 USD per kWh. Use your own wattage and power price.
• Port forwarding. If your internet provider uses CGNAT, you cannot forward ports at all, and friends will never see the server. Our server not showing up guide shows how to check.
• Upload speed. A home connection with slow upload causes rubber banding for everyone else.
• Updates. Steam updates players automatically. Your server does not. After every patch you run SteamCMD again and restart, or nobody can join. Enshrouded 1.0 on 15 October 2026 is a big one.
• Backups. You copy the savegame folder yourself. Forget once before a bad update and the world is gone.
• Uptime. Windows updates, power cuts and the PC sleeping all take the world offline.

Are there free Enshrouded server hosts?

Not in a way that works for long. A 16 player Enshrouded world needs around 16 GB of RAM, which is expensive to give away. Free offers usually mean small RAM, queues, servers that shut down after a short time, or adverts. For a friend group, a spare PC at home or a cheap split plan is more reliable than a free host.

When is paying for an Enshrouded server worth it?

Paying makes sense when your group plays at different times, nobody has a PC that can stay on, or you are behind CGNAT. Split between friends it is often cheaper than the electricity of a home server.

On GamezServers:

Split prices include the 1 USD fee per share, and up to 10 friends can share one bill. New customers get 50% off the first month. Every plan includes one click backups, DDoS protection and 24/7 support, and the Friend and Admin passwords and game preset are panel settings. There is no port to forward and the server updates itself on every restart, so 1.0 day is a restart. Cancel any time. See Enshrouded server hosting.

FAQ

Is the Enshrouded dedicated server free?

Yes. The dedicated server is free on Steam as app ID 2278520 and needs no game license. You pay only for the PC or server it runs on.

Can I host an Enshrouded server on Linux?

Not natively. Keen Games ships a Windows server, and on Linux it runs through Wine or Proton.

What port does an Enshrouded server use?

UDP 15637, the queryPort in enshrouded_server.json. In current versions it is the only port you need to open.

Can friends play my Enshrouded world when I'm offline?

Only on a dedicated server. A world hosted from your game goes offline when you leave.

How much RAM does an Enshrouded server need?

About 8 GB for up to 4 players, 12 GB for 8 and 16 GB for a full 16 player world with large bases.