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server-settings.json is the configuration file for a Factorio dedicated (headless) server. It centralizes options that were previously supplied as separate command-line arguments, including server visibility, automatic saves, empty-server pausing and command permissions. The safest way to create it is to copy data/server-settings.example.json from the exact Factorio installation and edit that version’s keys, because names, defaults and available options can change between releases.
What server-settings.json controls
A headless Factorio server starts without the normal graphical game interface. Its settings file tells the server how to present the game to other players and how to behave while it is running. The file is ordinary JSON, so punctuation and value types matter: a Boolean must be true or false, a number must not be quoted, and text values require double quotes.
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Find the correct template and file location
Use the file shipped with Factorio
The Factorio Wiki’s Multiplayer guidance points administrators to data/server-settings.example.json in the Factorio application directory. Copy that file and rename the copy server-settings.json; do not edit the example in place. Keeping the original lets you compare your changes with the vendor’s current schema after an update.
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The exact directory depends on how you installed the game and whether you are running the server locally or through a hosting panel. A self-hosted installation normally has a data directory below the Factorio application directory. Some hosting services expose the configuration at the server root instead. If you cannot find it, search the installation for server-settings.example.json and inspect the host’s server-start configuration to see which path it passes to Factorio.
Confirm which file the server actually reads
Having a file on disk is not enough if the launcher or control panel points to another path. Check the startup configuration, launch log or panel field that specifies server settings. If you maintain more than one save or server instance, give each instance its own settings file so a change for one world does not silently affect another.
Verified settings and their meanings
The following entries are documented by the official example or by the cited Factorio guidance. The “default” column deliberately distinguishes an example value from a guaranteed value; defaults can change with the game version.
| Key | Value form | What it does | Default status |
|---|---|---|---|
visibility |
Object containing public and lan Booleans |
public controls listing in the Factorio matchmaking browser; lan broadcasts the server on the local network. |
The shipped example enables both in the cited version. |
autosave_interval |
Number of minutes | Sets the interval between automatic saves. | Copies of the shipped example show 10; the exact default is low-confidence and must be checked against your file. |
auto_pause |
Boolean | When true, pauses the game while no players are connected. When false, the factory continues running while the server is empty. |
Use the value shown in your current example; no universal default is asserted here. |
allow_commands |
String: "true", "false" or "admins-only" |
Controls whether console/chat commands can be used by everyone, disabled, or restricted to administrators. | Example copies show "admins-only"; verify the shipped file for your release. |
Configure visibility without exposing the wrong server
Public listing
Set visibility.public to true when you want the server to appear in the public matchmaking browser. Public listing requires Factorio account credentials. A token can be used in place of a password, which is useful for a headless machine where you do not want to store an interactive login workflow.
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Public visibility makes discovery easier but also makes the server easier for strangers to find. Pair it with a game password and administrator controls where those options are available in the current example file. Do not publish account credentials in a support post, launch script or shared screenshot.
LAN discovery
Set visibility.lan to true to broadcast the server on the local network. This is appropriate for players on the same home or office network who do not need a public listing. LAN discovery does not mean the server is reachable from the wider internet; router, firewall and hosting-network rules still determine reachability.
Use either mode or both
The two flags are independent. A private server can use {"public": false, "lan": true} for local play, while a publicly listed server can enable both so nearby players can discover it locally as well. If neither listing method is wanted, disable both and connect using the server’s direct address through the method supported by your deployment.
Automatic saves and pausing
autosave_interval
The value is measured in minutes, not seconds. A value of 10 therefore represents a ten-minute interval, but treat that number as an example-file value rather than a promise that every Factorio release ships with it. Shorter intervals reduce the amount of progress lost after a crash but create more save activity; longer intervals reduce that activity while increasing the possible rollback.
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Choose an interval that matches the size of the factory and the storage performance of the server. Whatever value you select, verify that the save directory has sufficient free space and that your backup process does not copy a file while it is still being written.
auto_pause
With auto_pause: true, the simulation pauses when the last player disconnects. This prevents an unattended factory from consuming resources or advancing while nobody is present. With false, production, belts and other simulation activity continue while the server is empty, which is useful when players intentionally leave a factory running.
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Command permissions and safe administration
allow_commands accepts three string values:
"false"disables commands."admins-only"permits commands for administrators while blocking ordinary players."true"permits commands for all players.
Because the setting is a string choice, do not replace it with an unquoted Boolean such as true. The example copies show "admins-only" as the shipped value, but the current example file should decide what your version supports. Grant administrator status only to trusted accounts; unrestricted commands can alter or remove game state.
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A minimal, readable configuration example
This example contains only the settings whose roles are established above. The numeric value is illustrative; confirm the value and any additional keys against your own server-settings.example.json.
{
"visibility": {
"public": false,
"lan": true
},
"autosave_interval": 10,
"auto_pause": true,
"allow_commands": "admins-only"
}Save the file as UTF-8 plain text with the exact .json extension. Avoid comments, trailing commas and smart quotes; none of those are valid in standard JSON. A missing brace or an extra comma can prevent the server from starting or cause it to reject the file.
Keys reported in community copies but not confirmed here
Community-maintained examples mention additional entries, but their behavior and defaults were not confirmed against the current official template. Before using any of these, open the example shipped with your Factorio build and copy the spelling, capitalization, value type and explanatory context exactly.
| Reported key | How to treat it |
|---|---|
name, description, tags |
Use only if present in your current example; do not assume a community default. |
max_players |
Reported in copies, including a claim that 0 means unlimited; verify both the key and that meaning before relying on it. |
username, password, token, game_password |
Authentication-related entries are reported, but supported combinations and security handling depend on the current version. |
require_user_verification |
Reported without a confirmed current definition; check the shipped file. |
max_upload_in_kilobytes_per_second, minimum_latency_in_ticks |
Reported network-performance controls; do not infer units, limits or defaults from another release. |
| Segment-size keys | Several segment-size entries are reported, but their exact names and effects must be taken from the current template. |
ignore_player_limit_for_returning_players, autosave_slots |
Reported in community copies; verify availability and semantics before adding them. |
Disagreement among third-party guides about the number of keys and individual defaults is a warning that copied configurations age quickly. The in-game example is more reliable than a static guide written for another release.
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Safe editing procedure
- Stop the dedicated server cleanly so it is not writing the settings or save files while you edit.
- Back up the existing
server-settings.jsonand the original example file. - Copy the example from the same Factorio installation and rename the copy.
- Edit only the keys you understand. Preserve the exact JSON value type shown by the template.
- Check the file with a JSON parser or editor validation feature. Correct every syntax error before launching.
- Configure the launcher or hosting panel to use this file, then start the server.
- Review the startup log and join from the intended network. Confirm the listing mode, pause behavior and command permissions rather than assuming that a successful start means every value was accepted.
- After an edit, restart the server and verify the result. A primary source does not establish that settings hot-reload safely, so a restart is the dependable operational procedure.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Server refuses to start after editing | Invalid JSON, unsupported key or wrong value type | Validate braces, commas and quotes; compare every key with the current example and remove entries that are not supported. |
| Server starts but is not visible publicly | visibility.public is false, credentials are missing, or network access is blocked |
Confirm the Boolean, Factorio account credentials or token, and the server log. Public listing requires account authentication. |
| Nearby players cannot see the server | LAN broadcasting is disabled or the local network blocks discovery | Set visibility.lan to true, then check host and client firewall rules and whether both devices are on the same LAN. |
| Factory stops when everyone leaves | auto_pause is true |
Change it to false only if unattended simulation is intended. |
| Players cannot run commands | allow_commands is false or restricted |
Use the documented string value for the desired policy and ensure the intended users have administrator status when using admins-only. |
| Changes appear to have no effect | The server is reading another path or was not restarted | Inspect the launch configuration, confirm the exact file path and restart the process. |
Self-hosting versus a managed server
| Concern | Self-hosted machine | Managed game-server host |
|---|---|---|
| File control | Direct access to the complete JSON file and the Factorio installation. | A web panel may expose only selected fields; direct file access depends on the provider. |
| Update timing | You decide when to update the game and re-check the example template. | The host may apply updates on its own schedule or offer a version selector. |
| Cost | There may be no separate hosting bill, but you supply hardware, bandwidth, power and maintenance. | You pay for the hosting service while delegating much of the infrastructure work. |
Whichever model you choose, retain a copy of the exact example file for the installed version. A control panel that hides advanced settings is not evidence that those settings do not exist; it may simply be exposing a limited interface.
Keep the configuration current after updates
Factorio releases can add, remove or rename settings and can change defaults. Before a major update, save a copy of your working file. After updating, open the new data/server-settings.example.json, compare the schema and migrate your intentional changes instead of blindly reusing the old file. Treat undocumented keys and conflicting third-party defaults as candidates for removal until the new example confirms them.
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A practical maintenance record should note the Factorio version, the date of the change, the reason for each non-default value and the location of the backup. That record makes it easier to diagnose a behavior change after an update without guessing which setting moved.
Quick Recap
Pre-launch review
- The file is named
server-settings.jsonand the launcher points to that exact path. - Every key appears in the example shipped with the running Factorio version.
visibility.publicandvisibility.lanmatch the intended audience.- Public listing has the required Factorio account credentials or token.
autosave_intervalis a deliberate number of minutes and storage space is available.auto_pausematches whether the factory should run while empty.allow_commandsuses one of the three documented strings and administrator access is limited.- The JSON validates, the server was restarted after editing, and the startup log confirms the expected configuration.
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