Keeping your Windrose server updated is important whenever a new patch or hotfix is released. However, server updates can become risky when they are installed without protecting the existing save data first. A wrong installation path, interrupted update, or missing backup could leave you unable to recover your world and player progress. This guide explains how to safely complete a Windrose server update while protecting everything your group has built.
Before Updating Your Windrose Server
Tell everyone currently playing that the server is about to restart. Ask them to finish what they are doing and disconnect before you close the server.
If you launch the server using StartServerForeground.bat, return to the command window and close it. If you launch it through WindroseServer.exe, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find the Windrose server process, and end it.
Do not copy save files or install an update while the server is running. The server may still be writing world data, and interrupting that process could leave your Windrose server backup incomplete or damage progress.
Create A Complete Windrose Save Backup
Open the folder where you installed your dedicated server. For a Steam installation, you can find it by opening Steam, selecting Library, enabling Tools, right-clicking Windrose Dedicated Server, and choosing Manage > Browse Local Files.
If you installed it using SteamCMD, open the installation directory you selected when using force_install_dir. A common example is:
C:\Game_Servers\Windrose_Server
Inside the server folder, locate:
R5\Saved
Copy the entire Saved folder and paste it somewhere outside the server installation, such as:
C:\Windrose_Backups\Before_Update_2026-06-05
Backing up the entire folder is safer than copying only one world because it preserves the complete server save structure and related data. Dedicated-server worlds are normally stored deeper inside:
R5\Saved\SaveProfiles\Default\RocksDB\<GameVersion>\Worlds\
Depending on the version and save migration state, you may also see RocksDB_v2_Backups. Do not edit, rename, or remove the generated world folders.
Update A Windrose Server Through SteamCMD
For a server installed with SteamCMD, open the folder containing steamcmd.exe. Double-click steamcmd.exe, wait for it to finish checking for SteamCMD updates, and enter these commands one line at a time:
force_install_dir "C:\Game_Servers\Windrose_Server"
login anonymous
app_update 4129620 validate
quit
Replace C:\Game_Servers\Windrose_Server with your actual server installation path. Keep quotation marks around paths containing spaces.
The force_install_dir command tells SteamCMD which installation to update. login anonymous connects without requiring a Steam account. app_update 4129620 validate downloads the latest Windrose dedicated server files and checks the existing installation for missing or damaged files. The update should change the server program files without deleting your progress.
You can also create an updater file for future patches. Open Notepad, paste the following, and save it beside steamcmd.exe as update-windrose.bat:
steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir "C:\Game_Servers\Windrose_Server" +login anonymous +app_update 4129620 validate +quit
For later updates, stop the server, create a backup, and double-click this file.
Restart And Check The Updated Server
Start the server using StartServerForeground.bat so you can watch the startup messages. Wait until it has fully loaded, then join and check that your usual world, buildings, ships, and other progress are present.
Make sure every player has also updated their Windrose game client. The Windrose server update and client version should match before anyone reconnects.
If the server loads a new world or fails to start, stop it immediately. Do not continue playing on the incorrect world. Restore your backup by replacing the server’s current R5\Saved folder with the copy you created before the update, then investigate the problem.
Common Update Mistakes To Avoid
Never update while players are connected or while the server process is still running. Do not accidentally set force_install_dir to the wrong folder, as SteamCMD may update a second installation while you continue launching the outdated one.
Avoid renaming World ID folders, and never delete your previous backup until you have confirmed that the updated server works correctly.
It is also worth keeping several dated backups instead of repeatedly overwriting one folder. A backup created after a problem appears may already contain damaged or incorrect data.
Why Dedicated Windrose Server Hosting Makes Updates Easier
Updating a self-hosted Windrose server requires you to manually locate the correct save directories, copy the required files, run the update commands, and confirm that everything still works afterward. Dedicated Windrose server hosting makes this process much simpler. When a new update becomes available, you only need to restart the server for the latest version to be installed and applied automatically. You can also create a backup of the entire server with one click from the Backups tab. This means you do not need to manually search through folders or worry about missing an important save file. By backing up the full server before restarting, you can update confidently and quickly restore the previous version if anything goes wrong.
Host Your Windrose Server With Pine Hosting
Spend less time managing server files and more time exploring with your crew. Pine Hosting provides reliable Windrose server hosting, an easy-to-use control panel, and helpful support whenever you need it. Start your dedicated Windrose server with Pine Hosting today and enjoy a smoother way to manage your multiplayer world.
