Outbound Windmill Guide – How to Fix, Location

One of the first major landmarks many players discover in Outbound is the giant Windmill sitting on top of the hill in the starting region. At first glance, it just looks like another abandoned structure in the world, but once you get closer, you quickly realize there is a full puzzle hidden inside it. Even better, repairing the Windmill rewards you with a useful crafting recipe that you will absolutely want later in the game.

A lot of players get confused here because the puzzle is not explained very clearly. The ladders move around, the floors shift positions, and it can feel like you are running in circles trying to reach the top. The good news is that the puzzle is actually pretty simple once you understand how the Windmill works.

This guide will walk you through the entire Windmill puzzle step-by-step in an easy way so you can repair it, unlock the hidden room, and grab the rewards without wasting time.

Where to Find the Windmill

The Windmill is located in the first major biome of Outbound. You will usually spot it pretty early because it sits high above the surrounding area and is hard to miss.

When you arrive, you will notice:

• The Windmill blades are not spinning
• The building seems abandoned
• A note near the entrance mentions the owner leaving for a festival
• The mill needs repairs

At first, it may look like a simple side activity, but there is actually a hidden locked room inside that contains a Terminal and a valuable workstation recipe.

Understanding the Windmill Puzzle

The main puzzle inside the Windmill revolves around moving ladders and shifting floor sections into the correct positions.

This is the part that confuses most players.

The ladders themselves are not the actual puzzle. Instead, moving the ladders also changes the layout of the floor above you. If the ladders are positioned incorrectly, the upper floor pieces will not line up properly, which prevents you from reaching the top level.

Once you understand that, everything starts making much more sense.

Starting the Puzzle

Head inside the Windmill and climb the stairs until you reach a balcony walkway. Here you will find two levers connected to a movable ladder system.

When you pull these levers:

• The ladders move position
• The upper floor layout changes at the same time

Your first goal is to position the ladders correctly so you can reach the second level.

How to Position the First Ladder

Use the levers until the ladder rests against the wall on the right side of the balcony doorway.

Once the ladder reaches that position:

1. Climb up
2. Move to the next floor above

Do not worry if you accidentally move the ladders into the wrong place. You can keep adjusting them as much as needed.

Finding the Hidden Switch

After climbing up, you will notice several wooden crates nearby. These crates are important.

Jump onto the crates and look above you carefully. There is a hidden switch mounted overhead.

Pull the switch.

When you activate it, a second ladder system will descend from above. However, the new ladders will appear behind shelving, making them unusable in their current position.

This is where many players get stuck.

Moving the Second Ladder Into Position

Now you need to return to the lower lever area.

Go back down the ladder and interact with the levers again. Your goal this time is to reposition the ladders so the newly lowered second set lines up near the staircase.

Once properly aligned:

1. Climb the first ladder
2. Continue onto the second ladder
3. Reach the top floor of the Windmill

At this point, the puzzle is basically solved.

How to Repair the Windmill

When you finally reach the upper section, you will discover the real problem.

The Windmill’s large cog wheel is broken.

To repair it, you need:

• 20 Scrap Metal

Thankfully, Scrap Metal is one of the easiest resources to farm in Outbound. You can usually find large amounts near Signal Towers, campsites, roadsides, and exploration areas.

If you do not already have enough Scrap Metal:

• Leave the Windmill
• Farm nearby Signal Towers
• Return once you collect 20 pieces

After gathering the materials, interact with the broken cog and repair it.

Pulling the Lever

Once the cog wheel is repaired, there is one final step.

Pull the nearby lever.

The Windmill will immediately start functioning again, and you will hear the machinery begin moving properly. This also unlocks the hidden room on the ground floor.

Unlocking the Hidden Terminal Room

Head back downstairs after repairing the Windmill.

You will now notice that the previously locked ground-floor room can finally be opened.

Inside the room, you will find:

• Flower Petals
• Terminal keys
• A Terminal station
• A new crafting recipe

This is the real reward for completing the Windmill puzzle.

Finding the Remaining Terminal Keys

To fully unlock the Terminal, you need three keys total.

One key is already inside the newly opened room, while the other two are hidden around the Windmill area.

The remaining keys are usually found:

• Near the balcony
• Around the greenhouse area nearby

Thankfully, they are not especially difficult to locate if you search carefully.

What Recipe Does the Windmill Unlock?

The Windmill Terminal rewards you with the:

• Mortar and Pestle recipe

This workstation is extremely useful because it allows you to craft Paint.

Paint becomes important later for:

• Vehicle customization
• Decoration crafting
• Cosmetic upgrades

So even though the Windmill may seem optional early on, completing it is definitely worth your time.

Other Secrets Around the Windmill

The Windmill area also contains several collectibles and hidden exploration rewards.

While searching the area, keep an eye out for:

• Cairns
• Hidden Gnomes
• Collectibles
• Resource nodes

A lot of players repair the Windmill and leave immediately, but the surrounding area actually has quite a few useful secrets worth grabbing while you are already there.

Tips Before Attempting the Windmill

Bring Extra Scrap Metal

Even if you already think you have enough, bring more than 20 Scrap Metal just in case you need additional crafting later.

Explore Carefully

The Terminal keys are easy to miss if you rush through the area too quickly.

Unlock Nearby Towers First

Signal Towers near the Windmill often contain extra Scrap Metal and useful blueprint unlocks.

Watch Your Vehicle Battery

The climb to the Windmill and surrounding exploration can drain resources faster than expected if you are constantly driving around the hill area

The Windmill puzzle in Outbound is honestly one of the coolest early-game activities because it mixes exploration, puzzle-solving, and progression together naturally. It can definitely feel confusing the first time you attempt it, especially when the ladders and floor sections start moving around, but once you understand the mechanic, the entire thing becomes much easier.

More importantly, the rewards are genuinely useful. Unlocking the Mortar and Pestle early gives you access to Paint crafting, and the area itself contains several collectibles and hidden items worth grabbing while you are there.

Take your time with the puzzle, search the area carefully, and do not leave until you fully loot the Windmill grounds.