How to Join a Windrose Server

You have your Windrose server up and running through Apex Hosting, and now it is time to get you and your crew connected. There are two ways to join: using an invite code, or connecting directly via IP address. The invite code method works out of the box, while Direct Connect requires a quick change to your server’s configuration file.
 

Connecting with an Invite Code

The invite code is the default connection method for Windrose servers. Here is how to find yours and use it:

1. Open your server panel.
2. Select “Customizations” from the left-hand menu.
3. Locate the “Invite Code” and copy it.
4. Open Windrose and click “Play“.
5. Select “Connect to Server“.
6. Paste the invite code into the field and click “Find“.
7. Once your server appears, click “Connect” to join.

 
If your server does not appear after entering the code, make sure the invite code was copied correctly from the panel.
 
Any friend who wants to join your server follows the same in-game steps. Share the invite code with them directly, and they can connect using steps 4 through 7.
 

Connecting via Direct IP

Direct Connect lets players join using your server’s IP address and port instead of an invite code. Note that enabling Direct Connect disables the invite code system — the two methods cannot run at the same time. If you want to switch back, set "UseDirectConnection" to false and restart the server.
 
To enable Direct Connect, you first need to stop your server and edit its configuration file — Windrose overwrites ServerDescription.json on shutdown, so any edits made while the server is running will be lost.
 

Enabling Direct Connect on Your Server

1. Stop your server from the panel before making any changes.
2. Navigate to “FTP File Access” in your panel.
3. Open the “R5” folder.
4. Open “ServerDescription.json” in the file editor.
5. Locate the ServerDescription_Persistent section and update these four settings:
   • "UseDirectConnection": true
   • "DirectConnectionServerAddress": "your.server.ip" — enter the IP address shown in your Apex panel
   • "DirectConnectionServerPort": your_port — enter the port number shown in your Apex panel
   • "DirectConnectionProxyAddress": "0.0.0.0" — leave this as the default
6. Save the file and restart your server.

Joining via Direct IP In-Game

Once Direct Connect is enabled, share your IP address and port with anyone who wants to connect. They join as follows:

1. Open Windrose and click “Play“.
2. Select “Connect to Server“.
3. Select the “Direct IP” tab.
4. Enter the server’s IP address in the IP field.
5. Enter the server’s port number in the Port field.
6. Click “Connect via IP“.

Setting a Server Password

If you want more control over who joins your world, add a password on top of the invite code or Direct IP. Once enabled, anyone trying to connect has to enter the password before they can join, which keeps the server private even if an invite code gets shared more widely than you intended.
 
Password protection lives in the same ServerDescription.json file as the Direct Connect settings, so the server must be stopped before you edit it.
 

Enabling Password Protection

1. Stop your server from the panel before making any changes.
2. Navigate to “FTP File Access” in your panel.
3. Open the “R5” folder.
4. Open “ServerDescription.json” in the file editor.
5. Locate the ServerDescription_Persistent section and update these two settings:
   • "IsPasswordProtected": true
   • "Password": "your_password_here", using a value your group can remember but outsiders will not guess
6. Save the file and restart your server.

 
The two fields work as a pair. The value in Password is only applied when IsPasswordProtected is set to true, so both changes need to be in place before you restart.
 

Joining a Password-Protected Server

Players follow the same invite code or Direct IP steps covered above. When the server asks for a password, they type in the value you set in Password and confirm to join. Share the password privately with your group, separately from the invite code or IP, so you can rotate it without having to hand out a new invite.
 

Removing the Password

To turn password protection off, stop the server, set "IsPasswordProtected" back to false, save the file, and restart. The value in Password is ignored while protection is off, so you can leave it in place or clear it.
 

Troubleshooting Connection Issues

If you cannot connect to your server, work through these checks before trying again:

• Invite code not working. Go back to the “Customizations” section of your panel and re-copy the code. A single wrong character will prevent the server from appearing.
• Confirm the server is online. Your panel dashboard shows the server status. If it is still starting up, wait until it shows as running before attempting to connect.
• Restart the server. If the server is online but not showing in search results, a quick restart from your panel can resolve sync issues with the invite code relay.
• Check your Windrose game version. Since Windrose is in Early Access, updates roll out frequently. Make sure your game client is fully up to date, as version mismatches can cause connection failures.
• Password not accepted. If a player is stopped at the password prompt, reopen ServerDescription.json and confirm the exact value in Password. The field is case-sensitive, and any changes only take effect once IsPasswordProtected is set to true and the server has been restarted.

 
If issues continue after these steps, the Apex Hosting support team can check your server configuration directly.
 

Conclusion

Joining a Windrose server through Apex Hosting is straightforward with either connection method. The invite code from your “Customizations” panel menu gets you in immediately, while Direct Connect gives you an IP-based alternative once you enable it in ServerDescription.json. If you want to keep the server private, add a password in the same file so only players you share the value with can connect. Windrose supports up to eight players in co-op, so share your invite code or server IP with your crew and get exploring. If you do not have a server yet, you can get a Windrose server from Apex Hosting and have it running in minutes.