> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wasabihosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Enshrouded Server Configuration (enshrouded_server.json)

> Configure your Enshrouded server hosting: enshrouded_server.json explained - name, ports, slots, difficulty presets, custom game settings, and user groups.

Everything about your Enshrouded dedicated server — its name, player slots, difficulty, and permission groups — lives in a single file: `enshrouded_server.json` in your server's root directory. This guide walks through the file section by section and shows you how to edit it safely from the Game Panel.

<Warning>
  Always edit `enshrouded_server.json` while the server is **stopped**. The server reads the file on startup and can overwrite your changes (or ignore them) if it's running while you edit.
</Warning>

## Editing the File

<Steps>
  <Step title="Stop the server">
    In the [Game Panel](https://panel.wasabihosting.com), open your server and click **Stop**. Wait for the console to confirm it has shut down.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the File Manager">
    Go to the **File Manager** tab and open `enshrouded_server.json` in the server's root directory. You can also edit it over SFTP — see [File Management](/server/file-management).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make your changes and save">
    Edit the values you need (details below), then save the file. The file is strict JSON — a missing comma or quote will prevent the server from loading your settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the server">
    Click **Start** and watch the console to confirm the server boots with your new settings.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Annotated Example

```json theme={null}
{
  "name": "My Enshrouded Server",
  "saveDirectory": "./savegame",
  "logDirectory": "./logs",
  "ip": "0.0.0.0",
  "gamePort": 15636,
  "queryPort": 15637,
  "slotCount": 16,
  "gameSettingsPreset": "Default",
  "gameSettings": {},
  "userGroups": []
}
```

| Key                  | What it does                                                                                             |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `name`               | The server name shown in the in-game browser. Make it distinctive so players can find it by search.      |
| `saveDirectory`      | Where world saves are written (default `./savegame`). Leave as-is unless you have a reason to change it. |
| `logDirectory`       | Where server logs are written (default `./logs`).                                                        |
| `ip`                 | The address the server binds to. Leave at the value set by our panel.                                    |
| `gamePort`           | The UDP game port (default `15636`).                                                                     |
| `queryPort`          | The UDP query port used by server browsers and Steam favorites (default `15637`).                        |
| `slotCount`          | Maximum concurrent players, up to Enshrouded's cap of **16**.                                            |
| `gameSettingsPreset` | Difficulty preset: `Default`, `Relaxed`, `Hard`, `Survival`, or `Custom`.                                |
| `gameSettings`       | Individual gameplay overrides — only applied when the preset is `Custom`.                                |
| `userGroups`         | Named permission groups with their own join passwords.                                                   |

<Warning>
  Do **not** change `ip`, `gamePort`, or `queryPort` on a Wasabi Hosting server. These are pre-configured to match your server's network allocation — changing them will make the server unreachable. See [Join Your Server](/games/enshrouded/join-server) for how ports are used.
</Warning>

## Difficulty Presets

Set `gameSettingsPreset` to one of:

| Preset     | Experience                                                  |
| ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Default`  | The balanced experience Enshrouded is designed around       |
| `Relaxed`  | Easier survival — friendlier for casual groups and builders |
| `Hard`     | Tougher enemies and harsher survival mechanics              |
| `Survival` | The most punishing ruleset for veteran groups               |
| `Custom`   | Uses your own values from the `gameSettings` block          |

## Custom Game Settings

When the preset is `Custom`, the `gameSettings` object lets you tune individual gameplay values. A few **examples** of the kinds of settings available:

| Example setting               | What it controls                                        |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Resource yield multipliers    | How much you harvest from mining, chopping, and looting |
| Enemy damage / health factors | How hard enemies hit and how tanky they are             |
| Day and night length          | How long each part of the day/night cycle lasts         |
| Player survival factors       | Stamina, health, and similar player-side multipliers    |

<Note>
  The settings above are examples, not a complete reference. The full list of keys (and their exact names and value ranges) is defined by the game — start the server once on the `Custom` preset and inspect the generated `enshrouded_server.json`, or check the official Enshrouded dedicated server documentation for the current list.
</Note>

## User Groups and Passwords

Instead of a single server password, Enshrouded uses **named user groups**, each with its own password and permission flags. When a player joins and enters a password, the matching group determines what they're allowed to do.

```json theme={null}
{
  "userGroups": [
    {
      "name": "Admin",
      "password": "ChangeMeAdmin",
      "canKickBan": true,
      "canAccessInventories": true,
      "canEditBase": true,
      "canExtendBase": true,
      "reservedSlots": 1
    },
    {
      "name": "Friend",
      "password": "ChangeMeFriend",
      "canKickBan": false,
      "canAccessInventories": true,
      "canEditBase": true,
      "canExtendBase": false,
      "reservedSlots": 0
    },
    {
      "name": "Guest",
      "password": "ChangeMeGuest",
      "canKickBan": false,
      "canAccessInventories": false,
      "canEditBase": false,
      "canExtendBase": false,
      "reservedSlots": 0
    }
  ]
}
```

* **`password`** — what a player types when connecting. Give the Admin password only to people you trust with kick/ban powers.
* **`canKickBan`** — allows removing players from the server.
* **`canAccessInventories`** — allows opening chests and other storage.
* **`canEditBase`** / **`canExtendBase`** — control building inside and expanding base claims.
* **`reservedSlots`** — keeps slots free for members of this group even when the server is otherwise full.

<Tip>
  Replace every default password before sharing your server address. Anyone who knows (or guesses) the Admin password gets full moderation powers.
</Tip>

## World Saves and Backups

Your world lives in the folder set by `saveDirectory` (default `./savegame`). Because Enshrouded is actively updated and world data occasionally changes format between patches, take a [backup](/server/backups) from the Game Panel before editing configuration, before game updates, and on a regular schedule. Restoring a backup takes just a couple of clicks.

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