Preparing the interactive tool. Please wait; the guide and worked examples remain available below.
Pick the connection scenario you actually have
The same configuration is not right for every group. The official FAQ separates same-network play from different-home Direct IP, and says Force Relay is incompatible with Direct IP. Use the planner to choose one route before anyone changes a router.
- Choose LAN if everyone shares a router; choose cross-home if players connect through separate home networks.
- Choose normal invite/Connection Service, Force Relay, or Direct IP; do not mark both relay and direct IP as active at once.
- Enter whether every player selected the same region from the game's own settings.
- For a dedicated server, confirm the client/server builds match using each application's version display.
References: Windrose Official FAQ & Troubleshooting · Windrose Official Dedicated Server Guide
Read the output as a checklist, not a network test
The planner only combines your answers. A green result does not prove the router accepts packets or the server is online. For cross-home Direct IP, the official FAQ describes a public external host address and both TCP and UDP port forwarding; this form never asks you to type the address or port.
| Output branch | What to verify manually | What the tool cannot prove |
|---|---|---|
| LAN + Direct IP | Local address and server-selected port on the same network | It cannot discover your LAN, firewall or active service |
| Cross-home + Direct IP | Public external IP availability; TCP and UDP forwarding to server host | It cannot query ISP NAT, router rules or internet reachability |
| Force Relay | Same region; relay chosen instead of Direct IP; latency may rise | It cannot test relay quality, route or ping |
| Dedicated server world check | Server stopped; backup made; WorldIslandID matches intended world | It cannot read config, inspect save folders or validate a world |
References: Windrose Official FAQ & Troubleshooting · Windrose Official Dedicated Server Guide
Privacy and safety boundary
Selections are held in page state for this visit; no IP, invite code, password, server JSON or save is requested. Do not paste sensitive connection data into a public guide or discussion. The tool never edits your router, firewall, server config or save.
References: Windrose Official Support
Documentation and version boundary
The official dedicated-server page identifies its own 0.10.0.5.120 documentation date; official announcements show a later 0.10.0.9 patch dated August 25, 2026. The tool keeps the older server guidance visibly dated and asks you to verify the installed client/server version and live documentation before acting.
References: Windrose Official Dedicated Server Guide · Windrose Official Steam Announcements and Patch Notes
Before you play
- Choose LAN or cross-home; don't assume router requirements are identical.
- Pick one connection method; Force Relay and Direct IP are alternatives.
- Check the same region and the actual client/server version in-game.
- Use firewall allow rules rather than permanently disabling protection.
- For world loading issues, stop the server, back up first and compare IDs without renaming or editing runtime folders.
Frequently asked questions
Does this tool test whether friends can connect?
No. It is a local checklist and cannot send network traffic, discover your address or inspect router/firewall settings.
Can I paste ServerDescription.json here?
No file upload or config parsing is provided. Do not paste passwords, invite codes or public IPs into a public page.
Sources & revision notes
Editorial revision: November 6, 2026; not a gameplay test date. The reference notes identify source limits and version differences.
- Windrose Official FAQ & Troubleshooting (Official)
Official troubleshooting page checked November 6, 2026. The relevant save-recovery and connection sections still describe client/server and folder behavior using the 0.10.0.5.120-era migration names; confirm your installed version and make a separate backup before touching any files.
- Windrose Official Dedicated Server Guide (Official)
Official server guide checked November 6, 2026; the page itself says it was last updated May 18, 2026 for 0.10.0.5.120-073042fb. Use it for documented settings and scenarios, not as proof that every field or screen remains unchanged in a later build.
- Windrose Official Steam Announcements and Patch Notes (Official)
Official announcement feed checked November 6, 2026. The visible patch list includes version 0.10.0.9 dated August 25, 2026, while the October 29 Ashlands post describes work in progress. This dated snapshot is not a claim about the newest build installed by a reader.
- Windrose Official Support (Official)
Official support destination linked by Windrose's documentation. Use it for unresolved account, save or server issues; never send passwords, private keys or unredacted public IP details in a public discussion.
November 6, 2026: added a local-only co-op/server preflight tool with separate LAN, relay, cross-home Direct IP and world-ID checks. It sends no network traffic and reads no files.
How we research and correct guidesNo affiliate links or paid placement. Commercial disclosure.