Enshrouded Server Lag Fix: Rubber Banding and Stutter

Enshrouded server lag usually comes from one of three places: the server machine running out of RAM or CPU as bases grow, the upload speed of whoever hosts it, or a long uptime that lets memory use creep up. The quick fixes are a restart, fewer players or more RAM. This guide shows how to tell which problem you have, from rubber banding to enemies freezing, and what fixes each.

Quick fix

Restart the server. Long running servers often get slower. A restart clears it for a while.
Check memory use in the console or Task Manager. If it sits close to the limit, the server needs more RAM.
Check who lags. If everyone lags at once, it is the server. If one player lags, it is their connection.
Stop hosting from your own game. In game hosting puts the whole world on one player's PC and home upload. A dedicated server handles a group much better.

Why Enshrouded servers lag

Enshrouded is a voxel game. Every block players dig, every base they build and every structure they carve out stays part of the world the server has to track. That makes it heavier than most survival servers:

RAM grows with the world. More bases, more explored terrain and more players all add memory. When the server runs out, it starts stuttering, then rubber banding, then crashing.
CPU grows with activity. Enemies, physics and players spread across the map all need processing at the same time. A server that is fine with 4 friends at one base can struggle with 12 spread over the map.
Upload speed matters. Each player gets a stream of world updates from the server. Home internet upload is often a fraction of download, and it gets shared with everyone else using the connection.

Match the RAM to your group

These are the sizes we plan with, and they line up with what most server owners see:

Group	RAM for the server
Up to 4 players	8 GB
Up to 8 players with a growing base	12 GB
Full 16 players with large bases	16 GB

If you self host, the server PC also needs memory for Windows and anything else running. A 16 GB PC cannot give a full 16 GB to the server. More on sizing in how much RAM a game server needs.

Symptoms and what they mean

What you see	Likely cause	Fix
Everyone rubber bands at the same time	Server CPU or RAM maxed out	Restart, reduce players, add RAM
Lag gets worse the longer the server runs	Memory use creeping up	Scheduled restarts
Only near the big base	Lots of structures in one place	Spread builds out, fewer lights and props
One player lags, others are fine	That player's connection	Wired connection, close downloads, check VPN
Lag whenever the host streams or downloads	Home upload saturated	Move the server off the home connection
Freezes when players explore far apart	CPU loading several areas	Stronger CPU, or play closer together

Fixes for a self hosted server

Restart on a schedule

A restart every day or two keeps memory use in check. On Windows, a scheduled task that stops the server cleanly and starts it again at a quiet hour works. Always let the server save and shut down properly, never kill the process while players are on.

Give it the machine to itself

If you host on your gaming PC and play on it at the same time, the game client and the server fight for the same CPU and RAM. Hosting on a separate machine, even an older one with enough RAM, often fixes lag for everyone.

Lower slotCount

In enshrouded_server.json, slotCount sets the player limit. If you only ever have 6 people, setting it to 6 stops a busy night from overloading the machine. See Enshrouded server settings for every option.

Check your internet

Run a speed test on the server PC and look at upload. If it is low, or other people in the house are uploading, players will lag no matter how strong the PC is. A wired connection to the router helps the server more than any setting.

Keep it updated

Keen Games regularly improves server performance in patches, and 1.0 on 15 October is a big one. Update with SteamCMD and back up the savegame folder first.

Fixes that help any server

Spread out big builds. Hundreds of props, lights and crafting stations in one base area are the heaviest thing in a world.
Play closer together during busy sessions, so the server is not loading many far apart regions at once.
Players with lag on their side should use a wired connection, close downloads and streams, and turn off VPNs.

Lag on a hosted server

On GamezServers your server runs on dedicated data center hardware, so home upload speed and a shared gaming PC are off the table. If it still stutters:

Look at the memory bar in the control panel. If it is close to the plan's limit, upgrade in Settings. It is prorated, and the new RAM applies after a restart.
Restart it from the panel if it has been running for days.
With Sleep when empty on, the server stops after 90 minutes with nobody online, which also gives it a fresh start next session.

FAQ

Why is my Enshrouded server so laggy?

Usually the server is short on RAM or CPU for the size of the world and group, or the host's home upload is too slow. Check memory use and who is lagging.

How much RAM does an Enshrouded server need?

About 8 GB for up to 4 players, 12 GB for up to 8, and 16 GB for a full 16 players with large bases.

Does restarting an Enshrouded server help lag?

Yes, often. Memory use tends to grow the longer a server runs, and a clean restart resets it.

Is a dedicated server better than hosting in game?

For a group, yes. In game hosting runs the world on one player's PC and upload, which also has to run their own game. A dedicated server does only one job.

The easy way

If your home PC and internet are the bottleneck, moving the world to a hosted server fixes the root cause. Plans go up to 16 GB for a full group, you can upgrade in a click, and the world stays online when you log off. See Enshrouded server hosting or how to host an Enshrouded server.