# Windrose Server Troubleshooting (/docs/windrose/troubleshooting) import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps'; *** Server Won't Start [#server-wont-start] **Server exits immediately after starting** * Check the server console log at `R5/Saved/Logs/R5.log` in **File Manager** for the error * Make sure `ServerDescription.json` is valid JSON — a missing comma or bracket will prevent startup * Try a **Reinstall Server** from the Dashboard, then start once to regenerate clean config files **Server crashes on launch (self-hosted)** * Verify your game files via Steam (right-click game → Properties → Local Files → Verify) * Add a Windows Firewall exception specifically for `WindroseServer.exe` * Update your GPU drivers and Windows OS * Restart your PC and router before trying again * The dedicated server **cannot be run from inside your main Windrose game folder** — it must be installed to a separate location **Server starts but no world loads** * Check that `WorldIslandId` in `ServerDescription.json` matches an actual folder name under `R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/Default/RocksDB//Worlds/` * If the world folder is missing or was renamed, the server won't find it — see [Manage Worlds](/docs/windrose/manage-worlds) *** Players Can't Connect [#players-cant-connect] **"Connection Timed Out" / invite code not working** * Confirm the server is fully started (green status in the panel) — wait at least 1 minute after start before trying to join * Double-check the invite code — it is **case-sensitive** * Make sure the player has completed the Windrose tutorial in single-player at least once — players who haven't finished the tutorial cannot join multiplayer **Player reaches loading screen then gets kicked back to the menu** * The joining player hasn't completed the tutorial yet * The host may still be loading — wait until the host is fully inside the world before players try to connect **"Version Mismatch" or "Incompatible Version"** * Game client and server must be on the exact same version * Update your Windrose game client via Steam, or [update your server](/docs/windrose/update-server) **Server not found / can't find server by invite code** * Try switching your DNS to Google Public DNS (`8.8.8.8` / `8.8.4.4`) — some DNS providers (including NextDNS) block Windrose's connection endpoints by default, preventing the game from registering the server * Disable any VPN or proxy on the client machine *** Config File Issues [#config-file-issues] **Server keeps reverting my WorldDescription.json changes** * You must stop the server before editing config files — changes made while the server is running will be overwritten * Stop → edit → save → start **WorldPresetType keeps changing to "Custom"** * If there are any values in `WorldSettings`, the server automatically sets the preset to `"Custom"` on startup * To use a clean preset, empty all three sections: `"bool": {}, "float": {}, "tag": {}` **`ServerDescription.json` is missing** * The file is auto-generated on first server start — if it's missing, start the server once and it will be created * Do not start editing config files before running the server for the first time *** Performance Issues [#performance-issues] **High lag / rubber-banding with players** * Check CPU and RAM usage in the **Dashboard** — if CPU is consistently above 80%, upgrade your plan * Set up [Scheduled Restarts](/docs/windrose/scheduled-restarts) — UE5 servers accumulate memory over time and a daily restart clears it * Reduce `MaxPlayerCount` temporarily — above 4 players performance may degrade in Early Access * Reduce high multipliers in `WorldSettings` — very high `MobHealthMultiplier` values (e.g. 5.0) cause longer AI tick loops per encounter **Server crashes after a few hours** * This is typically a memory leak in the Early Access build — scheduled daily restarts will prevent it * Back up your world data before each restart as a precaution *** Save File Issues [#save-file-issues] **World progress is gone after an update** * Windrose save data is stored per game version in `R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/Default/RocksDB//` * After an update, the version folder path changes — your old world is still there under the previous version folder * Copy the world folder from the old version path to the new version path, then update `WorldIslandId` in `ServerDescription.json` if needed **Save appears corrupt / world fails to load** * Stop the server and restore a backup from the **Backups** tab * If no backup exists, check the old version folder for an intact save * See [Backup and Restore](/docs/windrose/backup-restore) *** Reading the Server Log [#reading-the-server-log] The server log at `R5/Saved/Logs/R5.log` is the first place to check for any issue: In the panel sidebar, click **Files**. Navigate to `R5/Saved/Logs/`. Open `R5.log` and scroll to the bottom to see the most recent entries. Look for lines containing `Error`, `Warning`, or `Fatal` — these indicate what went wrong. *** Still Stuck? [#still-stuck] Contact Windrose support directly: * **Discord:** [discord.gg/windrose](https://discord.gg/windrose) * **Email:** [support@playwindrose.com](mailto:support@playwindrose.com) * **Official server guide:** [playwindrose.com/dedicated-server-guide](https://playwindrose.com/dedicated-server-guide/) *** Related Guides [#related-guides] * [Server Configuration](/docs/windrose/server-config) * [Backup and Restore](/docs/windrose/backup-restore) * [Update Your Server](/docs/windrose/update-server) * [How to Join Your Server](/docs/windrose/join-server)