Windrose: Password Protection
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Introduction
Windrose supports password protection, which allows you to restrict access to your dedicated server with a join password. In this guide, you will learn how to enable, change, or remove the password on your Windrose server using the ZAP-Hosting gameserver management.
Preparation
Before you begin, make sure you have access to your Windrose server in the ZAP-Hosting web interface and permission to edit server files.
You need access to your server Dashboard and the file management area in order to edit the ServerDescription.json file.
Understanding Windrose Password Protection
Setting a password helps prevent unauthorized players from joining your Windrose game server. Players can still reach the server through the invite code, but they must enter the correct password before they can connect.
This is useful if you want to:
- limit access to friends, staff, or a private group
- protect a testing server from public access
- control who can join without relying on a separate password manager or account password system
Windrose uses the password configured in the server file itself. This is separate from your ZAP-Hosting account password and is not related to tools such as a password manager, password manager Google integration, or any passwords list.
Enable Password Protection
To apply a password, you need to stop the server first, edit the configuration file, and then start the server again.
Stop the Server
Open your server Dashboard in the ZAP-Hosting web interface and stop the server completely before making changes.
You should stop the server before editing ServerDescription.json to avoid configuration conflicts or the file being overwritten while the server is running.
Open the Configuration File
In the panel sidebar, open Files.
Then locate and open the ServerDescription.json file in the root directory of your server file list.
Edit the Password Settings
Inside ServerDescription.json, set IsPasswordProtected to true and define your desired password in the Password field.
"IsPasswordProtected": true,
"Password": "YourPasswordHere"
Replace YourPasswordHere with your own secure password.
Use a unique password that is not reused from your account password or any other service. This helps protect your Windrose server from unwanted access.
Save and Restart the Server
After editing the file, click Save Content.
Once the file has been saved, start your server again from the Dashboard. Your Windrose server will now require the configured password when players attempt to join.
Configuration Reference
The following table explains the relevant settings in ServerDescription.json:
| Key | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
IsPasswordProtected | Boolean | true | Enables or disables password protection |
Password | String | "YourPasswordHere" | Defines the join password used when password protection is enabled |
Change the Existing Password
If you want to perform a password change later, the process is the same as the initial setup.
Update the Password Value
Stop the server, open ServerDescription.json, and change the value in the Password field to your new password.
Example:
"IsPasswordProtected": true,
"Password": "[your_new_password]"
The placeholder [your_new_password] represents the new password you want players to use when joining the server.
Save and Restart Again
Save the file and restart the server so the password change takes effect.
If players cannot join after a password change, ask them to check password entry carefully, including uppercase and lowercase characters if applicable.
Remove Password Protection
If you no longer want to protect your Windrose server with a password, you can disable the feature in the same configuration file.
Disable the Setting
Stop the server and open ServerDescription.json again.
Set IsPasswordProtected to false. The Password value is ignored when this option is disabled.
"IsPasswordProtected": false,
"Password": ""
Save and Restart the Server
Click Save Content and start the server again. Players will then be able to join without entering a password.
Troubleshooting
If password protection does not work as expected, review the following points.
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Server does not ask for a password | IsPasswordProtected is still set to false | Set it to true, save the file, and restart the server |
| Players cannot join with the correct password | Password was entered incorrectly | Verify the configured value and ask players to check password input carefully |
| Changes do not apply | Server was not restarted after editing | Restart the server after saving ServerDescription.json |
| File changes are lost | File was edited while the server was running | Stop the server first, reapply the changes, then save and restart |
Do not share your server password publicly in community posts, screenshots, or file exports. Also avoid using passwords from old passwords list collections or reusing credentials from other services.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you have successfully set up password protection on your Windrose server. For further questions or assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our support team, which is available daily to assist you!