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To host a Conan Exiles Enhanced dedicated server, install Funcom’s Conan Exiles Dedicated Server tool from Steam, configure the server’s two Windows configuration files, launch it with StartServer.bat or ConanSandboxServer.exe, and open the required network ports. Enhanced is the Unreal Engine 5 PC build, so the dedicated server and every connecting client must be on the same Enhanced version. The official PC Enhanced build is distributed through Steam; Xbox and PlayStation remain on the Unreal Engine 4 version.
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Enhanced hosting needs substantially more hardware than a lightweight legacy server. Plan for a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 machine, 16 GB of RAM, an SSD, DirectX 12, and at least the published CPU and graphics tiers before you begin. The instructions below cover self-hosting, firewall and router rules, mods, troubleshooting, and migration from an older UE4 server.
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Conan Exiles Enhanced is the Unreal Engine 5 PC edition. A server is not interchangeable with the older UE4 build: the client version must match the server version. Players running an older legacy client will not be able to join an Enhanced server, and an Enhanced client cannot use a legacy server as a substitute.
The official PC Enhanced release uses Steam. Epic Games Store and Windows Store owners can still play solo, co-op, or private/self-hosted games, but the official dedicated-server distribution for Enhanced is tied to the Steam build. Xbox and PlayStation players remain on UE4, so a console client cannot join your Enhanced PC server.
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Enhanced fully supports mods, although Funcom warns that individual mods may need to be upgraded. A mod that worked on UE4 can fail to load, prevent startup, or produce an incompatible-version message on Enhanced.
Choose between self-hosting and a rented server
You can run the server on your own Windows PC or rent a managed instance from a provider that explicitly supports Conan Exiles Enhanced/UE5. Funcom has said it is working with select hosting providers for the UE5 version, so support is still a provider-by-provider question rather than a guarantee for every Conan host.
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| Consideration | Self-hosted PC | Rented Enhanced server |
|---|---|---|
| Control of files and configuration | Direct access to Engine.ini, ServerSettings.ini, save data, logs, and launch options. | Depends on the provider’s control panel and file-access policy. |
| Up-front hardware cost | You supply a Windows 10/11 64-bit machine that meets the published CPU, GPU, RAM, SSD, and DirectX 12 requirements. | The provider supplies the hardware; capacity and price vary by plan. |
| Administration | You handle Windows updates, the server process, firewall rules, backups, and mod maintenance. | The provider may handle operating-system and process management, but check exactly what is included. |
| Network exposure | You must allow the executable through the host firewall and forward ports through your router for Internet players. | The provider normally supplies a public endpoint; confirm which ports and protections are included. |
| Geographic latency | Players connect to your home or office Internet location. | You can usually select a region closer to the group, subject to availability. |
| RCON | You can enable and secure the RCON listener yourself. | Verify that RCON is offered and whether its port is exposed or restricted. |
| Migration support | You control the original files and the Enhanced conversion process. | Ask whether the provider accepts your legacy game.db and supports the Enhanced folder conversion. |
For a small group that already owns a suitable Windows machine, self-hosting offers the most control. A rented server avoids router configuration and keeps the game online without leaving your own PC running, but you should confirm Enhanced patch compatibility, backups, mod handling, RCON access, region, and migration policy before paying.
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Check the Enhanced hardware requirements
These are Funcom’s published 2026 requirements for the dedicated Enhanced environment. They are requirements, not a player-count or performance benchmark; no independent player-capacity statistic is established here.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 11 64-bit |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-10400F | AMD Ryzen 7 5600X or Intel Core i7-11700F |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti or Radeon 5700 XT, with at least 8 GB VRAM | NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6700 |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | |
| Storage | SSD required | |
| Internet | Broadband connection | |
Why the requirements matter
Enhanced is a UE5 build, so treating it like a tiny legacy server can produce slow startup, disk bottlenecks, or instability. An SSD is explicitly required. Keep sufficient free space for the server installation, save data, logs, and temporary update files. If the same PC also runs the game client, browser, voice chat, or other services, leave memory and CPU headroom rather than planning around the bare minimum.
Prepare the Windows account and network
- Use a Windows account that can install Steam tools and edit the server directory.
- Install current GPU and Windows updates that provide DirectX 12 support.
- Give the host a predictable local network address so router forwarding does not point at a different device later.
- Know whether your Internet connection uses carrier-grade NAT. If it does, ordinary router forwarding may not make the server reachable from the public Internet; a provider-hosted server or a network service that supplies a public endpoint may be required.
Install the Conan Exiles Enhanced dedicated server
- Open Steam and switch to the Library view.
- Use the library filter to show Tools, then install Conan Exiles Dedicated Server. The dedicated-server tool is separate from the normal game installation.
- After installation, locate the server’s configuration directory:
ConanSandboxSavedConfigWindowsServer. The exact drive and parent folders depend on your Steam library location. - Stop any running server process before editing configuration files. Make a copy of the original files so you can restore a known-good configuration.
- Open
Engine.ini. In the online-subsystem section documented by Funcom, set the server name and the password that players must enter. Keep the values free of accidental leading or trailing spaces. - Open
ServerSettings.ini. Under[ServerSettings], setAdminPasswordto a separate administrator password. Do not reuse the ordinary player password. - Save both files as plain text, preserving the
.iniextension. A text editor that silently adds.txtcan leave the server reading the old settings instead. - From the WindowsServer directory, start
StartServer.bator launchConanSandboxServer.exe. These are Funcom’s recommended launch methods.
Launching the dedicated server through the Steam client can produce Steam DLL errors. If that happens, close the failed process and start it directly with the batch file or executable from the WindowsServer directory. Keep the console window or log output visible during the first launch so you can see whether the process completes initialization.
Configure the firewall, router, and server ports
Allow the dedicated-server executable through Windows Defender Firewall (or your installed firewall) on the network profiles you actually use. For players outside your home network, create matching router port-forwarding rules to the host machine’s local address. Forwarding a port without allowing the executable through the host firewall, or allowing the firewall without forwarding the router, leaves the server unreachable from the Internet.
| Port | Transport | Purpose | How it is selected |
|---|---|---|---|
7777 |
UDP | Main game traffic | Default in Engine.ini under [URL] as Port=7777; you can change it with -Port. |
7778 |
UDP | Browser pinger | Hard-coded as the game port plus one. If the game port changes, account for this adjacent pinger port. |
27015 |
UDP | Server-query traffic used by server browsers | Set with GameServerQueryPort or the -QueryPort launch option. |
| Game-port offset | TCP | Mod transfer for supported clients | Funcom documents a TCP offset from the game port; open it when the supported mod-transfer workflow requires it. |
25575 |
TCP | RCON administration | Only required when RCON is enabled. Configure it in Game.ini under [RconPlugin] or with -RconPort. |
Changing the defaults safely
If another service already occupies a default port, choose a free replacement and change every dependent rule together. For the game port, update the Port setting or -Port, forward the replacement UDP port, and remember that the pinger remains the game port plus one. Set a distinct query port with GameServerQueryPort or -QueryPort if necessary. Test from outside the local network; a connection from the host itself does not prove that public forwarding works.
RCON security
RCON is optional. Do not open TCP 25575 unless you use it, and protect it with a strong password and the narrowest network access your administration setup permits. If a rented provider offers RCON, verify whether it is bound privately or exposed to the public Internet before enabling it.
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- Launch
StartServer.batorConanSandboxServer.exefrom the WindowsServer directory. - Wait for the process to finish loading before trying to join. The first startup can take longer while files and save data are created.
- From a Steam Conan Exiles Enhanced client, open the server browser and search for the name you configured.
- If the listing is delayed or absent, try a direct connection using the host address and the configured game port, then verify the query and pinger rules.
- Enter the player password, not the administrator password. Keep the administrator credential for in-game administration only.
Every player must launch the same Enhanced build. A Steam client on a different patch from the server will be rejected even when the network configuration is correct.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Install and maintain mods on Enhanced
Enhanced supports mods, but compatibility is not automatic. Treat each mod as a separate compatibility decision rather than assuming that a UE4 collection will work unchanged.
Use an Enhanced-compatible mod set
- Check that each selected mod has an Enhanced/UE5-compatible release or an author statement that it supports the current server build.
- Install the server-side mod files using the mod’s documented Conan Exiles server instructions.
- Make the client mod set match the server’s set. A missing, extra, or incompatible mod can prevent a player from joining.
- Change one mod at a time when diagnosing a problem so you can identify the failing package.
- After a game or mod update, restart the server and test a fresh client connection before inviting the entire group.
When a mod causes failure
An incompatible-version message, startup crash, or connection failure usually means that one mod needs an Enhanced update or removal. Stop the server, remove or update the suspect mod, start again, and test with the smallest known-good set. Do not leave a broken mod enabled while changing unrelated ports or passwords; that makes the cause harder to isolate.
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Migrate an existing UE4 server
Migration changes both the server directory and the save format. Before updating anything, make a complete copy of the legacy server folder and, most importantly, game.db. Store the backup somewhere the update process cannot overwrite.
- Stop the legacy server cleanly and confirm that no
ConanSandboxServer.exeprocess is still writing to the save. - Copy
game.dband retain the original folder as a rollback copy. - Install or update the Enhanced dedicated-server tool. The folder name changes to Conan Exiles Enhanced Dedicated Server.
- Place the existing
game.dbwhere the updated server expects the legacy save, following Funcom’s migration layout for the release you are installing. - Start the Enhanced server once. The existing database is converted into separate Enhanced save data during this run.
- Stop the server after conversion, back up the newly created Enhanced save data, then restart and test player characters, buildings, inventories, and settings.
Do not overwrite your only legacy copy until the converted world has been verified. Migration restrictions differ for the Isle of Siptah, so do not promise that every map’s bases and structures will transfer identically. If a world is important, test the conversion on a copy first and retain the original game.db until the result is accepted by the players.
Troubleshoot the problems that occur most often
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Steam DLL error when starting | The server was launched through the Steam client. | Close it and run StartServer.bat or ConanSandboxServer.exe directly from WindowsServer. |
| Server runs locally but friends cannot connect | Firewall or router forwarding is incomplete, or the host is behind carrier-grade NAT. | Allow the executable, forward the game, pinger, and query ports to the correct local address, and check whether the ISP supplies a public address. |
| Server does not appear in the browser | Query or pinger traffic is blocked, or the browser has not refreshed. | Verify UDP 27015, UDP game-port-plus-one, and the configured game port; test a direct connection. |
| “Incompatible version” on join | The client, server, or a mod is on a different version. | Update both game and server, then disable or replace mods that are not Enhanced-compatible. |
| Server starts only after removing a mod | A mod is outdated or otherwise incompatible with Enhanced. | Keep the known-good set, then add updated mods individually and restart after each change. |
| Players lose access after changing a port | The launch option, INI value, firewall rule, and router rule do not agree. | Make the same port change in the selected configuration, firewall, and router, and account for the pinger’s game-port-plus-one rule. |
| Converted world is incomplete | The legacy database was changed during migration, or the map has migration restrictions. | Restore the untouched backup, repeat the conversion on a copy, and treat Isle of Siptah transfers as subject to additional restrictions. |
Operating checklist after setup
- Keep a dated backup of the current Enhanced save before major updates, configuration changes, or mod changes.
- Record the server’s game, query, pinger, and optional RCON ports so firewall and router changes can be reproduced.
- Keep the player password and administrator password separate; rotate them if they have been shared too widely.
- After every game or mod update, start the server, watch the launch output, and test one client before announcing availability.
- Remove unused firewall and router rules when you retire a port or disable RCON.
- For a rented host, confirm its Enhanced patch support and backup policy before transferring a live world.
Final setup decision
A reliable Enhanced server is a matching Steam PC client/server pair running on a Windows 10 or 11 64-bit SSD system, with the documented INI settings, direct executable launch, and correctly forwarded UDP ports. Self-hosting is practical when you can meet Funcom’s hardware and network requirements and maintain your own backups and mods. A rented server is simpler for public access, but only after the provider confirms UE5 Enhanced support, current patch compatibility, mod handling, RCON, region, and migration terms.
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