Enshrouded Stuck on Loading Screen: Fix the Infinite Join
If the join screen spins forever when you connect to an Enshrouded dedicated server, the server is usually unreachable, mismatched, or stuck loading a save. This checklist covers the most common fixes reported by the community. Keen Games fixed a game-side endless world-loading bug in Patch #14 (v0.9.1.1, 29 April 2026), and Hotfix 1.0.0.3 (21 October 2026) fixed an endless black screen some players got when loading a multiplayer game. Supercraft servers run the current 1.0 build, so once the game and the server are both on 1.0.0.3 or later, an endless join is one of the causes below rather than those bugs.
Quick Fix: Many infinite loading issues are caused by server passwords. Try disabling the server password temporarily to test if this resolves the issue.
Quick Checklist
| Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Server password disabled (test) | Password authentication has known bugs causing infinite loads. |
| Server and client versions match | Mismatched versions hang during the handshake. |
| Query port reachable | UDP 15637, or whatever queryPort is set to, is the one port the server opens. |
| Save is not corrupted | A bad save can keep the server in a loop during load. |
| Server is fully booted | Joining too early can leave clients stuck on load. |
| Steam download cache cleared | Corrupted cache can cause loading failures. |
Step-by-Step Fixes
Server-Side Fixes
- Disable server password (test). Remove the password from
enshrouded_server.jsonand restart. Password auth has known bugs. - Verify the server is reachable. Add the server in Steam Favorites using the query port (15637). If it doesn't appear, check firewall.
- Restart the server to update. Enshrouded updates frequently; a restart triggers SteamCMD updates on most hosts.
- Check
enshrouded_server.json. Confirmipis set to0.0.0.0(NOT your actual IP - that causes crashes). See the server settings reference. - Run server exe directly. Instead of launching via Steam, run
enshrouded_server.exeas Administrator from the install directory. - Test the save file. If the log shows repeated save-load attempts, restore a backup from
./savegame.
Client-Side Fixes
- Clear Steam download cache. Go to Steam → Settings → Downloads → Clear Download Cache. This fixes many connection issues.
- Join via in-game browser. Try joining through the in-game server browser instead of Steam friends/invites.
- Lower video settings. Set graphics to lowest before joining, then gradually increase to find problematic settings.
- Verify game files. In Steam Library, right-click Enshrouded → Properties → Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- Disable overlays. Turn off Steam Overlay, GeForce Experience, Discord overlay, and any RGB software.
- Check VRAM. Enshrouded requires minimum 6GB VRAM. Check your GPU specs.
- Change Steam download region. Try switching to a nearby region in Steam → Settings → Downloads.
Tip: If the server never appears in the list, connect using Steam Favorites with the query port (15637). The in-game browser caches results and is unreliable.
Keep Embervale stable. Host your Enshrouded server with Supercraft for fast restarts, scheduled maintenance, and backup rollbacks.