> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to Change Enshrouded Server Settings in the Game Panel > Change Enshrouded server settings in the Game Panel: open Game settings, pick a preset or Custom rules, click Review and save, then restart. Every step here. To change Enshrouded server settings on FREAKHOSTING, open your server in the [Game Panel](https://games.freakhosting.com), click **Game settings** under **GAME SETTINGS**, change the values, click **Review and save**, check the changes and click **Save changes**. Then click **Restart now**. Game rules such as enemy health or body heat only apply when **Game rules preset** is **Custom**. | Difficulty | Time | Works on | Panel page | | - | - | - | - | | Beginner | 5 minutes | Every FREAKHOSTING Enshrouded server | **Game settings** | ## What the Game settings page does **Game settings** is a form for your server's settings file, `enshrouded_server.json`, and for the server name on the **Startup** page. You never have to edit the file by hand. The page checks every value before it saves, shows you exactly what will change, and keeps a copy of the old file. ![Enshrouded Game settings page with the Checks bar, Search settings box, All and Changed filters, Presets button and the Server section](https://mintcdn.com/freakhostingltd/PUDZTTTrBjlnr5Ut/images/games/enshrouded/enshrouded-game-settings.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PUDZTTTrBjlnr5Ut\&q=85\&s=c5214cc1823bf6ad7145d9f260f6c3e1) The Game settings page for an Enshrouded server The page has three sections: | Section | What it holds | | - | - | | **Server** | **Server name**, **Server password**, **Player slots**, **Game rules preset**, **Voice chat**, **Text chat** | | **Player group "Default"** | What players who join with the server password may do, plus **Reserved slots** | | **Game rules (Custom preset)** | 34 game rules (37 with advanced settings), such as **Body heat**, **Enemy health** and **Plant growth speed**. Collapsed by default | ## How to change a setting **1. Open Game settings** Open your server and click **Game settings** under **GAME SETTINGS** in the sidebar. While the page loads it shows "Reading your settings…". **2. Find the setting** Type in **Search settings** (for example `heat` or `chat`), or scroll to the section. Tick **Show advanced settings (3)** to also see **Hunger to starving**, **Day length** and **Night length**. **3. Change the value** Type a number, flip a toggle or pick an option. The field gets a **CHANGED** badge and a coloured bar on the left, and the footer shows "1 unsaved change". Click **Default** on a field to put it back to the default value. **4. Review and save** Click **Review and save**. The **Review your changes** dialog shows each changed line. Click **Save changes**. **5. Restart the server** If the server is running, a yellow banner says "Restart the server to apply your changes". Click **Restart now**, then **Restart**. Everyone online is disconnected while the server restarts. Click **Changed** in the filter tabs to see only the settings you changed, for example **Changed (2)**. Click **Discard** to drop every unsaved change. ## How to use presets and Custom rules **Game rules preset** decides which rules the server uses: | Preset | What happens | | - | - | | **Default** | The game's normal rules. This is the default. | | **Relaxed**, **Hard**, **Survival** | Keen Games' own rule sets. The game rules on the page are not used. | | **Custom** | The server uses the values under **Game rules (Custom preset)**. | The **Presets** button is a shortcut. It fills in several settings at once and sets the preset to **Custom**, so you can still adjust each value. "Nothing is saved until you review and save." | Presets button | What it fills in | | - | - | | **Relaxed** | Custom rules: gentler enemies, no wear | | **Hard** | Custom rules: tougher enemies and bosses | To set your own rules, choose **Custom** in **Game rules preset**, open **Game rules (Custom preset)** and change the values you want. ## How range checks work Each number has an allowed range. If you type a value outside it, the field turns red and tells you the range, for example "Use a value between 0.25 and 4." for **Body heat**. **Review and save** stays greyed out and the footer says "fix the highlighted values first" until every value is valid. ![Enshrouded Game settings showing Body heat set to 99 with the error Use a value between 0.25 and 4](https://mintcdn.com/freakhostingltd/PUDZTTTrBjlnr5Ut/images/games/enshrouded/enshrouded-validation-error.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PUDZTTTrBjlnr5Ut\&q=85\&s=81431232842546021b72a0551090eb48) A value outside the allowed range ## What the Review your changes dialog shows The dialog lists "exactly what will change. Everything else in your files stays as it is." Each file has its own block: * `enshrouded_server.json` for game settings. * **Startup settings (the Startup page)** for fields with a **STARTUP** badge, such as **Server name**. Passwords are hidden in this view. The old file is kept as `enshrouded_server.json.bak`, so you can go back if something goes wrong. ![Review your changes dialog for enshrouded\_server.json with the old and new values and the Save changes button](https://mintcdn.com/freakhostingltd/PUDZTTTrBjlnr5Ut/images/games/enshrouded/enshrouded-review-changes.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PUDZTTTrBjlnr5Ut\&q=85\&s=007877d8ac8d987b05be6a1558334880) Review your changes before saving ## Why do I need to restart after saving? The Enshrouded server reads its settings only when it starts. After you save while the server is running, the page shows "Restart the server to apply your changes". Click **Restart now** and confirm with **Restart**. ![Yellow banner Restart the server to apply your changes with the Restart now button](https://mintcdn.com/freakhostingltd/PUDZTTTrBjlnr5Ut/images/games/enshrouded/enshrouded-restart-banner.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PUDZTTTrBjlnr5Ut\&q=85\&s=c6c64fff1eeb984e09d03c2715727a83) The restart banner after saving ## Which fields can't I change? **Player slots** is fixed by your hosting plan (Enshrouded allows 1 to 16 players). The field shows **STARTUP** and is greyed out. ## Frequently asked questions ### Why didn't my game rule change anything? Game rules only apply when **Game rules preset** is **Custom**. Set the preset to **Custom**, save and restart. ### Can I still edit enshrouded\_server.json myself? Yes. Click "enshrouded\_server.json: open the raw file" at the bottom of the page. Stop the server first, keep valid JSON and see [the settings file explained](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/enshrouded/enshrouded-server-settings-explained.md). ### Do settings changes affect my existing world? Yes. Game rules apply to the world the server loads after the restart. They don't reset your world or characters. ### How do I turn on text or voice chat? Turn on **Text chat** or **Voice chat** in the **Server** section, save and restart. Both are off by default on dedicated servers. ### How do I undo a change? Click **Default** on the field, or **Discard** before saving. After saving, the previous file is in `enshrouded_server.json.bak`. ## Related guides > **[Enshrouded server guide](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/enshrouded/enshrouded-server-hosting-guide.md)** > > Every Enshrouded page in one place. > **[Settings file explained](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/enshrouded/enshrouded-server-settings-explained.md)** > > Every key in enshrouded\_server.json. > **[Roles and admin](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/enshrouded/enshrouded-server-roles-and-admin-permissions.md)** > > Player groups and permissions. > **[Name and password](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/enshrouded/changing-server-password-and-name.md)** > > Change both in Game settings. > **[Start, stop and restart](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/game-panel/how-to-start-stop-and-restart-your-game-server.md)** > > Control your server's power. *** > [!NOTE] > > **Tested by the FREAKHOSTING team** on our Game Panel on 30 October 2026 (Enshrouded 1.0 dedicated server). Steps may differ slightly if the game changes. > [!NOTE] > > ### Need Extra Help? > > If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist: > > * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website. > * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) > * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting) > * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com) > [!TIP] > > ### Save on Your Hosting > > Ready to upgrade your hosting? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first order! *** **Last Updated:** October 2026 This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.