How to Enable Text Chat on Your Enshrouded Server

Enshrouded comes with its own text chat. On a server it is disabled by default and is enabled via the enableTextChat key in the enshrouded_server.json file.

Enable text chat

1. Stop the server
   Stop your server via the dashboard.

2. Connect via SFTP
   Connect to your server via SFTP.

3. Open enshrouded_server.json
   Open the file enshrouded_server.json in the main directory.

4. Turn on text chat
   Set the enableTextChat key to true. It sits at the top level of the file – right next to name and gameSettingsPreset, and not inside the gameSettings section:

   {
       "name": "Enshrouded Server",
       "saveDirectory": "./savegame",
       "logDirectory": "./logs",
       "enableTextChat": true,
       "gameSettingsPreset": "Default"
   }

   This excerpt is shortened – your file contains further keys, including the gameSettings and userGroups sections further down. Only change the enableTextChat line and leave the rest untouched. Do not paste the excerpt over your file, or you will lose all your other settings.

5. Start the server
   Save the file and start your server.

Possible values

Value	Description
true	Text chat is active
false	Text chat is completely disabled (default)

Warning

Changes to enshrouded_server.json are overwritten if the server is running when you save. Always stop the server before editing.

Note

The enableTextChat key has been available since Update 5 "Pact of the Flame" (version 0.8.0.0) from 28 January 2025. If it is missing from your file, simply add it yourself at the top level.

Tip

The dashboard only rewrites name, slotCount, queryPort and gameSettingsPreset on every start. Your text chat setting therefore stays in place permanently.

In game

Once text chat is active, you will find the chat log on the Social page in the menu. Players can select individual players there and mute their messages.

Tip

Check the JSON file for syntax errors before starting the server – a single missing comma can cause the server to discard your settings.

Voice chat is controlled by its own keys. You can read how that works under Enable Voice Chat.