WindowsGSM is a free, open-source GUI server manager for Windows that wraps SteamCMD and turns running a dedicated game server into a few button clicks. If you have a spare Windows PC and want to host an Enshrouded world for you and your friends without renting anything, the community WindowsGSM.Enshrouded plugin is the cleanest way to do it. This guide walks through installing the plugin, configuring the server, opening the right ports, and starting and stopping the server — plus an honest look at where self-hosting falls short and how to migrate to rented hosting if it does.
What you need before you start
The Enshrouded dedicated server is a separate download from the game itself — it installs through SteamCMD using app ID 2278520, and it runs on Windows. Make sure the machine has the basics covered before you touch WindowsGSM:
- A 64-bit Windows machine you can leave running while people play.
- Adequate RAM. Enshrouded’s official guidance is that the server should not exceed roughly 6 GB of physical RAM in total; an idle world sits around 4–4.4 GB and each player adds roughly 100 MB, so plan for 6 GB+ free with headroom.
- The Visual C++ redistributables and DirectX runtime from the server’s
_CommonRedistfolder installed (the plugin/SteamCMD pulls these down). - Router admin access for port forwarding, since a home connection won’t accept inbound traffic otherwise.
For a fuller breakdown of CPU, RAM and storage, see our Enshrouded dedicated server requirements guide.
Step 1: Install WindowsGSM and the Enshrouded plugin
- Download WindowsGSM from
windowsgsm.com, create a dedicated folder for your servers, and dropWindowsGSM.exeinto it. Run it from that folder — not from Downloads — so all server files land in a sensible place. - Grab the latest
WindowsGSM.Enshroudedrelease from the maintainer’s GitHub project (ohmcodes). It ships asEnshrouded.csinside a release zip. - Install it: click the puzzle-piece icon in the bottom-left of WindowsGSM and point it at the zip, or drop
Enshrouded.csinto thepluginsfolder manually. - Click [RELOAD PLUGINS] (or restart WindowsGSM).
- Go to Servers → Install Game Server and pick Enshrouded Dedicated Server. WindowsGSM downloads the server through SteamCMD automatically.
The plugin is community-maintained, so exact menu wording can shift between releases. If a button name doesn’t match, check the plugin’s README for the version you downloaded.
Step 2: Configure the server
Enshrouded reads its settings from enshrouded_server.json in the server’s root install folder. A critical gotcha: the server only reads this file on boot, so always stop the server, edit, save, then start again — live edits do nothing. The plugin notes that overriding parameters via launch flags doesn’t reliably work yet, so edit the JSON directly.
The headline values you’ll want to set:
| Setting | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|
name | (server name) | What shows in the server browser / favourites list. |
password | (blank) | Set one to keep the world private. |
gamePort | 15636 (UDP) | Actual game traffic. Leave it unless running multiple servers. |
queryPort | 15637 (UDP) | Steam listing/ping. Must differ from gamePort. |
slotCount | 16 max | Maximum players, configurable 1–16. |
Keep gamePort and queryPort different values — setting them equal can cause a silent boot failure. Many settings (combat scaling, mining/harvest factors, day length) are difficulty- and version-dependent, so confirm the exact keys for your build rather than copying an old config. We keep a reference for these in enshrouded_server.json settings explained, and our Enshrouded server documentation covers the panel-side equivalents.
Step 3: Open the ports
For friends outside your network to connect, forward both UDP ports on your router to the LAN IP of the host PC:
- UDP 15636 — gamePort (gameplay traffic).
- UDP 15637 — queryPort (Steam discovery/ping).
The plugin recommends binding the server to a local LAN IP (e.g. 192.168.x.x) rather than a public or loopback address to avoid crashes on boot. Players then connect via Add a Server in Steam using your public IP:queryPort. If nobody can see or join the world, port forwarding is almost always the cause — our server not showing up / can’t connect fix walks through it.
Step 4: Start and stop the server
Back in WindowsGSM, select your Enshrouded server and use the Start and Stop buttons. First boot takes a moment while the world initialises. A few habits that save headaches:
- Don’t spam Start/Stop — rapid clicks won’t fix a connection problem and can leave the process in a bad state.
- Always Stop before editing
enshrouded_server.json, then Start again. - Use WindowsGSM’s auto-restart/crash-detection options so the server comes back if Windows updates or the process dies.
- Back up your save folder regularly — a self-hosted box has no managed snapshots.
Why rented hosting is usually easier
Self-hosting is great for a quick private world, but it comes with real costs: your PC has to stay on 24/7, your home upload bandwidth caps performance, port forwarding exposes your network, and you’re the one debugging at midnight when a patch breaks the config. Rented hosting hands you a control panel, automatic SteamCMD updates, off-site backups, DDoS protection and a static address — no router config and no PC left running. If that sounds like less hassle, our managed Enshrouded servers handle the heavy lifting.
Migrating from self-hosted to rented
Moving is straightforward because Enshrouded stores everything in a save folder. Stop your WindowsGSM server cleanly, locate the save directory referenced in enshrouded_server.json, copy it off, and upload it to the matching save path on the rented server (most panels expose this via file manager or FTP). Start the new server and your world, builds and progression carry over. Our transfer world to dedicated server guide covers the exact paths.
FAQ
What ports does the Enshrouded server use?
By default it uses UDP 15636 (gamePort) and UDP 15637 (queryPort). Forward both to the host PC’s LAN IP, and keep the two values different — equal ports can cause a silent boot failure.
How many players can join a self-hosted Enshrouded server?
The slotCount setting supports up to 16 players. Higher counts need more RAM — the official guidance keeps total server memory under roughly 6 GB, with about 100 MB added per connected player on top of an idle baseline near 4.4 GB.
Do I need to keep my PC on for friends to play?
Yes. A self-hosted WindowsGSM server only runs while the host machine is powered on and connected. If anyone wants to play when you’re away, that’s the main reason people switch to always-on rented hosting.
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