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Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted Factorio servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
To make a Factorio game public, host it from Multiplayer, set visibility to Public, and make sure the host can receive Factorio’s UDP traffic. For the default configuration, forward UDP port 34197 from your router to the computer running the game, allow that port through the computer’s firewall, and provide Factorio.com credentials or an authentication token when using a dedicated public server. Players can then find the game in Browse public games or connect directly with the server’s public IP address and port. Every player must use the same game version and mod set.
What “Public” means in Factorio
Factorio has three visibility choices. They control where the game is advertised and how players discover it; they do not all provide the same network path.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute| Visibility | Where the game appears | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Public | The official public games list | Open communities or friends who need to find the server without an invitation |
| Steam | Steam’s joining feature | Friends who already use Steam and can join through Steam |
| LAN | Only the local network | People connected to the same home or office network |
The Factorio Wiki’s 2026 server guide distinguishes these settings explicitly: Public publishes the game to the official matching server, Steam enables or disables Steam joining, and LAN limits discovery to the local network. Selecting Steam does not make a game appear in the public list, and selecting LAN does not expose it to the internet.
Choose the right hosting method
You can make a public game in the normal client or run a dedicated, headless server. The first option is quickest for occasional sessions. The second is designed for a world that should continue running when the host’s desktop client is closed.
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| Consideration | Client hosting | Dedicated/headless server |
|---|---|---|
| Persistence and uptime | Runs while the hosting client is open and connected | Can run as a separate long-lived process on a server machine |
| Setup effort | Choose a visibility option in the Multiplayer menu | Install the headless package, prepare a save and settings file, then start it from the command line |
| Router exposure | Still requires a reachable UDP path when players connect over the internet | Still requires a reachable UDP path; the server process does not bypass NAT |
| Files and administration | Managed through the game client | Explicit control over saves, settings, credentials, ports and process startup |
| Mods and versions | The host’s loaded game and mods define the session | Administrators can manage the server’s files and restart it deliberately after changes |
| Steam joining | Useful when the intended players can join through Steam | Public-list credentials and server settings are available independently of Steam |
For a one-evening game, start with client hosting. For an always-on factory, use the dedicated method and keep the save, settings file and startup command together.
Make a public game from the Factorio client
Host a new game
- Open Factorio and choose Multiplayer.
- Select Host new game, configure the map and mods, and continue to the hosting options.
- Set the visibility to Public. This publishes the game to the official public games list.
- Start the game and keep the hosting client running. Closing the client ends this hosting session.
Host an existing save
- Choose Multiplayer and then Host saved game.
- Select the save you want to use.
- Set visibility to Public and start hosting.
- Tell players to open Browse public games, or give them the public IP address and configured port for a direct connection.
If the game is not visible or players cannot connect, complete the network steps below. The visibility setting only publishes the session; it cannot repair a blocked router or firewall.
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Run a persistent public headless server
Factorio’s official dedicated-server guidance requires a save file and a server settings file. Linux users can obtain a free, lightweight dedicated headless-server package from Factorio. The exact installation directory and service manager depend on your operating system, but the server process is started with Factorio’s command-line interface.
Prepare the required files
- Save file: the world the server should load.
- Server settings file: a JSON file that includes public visibility and the credentials used for listing.
- Factorio.com credentials or an authentication token: required for a public dedicated listing.
A minimal settings fragment has this shape:
{
"visibility": "public",
"username": "YOUR_FACTORIO_USERNAME",
"token": "YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN"
}Use the field names and format expected by the server version you installed. The settings file is plain text. The Factorio Wiki recommends an authentication token for security reasons; protect the file with normal operating-system permissions and do not post its contents in a forum, log or chat. Anyone who obtains the token may be able to use the account credentials stored there.
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Start the server
The command-line interface supports --start-server, --mp-connect and --port. A typical startup command supplies the save, the settings file and the listening port:
factorio --start-server /path/to/save.zip --server-settings /path/to/server-settings.json --port 34197Replace the paths with the files on your machine. If you changed the port in your configuration, use that value instead of 34197. Keep the process running, and arrange an operating-system service or equivalent restart method if the world must come back after a reboot; the exact service configuration is platform-specific.
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Open the internet path: UDP forwarding and firewall rules
Factorio servers use UDP, not TCP. The default port is 34197, as stated by the Factorio Wiki’s 2026 guide. If you select another port, every rule and every joining instruction must use the configured value.
Configure the router
- Give the server computer a stable private address, either with a static address or a DHCP reservation. Otherwise, a reboot can send the forwarding rule to the wrong machine.
- Open the router’s port-forwarding or virtual-server page.
- Create a rule for the Factorio port, selecting UDP as the protocol.
- Set the destination to the server computer’s current private IP address.
- Use the same external and internal port unless you have a specific reason to translate them. Record the external port because that is what remote players need.
- Ensure the router does not randomize the source port for this service. Factorio’s official guidance calls out source-port behavior because an otherwise correct forward can still fail when the router rewrites it unexpectedly.
Router labels differ by manufacturer, so use the terms port forwarding, virtual server or NAT rule when looking for the setting. A router recommendation is not universal: the requirement is that the device correctly pass the configured UDP port to the host.
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Allow the host firewall
Add an inbound rule for the same UDP port on the operating system running Factorio. A router rule without a matching host-firewall rule still leaves the server unreachable. If you changed the Factorio port, change the firewall rule as well.
Check for upstream NAT
Port forwarding works only when the router receiving the internet connection can accept inbound traffic. Carrier-grade NAT, a second router, or an ISP policy can prevent that. Factorio may use Steam or NAT traversal in some hosting scenarios, but if the server remains behind NAT without a working traversal path, you need a working port-forwarding route or a virtual-LAN method. If you have two routers, identify which one owns the public address and forward through both layers, or put the downstream router in an appropriate bridge or access-point arrangement.
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Public-list joining
Players open Multiplayer, choose Browse public games, and search for the server. A dedicated server must have its visibility set to public and its Factorio.com username and token fields populated before it can be published.
Steam joining
If you selected Steam visibility and the players use Steam’s join feature, they can join through that flow. Steam visibility is separate from Public visibility; a Steam-only game is not necessarily listed in the public browser.
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Direct IP joining
- Give the player the router’s public IP address and the server’s configured external port.
- The player opens Multiplayer and chooses Connect to address.
- They enter the address and port, then connect.
Do not give remote players the server’s private address such as 192.168.x.x; that address is meaningful only inside your local network.
Version and mod requirements
Clients need exactly matching game versions and mods. A server that is publicly listed can still reject a connection when a player is on a different Factorio version or has a different mod set. Before troubleshooting the router, confirm that everyone is using the same version and that the server’s enabled mods are available to each joining player.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a server that does not appear or cannot be reached
The server runs but is not listed
- Open the server settings and confirm
visibilityis exactlypublic. - For a dedicated server, confirm that the Factorio.com username and authentication-token fields are populated and valid.
- Check the server log for authentication or settings-file errors.
- Make sure you restarted the server after changing the settings file.
The server is listed but nobody can connect
- Confirm the router forwards UDP, not TCP.
- Confirm the forward targets the host’s current private IP address.
- Confirm the operating-system firewall allows the same UDP port.
- Confirm the server is listening on the port you forwarded. The default is 34197, but a configured alternative takes precedence.
- Check whether a second router, carrier-grade NAT or an ISP restriction blocks inbound traffic.
Direct IP works locally but not remotely
A local success proves that Factorio is running, not that the internet path is open. Test from a connection outside the home network, verify the public address, and check the router’s WAN status. Do not test by entering the public address from inside the same network if the router lacks NAT loopback; that can produce a false failure.
Players are rejected after connecting
Compare the server and client game versions, then compare enabled mods and mod versions. A network fix cannot resolve a content mismatch.
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Running more than one public server
Each Factorio instance needs a distinct configured port. Start each process with its own --port value, forward each UDP port to the correct host or local address, and tell players the matching port. Reusing one port for two instances causes a bind conflict or sends traffic to only one server.
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The Factorio Wiki lists a hard player limit of 65,535, but it also cautions that the practical limit is much lower. The hard limit is therefore not a planning target; the usable number depends on the world, mods and available resources, none of which are quantified by the official material cited here.
Public visibility also changes the administration task. Anyone who can discover the listing may attempt to join, so use the server’s available access and moderation settings, keep the save backed up, and remove or rotate credentials if the settings file is exposed. Treat the authentication token as a secret because the settings file is stored in plain text.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
A managed host can remove much of the Linux, firewall and router administration, but it trades away some control. Choose based on the work you want to own rather than on an assumed performance number.
| Factor | Self-hosted | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring cost | You provide the hardware and internet connection; no managed-service price is established here | Usually a recurring service charge; the amount depends on the provider and plan |
| Files and mods | Direct control of saves, settings, ports and mods | Control depends on the host’s file and mod-management tools |
| Maintenance | You handle Factorio updates, restarts, backups, credentials, firewall rules and router configuration | The provider handles some infrastructure work, while you still manage the world and compatibility |
| Backups | You must schedule and verify them | Backup support varies; confirm retention and restoration before relying on it |
| Geographic latency | Depends on your home connection and location | You can often select a data-center region, subject to the provider’s availability |
| Port and settings changes | You can change the server port and settings directly | Changes may be limited by the host’s control panel or support policy |
Self-hosting is the better fit when you want complete control and are comfortable maintaining network access. Managed hosting is the better fit when avoiding Linux administration, router changes and home uptime concerns is worth the recurring fee.
Quick Recap
Quick verification checklist
- The server is running the intended save.
- Visibility is set to Public for a public-list server.
- A dedicated listing has valid Factorio.com credentials or a token.
- The configured port is known; the default is UDP 34197.
- The router forwards that UDP port to the host’s current private IP.
- The host firewall permits the same UDP port.
- No upstream NAT layer blocks inbound traffic.
- Players have the public address and port for direct joining.
- All clients match the server’s game version and mods.
- The authentication token is protected because the settings file is plain text.
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