How to Change the Server Name on an Enshrouded Server

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Changing the name of an Enshrouded dedicated server updates the label players see when they find or join it; it does not rename the world or change its save data. You’ll need access to the server’s configuration file, either through your hosting provider’s control panel or directly on the computer running the server.

What You’ll Need

Permission to edit the server settings, such as access to your hosting panel or the machine where the dedicated server runs.
The server’s configuration file, commonly named enshrouded_server.json.
A text editor that saves plain text, and a way to stop and restart the server.
The new name you want to use. Keep it concise and avoid unusual symbols if you want it to display reliably across server browsers.

Step-by-Step

Stop the server cleanly. In your hosting control panel, use its Stop or Shut Down button. If you run the server yourself, stop its process using the method you normally use to manage it. Wait until the panel reports that it is offline or the process has exited. Avoid editing the file while the server is running: the server may overwrite changes when it shuts down, or may not read the new value until its next start.
Locate the server configuration file. In a hosting panel, look for a file manager, configuration editor, or server settings page. If you manage the files directly, open the dedicated server’s installation or data directory and look for enshrouded_server.json. The exact folder can differ depending on how the server was installed or how the host organizes its files. If you cannot find it, search the server’s files for that exact filename or check the host’s setup documentation.
Make a backup before editing. Download or copy the JSON file and keep the original somewhere outside the server’s active configuration folder. If the edit causes a startup problem, this gives you a known-good version to restore. Do not overwrite or delete world-save files when changing the display name.
Open the configuration as plain text. Use the hosting provider’s editor or a plain-text editor on your computer. Find the property named name. A typical entry looks like "name": "My Enshrouded Server". Do not confuse it with fields such as the password, description, save-directory setting, or other server options.
Replace only the value after name. Keep the property name, colon, quotation marks, and any comma required by the surrounding JSON. For example, change "name": "My Enshrouded Server" to "name": "Valley Builders". If the chosen name contains a quotation mark or backslash, JSON requires special escaping; the simplest way to avoid a formatting error is to use ordinary letters, numbers, spaces, or hyphens.
Save the file without changing its format. If you downloaded it, upload the edited file to the same location and confirm the replacement when prompted. Keep the filename exactly as it was, including the .json extension. Do not let an editor save it as a rich-text document or add an extra extension such as .txt.
Start the server again. Use the host’s Start button or your usual launch method. Give it time to finish loading, then check the control panel or server log for a successful startup. If it fails immediately after the edit, stop it and check the JSON syntax and the file path before trying again.
Check the name from the player side. Refresh the in-game server browser, search for the new name, and confirm that the server appears with the updated label. If it does not appear at once, wait briefly and refresh again; browser listings can take time to update. Confirm you are viewing the right server, especially if several servers have similar names.

Common Mistakes

Editing the wrong file. A server may contain backups, examples, or configuration files for other services. Make sure you edit the active enshrouded_server.json used by the running instance.
Changing the wrong setting. The name is separate from the password and other server properties. Change only the name value unless you intend to adjust another setting.
Breaking the JSON syntax. Removing a quote, adding an extra comma at the end of an object, or deleting a bracket can prevent the server from starting. Preserve the original structure and compare your edited file with the backup if necessary.
Editing while the server is online. The change may not take effect, and a later shutdown may undo it. Stop the server first, save the change, and then restart.
Renaming the world or installation folder instead. The server display name does not require changing the world save, folder name, or server installation name. Altering those can create a separate problem without changing the listing.
Expecting an instant browser update. A cached listing or delayed refresh can make the old name appear briefly even when the configuration is correct.

Tips

Choose a name players can recognize and spell. A distinctive name makes it easier to select the right server in a list.
Keep a dated copy of the original configuration before making changes. This is useful if you later adjust multiple settings or need to restore the previous setup.
After saving, reopen the file and verify that the new name is still present. This catches upload failures and edits made to a local copy that was never sent back to the server.
If you use a managed host, check whether it provides a dedicated server-name field. A panel field may update the active configuration more safely than manually editing a file.
Tell players the new name if they use it to identify the server. Changing the listing label does not itself change their game characters or world progress.

Troubleshooting

The server will not start after I changed the name. Stop it and inspect enshrouded_server.json for mismatched quotation marks, missing braces, or an accidental extra comma. Compare the edited file with your backup. If the host has a configuration validator or an error log, use it to identify the line with the problem. Restore the backup if you cannot locate the error, then retry with a simple name containing only letters and spaces.

The old name still appears in the server browser. Confirm that the new value is saved in the active file, then restart the server and refresh the browser. Check that you restarted the correct server instance and that the panel did not regenerate the file from a separate settings page. Allow time for the listing to refresh before making repeated edits.

I cannot find or edit the file. Look for the host’s configuration editor or ask its support team where the active server configuration is stored. On a self-managed installation, confirm that you are viewing the server’s data directory rather than a download, backup, or unrelated folder. Do not guess at a replacement path or delete files to make the setting appear.

The name changes back after a restart. A hosting panel may overwrite manual changes from its own saved settings. Set the name in the panel if it offers a server-name field, save those settings, and restart. If there is no such field, ask the host whether it manages the JSON file automatically.

The name is saved but does not display as expected. Try a shorter name using plain letters, numbers, spaces, or hyphens. Some characters may be displayed differently or handled inconsistently by editors and server listings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Enshrouded server name stored?
It is generally set in the dedicated server configuration file, commonly enshrouded_server.json, under the name property. Hosting providers may also expose the setting directly in their control panel.

Do I have to restart the server?
Yes. Stop the server before editing, save the configuration, and start it again so the server loads the updated value.

Will changing the name delete or reset my world?
No. Changing the display-name property does not rename or reset the world. Avoid changing or deleting save files while making this edit.

Can I change the name while players are online?
Plan to take the server offline first. The setting is read when the server starts, and editing it while running may not apply the change reliably.

Why can’t I see the new name immediately?
The server may not have restarted, the browser may be showing a cached listing, or the file you edited may not be the active configuration. Verify the saved value, restart the correct instance, and refresh after a short wait.

Does the name have to be unique?
A distinctive name is helpful, but the name setting is a display label. If another server uses the same label, players may have difficulty telling the listings apart.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.