How to Install a Factorio Server

This guide shows you step by step how to set up a Factorio Dedicated Server – both on Linux and Windows. Factorio is known for its extreme performance optimization – even large factories run on modest hardware.

Requirements

• Operating system: Linux (Ubuntu/Debian) or Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
• Processor: 2 cores at 2.0 GHz+ – Factorio is extremely CPU-efficient
• RAM: 2-4 GB for vanilla, 4-8 GB for large modpacks
• Storage: 5 GB free disk space
• Network: UDP port 34197 must be open
• Factorio license: A separate Factorio account (the game doesn't need to be purchased – the server can be used separately in headless mode)

Step 1: Download server files

Linux

1. Create a folder for the server:

   mkdir -p ~/factorio && cd ~/factorio

2. Download the latest server version (link from the official Factorio website):

   wget https://factorio.com/get-download/stable/headless/linux64 -O factorio.tar.xz

3. Extract the archive:

   tar -xvf factorio.tar.xz
   rm factorio.tar.xz

Windows

1. Visit the official Factorio website: factorio.com/download
2. Download the Headless Server version for Windows
3. Create a folder (e.g. C:\factorio-server) and extract the ZIP there

Step 2: First start and map generation

Navigate to the server folder and start the server for the first time:

Linux

./bin/x64/factorio --create ./saves/my-world.zip --map-gen-settings ./data/map-gen-settings.example.json --map-settings ./data/map-settings.example.json

Windows

factorio.exe --create saves\my-world.zip --map-gen-settings data\map-gen-settings.example.json --map-settings data\map-settings.example.json

The server generates a new world and saves it in the saves/ folder.

Step 3: Adjust server configuration

In the main directory you'll find the file server-settings.example.json. Copy it and rename it:

cp server-settings.example.json server-settings.json

Open server-settings.json and adjust the following settings:

{
  "name": "My Factorio Server",
  "description": "Welcome to my server!",
  "tags": ["vanilla", "english"],
  "max_players": 10,
  "visibility": {
    "public": true,
    "lan": true
  },
  "username": "",
  "password": "",
  "game_password": "",
  "require_user_verification": true,
  "max_upload_in_kilobytes_per_second": 0,
  "max_upload_slots": 5,
  "minimum_latency_in_ticks": 0,
  "ignore_player_limit_for_returning_players": false,
  "allow_commands": "admins-only",
  "autosave_interval": 10,
  "autosave_slots": 5,
  "afk_autokick_interval": 0,
  "auto_pause": true,
  "only_admins_can_pause_the_game": true,
  "autosave_only_on_server": true,
  "non_blocking_saving": true
}

Important settings:

• name / description: Name and description in the server list
• tags: Keywords like "vanilla", "pvp", "modded"
• max_players: Maximum number of players
• game_password: Password for players (leave empty for public server)
• autosave_interval: Autosave interval in minutes (10 is default)
• non_blocking_saving: true = game continues running while saving
• auto_pause: true = server pauses when no players are online

Step 4: Start the server

Linux

./bin/x64/factorio --start-server ./saves/my-world.zip --server-settings ./server-settings.json

Windows

factorio.exe --start-server saves\my-world.zip --server-settings server-settings.json

Step 5: Open firewall ports

Factorio uses UDP port 34197 by default:

Linux (UFW)

sudo ufw allow 34197/udp

Windows Firewall (PowerShell as Administrator)

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Factorio Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 34197 -Action Allow

Forward the port in your router to your server's local IP address.

Step 6: Join the server

1. Launch Factorio on your PC
2. Click Multiplayer → Browse Servers in the main menu
3. Search for your server name
4. Alternatively: Direct Connect and enter server IP with port (e.g. 123.123.123.123:34197)

Step 7: Install mods (optional)

Factorio has an integrated mod manager. To install mods on the server:

1. Edit mod-list.json in the mods/ folder
2. Set the desired mods to true
3. The mods are automatically downloaded when the server starts
4. Players joining the server download the mods automatically

Step 8: Set up server as a service (Linux, optional)

So the server starts automatically after a reboot:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/factorio.service

[Unit]
Description=Factorio Server
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=factorio
WorkingDirectory=/home/factorio/factorio
ExecStart=/home/factorio/factorio/bin/x64/factorio --start-server /home/factorio/factorio/saves/my-world.zip --server-settings /home/factorio/factorio/server-settings.json
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now factorio

Common problems

Server not showing in the list:

• Check if UDP port 34197 is open in firewall and router
• Check visibility.public in server-settings.json – must be set to true

Players cannot join:

• Check game_password – leave empty for public server
• Check if the player has the same Factorio version as the server

Mods not working:

• All players need the same mods – Factorio synchronizes them automatically when connecting
• Check mod-list.json for correct entries