Free Factorio server hosting

Factorio multiplayer works in lockstep: every player's computer runs the whole factory simulation, and the server keeps everyone in step. Two things follow from that. Players must have exactly the same game version and mods as the server, and a huge base can still feel slow for someone with a weak PC, wherever the server runs.

What you get

• The official headless server from factorio.com, in the latest stable version at install time. Factorio Version on the Startup page also accepts a version number, or experimental.
• A map ready to play. The install creates one, saved as saves/gamesave.zip.
• Space Age off. The install writes a mods/mod-list.json that keeps space-age, quality and elevated-rails disabled, so friends without the DLC can join a new map.
• Autosaves every 10 minutes, keeping the last 5 (Auto Save Interval and Auto Save Slots), and room for 20 players.

Factorio servers come in two free plans:

Memory use grows with the map. A new map with a few friends fits on Lite; a large late-game base or a mod-heavy save is better on Turbo. The renewal guide explains the Renew timer.

Before you start

• Factorio for every player, on the same version as the server. On Steam, the default branch is the stable version, the same one we install.
• Optional: your factorio.com username and token, if you want the server in the public server list. The token is on your profile page at factorio.com.
• Optional: an existing save. On Windows, saves are in %appdata%\Factorio\saves.

Nothing else is needed, and there is no Setup step when you create a Factorio server.

How to start

1. On Create your server, choose a plan, then Factorio.
2. Confirm your email with the code we send. The server is built and the map created; the console shows Hosting game at when it is up.
3. On Startup, set Server Name, Server Description and Server password.
4. In Factorio, go to Multiplayer, then Connect to address, and enter the address and port from the panel.
5. Make yourself admin by typing /promote YourName in the panel console.

To play your own save, stop the server, upload the .zip to saves/ over SFTP, and set Save Name to the file name without .zip. It only takes letters, numbers, dashes and underscores. The server creates a new map only when no save with that name exists, so a new name is also how you start over.

For the public list, fill in Server Username and Server Token. A server started without a token is switched to private in data/server-settings.json, so also set "public": true under visibility there, then restart. The Factorio server guide walks through both.

Common problems

Players get a version mismatch after a Factorio update. The server keeps the version it was installed with. Take a backup, then press Reinstall Server under Settings; with Factorio Version on latest it fetches the new release and keeps your saves, mod list and server settings.

A save needs Space Age. Set "enabled": true for space-age, quality and elevated-rails in mods/mod-list.json and restart. From then on, everyone who joins needs the DLC.

The server is not in the public list. Check the token, and that "public" is true in data/server-settings.json.

It stopped on its own. The renewal timer ran out. Press Start; at worst you lose the minutes since the last autosave.