How to Connect to Your Windrose Server

Getting into a Windrose server is simple once you know which connection method your server is using. Most players will join with an invite code, which works by default. Direct IP is also available, but it must be enabled in the server configuration first. Only one of those two methods can be active at a time, because apparently even servers enjoy making you choose.

Join With an Invite Code

Invite codes are the default way to connect to a Windrose server. You can find the code in your server panel, then enter it in-game.

1. Open your server panel.
2. Open the server settings section from your panel sidebar.
3. Find the Invite Code field and copy the code.
4. Launch Windrose and select Play.
5. Choose Connect to Server.
6. Paste the invite code into the field, then click Find.
7. When your server appears, select Connect.

Anyone else joining your server can use the same in-game process. Share the invite code directly with them, then have them follow the steps from opening Windrose onward.

If the server does not appear, copy the invite code again from the panel and check for missing or extra characters. One wrong character is enough to send the search nowhere useful.

Enable Direct IP Connections

Direct IP lets players join with the server IP address and port instead of an invite code. Before turning it on, stop the server. Windrose rewrites `ServerDescription.json` when the server shuts down, so changes made while it is running may be overwritten.

Enabling Direct IP disables invite code joining. To switch back later, set `UseDirectConnection` to `false`, save the file, and restart the server.

1. Stop the server from your control panel.
2. Open the file manager in your panel.
3. Go into the R5 folder.
4. Open `ServerDescription.json` in the file editor.
5. Find the `ServerDescription_Persistent` section.
6. Update these settings:

```json "UseDirectConnection": true, "DirectConnectionServerAddress": "your.server.ip", "DirectConnectionServerPort": your_port, "DirectConnectionProxyAddress": "0.0.0.0" ```

Use the IP address and port shown in your HolyHosting server panel. Leave `DirectConnectionProxyAddress` as `0.0.0.0` unless you have a specific reason to change it.

Save the file, then restart the server so the new settings take effect.

Join With Direct IP In-Game

After Direct IP is enabled, give the server IP address and port to each player who needs access.

1. Open Windrose and select Play.
2. Choose Connect to Server.
3. Open the Direct IP tab.
4. Enter the server IP address.
5. Enter the server port.
6. Select Connect via IP.

If the connection fails, confirm that Direct IP is enabled in `ServerDescription.json` and that the server was restarted after saving the file.

Add a Server Password

A password gives you another layer of control over who can join. It works with either invite code joining or Direct IP, and it is useful if your invite code or IP gets shared beyond your intended group.

Password settings are also stored in `ServerDescription.json`, so stop the server before editing the file.

1. Stop the server from the panel.
2. Open the file manager in your panel.
3. Go to the R5 folder.
4. Open `ServerDescription.json`.
5. Find the `ServerDescription_Persistent` section.
6. Update these settings:

```json "IsPasswordProtected": true, "Password": "your_password_here" ```

Choose a password your group can remember, but avoid anything obvious. The `Password` value only matters when `IsPasswordProtected` is set to `true`, so both fields need to be correct before you restart.

Save the file, then restart the server. Players will use the normal invite code or Direct IP steps, then enter the password when Windrose asks for it.

To remove password protection, stop the server, set `IsPasswordProtected` back to `false`, save, and restart. You can leave the password value in the file or clear it, since it is ignored while protection is disabled.

Fix Common Connection Problems

If you cannot connect, check these items before making bigger changes:

• Invite code fails: Re-copy the code from the server settings section in your panel. Make sure there are no missing spaces, extra characters, or copied punctuation.
• Server is offline: Check the panel dashboard and wait until the server shows as running before trying again.
• Server does not appear: Restart the server from the panel to refresh the invite code connection.
• Direct IP fails: Confirm that `UseDirectConnection` is set to `true`, the IP and port match the panel, and the server was restarted after the edit.
• Wrong game version: Windrose is in Early Access, so updates can be frequent. Make sure every player has the latest game version installed.
• Password rejected: Reopen `ServerDescription.json` and verify the exact password. The field is case-sensitive, and changes only apply after a restart.

If problems continue after these checks, HolyHosting support can review the server configuration and help narrow down what is blocking the connection.

Final Notes

For most Windrose servers, the invite code is the fastest option. Direct IP is useful when you prefer address-based joining, but it requires a short configuration edit first. If privacy matters, add a password so only the players you choose can enter. Once the connection method is set, share the invite code or IP details with your group and start exploring.