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Godlike.Host offers hosted Satisfactory servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
To unclaim a Satisfactory dedicated server, stop it completely, back up its settings and saves, then delete only ServerSettings.<port>.sav from the server’s Saved/SaveGames directory. Start the server, wait for it to finish booting, and claim it again in Satisfactory Server Manager with a new server name and administrator password. The factory world files are stored separately, so this procedure does not wipe your progress. If the existing world is not selected automatically after the reset, open Manage Saves and choose the existing session and latest save.
This is also the documented way to take back a server claimed by another administrator or to reset a forgotten administrator password. The critical safety rule is to remove the port-specific settings file, never the server world-save folder.
What does unclaiming a Satisfactory dedicated server actually change?
Unclaiming removes the administrative state stored in the server settings file. When the server starts without that file, it behaves as unclaimed and generates fresh administrative credentials and a new security certificate.
Reset by deleting ServerSettings.<port>.sav |
Left in place |
|---|---|
| Server name | Factory and other world progress |
| Administrator password | World files in Saved/SaveGames/server |
| Auto-load session selection | Individual .sav world saves |
| Server security certificate | The server installation and configured game port |
The previous administrator password will no longer work. On the next boot, the server creates a new certificate, so a client may display a certificate warning even though the server itself is functioning normally.
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What should I check before removing the file?
Prepare an undo path before changing anything. A mistaken deletion, an old port suffix, or editing while the process is still running can leave you diagnosing the wrong instance.
- Confirm that you can stop and start the dedicated-server process, either through the host’s control panel or its service manager.
- Record the active game port. The number in the settings filename must match this port.
- Back up
ServerSettings.<port>.savand, preferably, the completeSaveGamesdirectory to separate storage. - Make sure your client and the dedicated server use compatible Satisfactory game branches and builds; a mismatch can prevent the claim flow from completing.
- Warn connected players that stopping the service will interrupt the current session.
Do not attempt to change the file while the server is running. The process can retain the old claim in memory, causing the server to appear claimed after you delete a file on disk.
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Follow this sequence in order. The operation is a settings reset, not a world reset.
-
Stop the dedicated server completely
Use the hosting panel’s Stop control or stop the server service through your operating system’s service manager. Wait until the process has exited and the panel no longer reports it as running.
-
Create a backup
Copy the settings file and the save directory before deleting anything. Keep the backup outside the live server directory so an automated cleanup job cannot remove both copies.
-
Open the save-game directory
Browse to the directory used by the active server profile. Linux installations and common hosted containers normally use
.config/Epic/FactoryGame/Saved/SaveGames. Windows installations use the local application-data locations described in the path table below.PerformanceWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadDriversOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownPerformancePC Slower Than It Used to Be?Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Identify the active settings file
Find
ServerSettings.<port>.sav, where<port>is the numeric game-port suffix. If several files exist, compare each suffix with the server’s currently configured port. A file left over from an old port may not control the instance you are running. -
Delete only the port-specific settings file
Remove the matching
ServerSettings.<port>.sav. Leave theserverdirectory and every world.savfile untouched. Do not delete the entireSaveGamesdirectory. -
Start the server and wait for boot to finish
Start it through the same panel or service manager. Allow the process to complete its normal startup before opening Server Manager; claiming during an incomplete boot can produce misleading connection or authentication errors.
-
Claim it again
In Satisfactory Server Manager, add or select the server, enter a new server name and administrator password, and complete the claim flow. The old password is intentionally invalid after the reset.
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Restore the active world selection if necessary
Open Manage Saves, select the existing session, and choose its latest save if the server does not automatically load the previous world. This step changes which existing save is active; it does not recreate or overwrite the world.
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Where is ServerSettings.<port>.sav located?
The exact profile path depends on the operating system and how the service was installed. Use the path belonging to the process you actually stopped.
| Environment | Directory and filename | Important check |
|---|---|---|
| Linux or common hosted container | .config/Epic/FactoryGame/Saved/SaveGames/ServerSettings.<port>.sav |
Ensure the container volume mounted at this path is the one used by the live server. |
| Windows user installation | %LocalAppData%FactoryGameSavedSaveGamesServerSettings.<port>.sav |
Expand %LocalAppData% for the Windows account that runs the server. |
| Windows service profile | The service account’s AppDataLocalFactoryGameSavedSaveGames variant |
Do not use the interactive user’s profile if the service runs under another account. |
When more than one settings file is present, the numeric suffix is the deciding clue. Match it to the active game port rather than choosing the newest file by date alone.
How do I reclaim the server and get my existing factory back?
After the restart, the server should present itself as unclaimed. Use the claim interface in Server Manager to establish the new administrative identity, then verify the world selection separately.
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Claim with new credentials
Select the unclaimed server, provide a new server name and administrator password, and confirm the claim. Store the new password in a password manager; the reset does not provide a way to recover the former password.
Handle the regenerated certificate
Because the settings reset creates a new server security certificate, a client that remembers the old certificate can show a warning. Accept the new certificate only for the server you intended to reset, and verify the address and port before trusting it.
Choose the world in Manage Saves
If no world loads automatically, open Manage Saves and browse the existing session in the server save directory. Select the latest intended save and set it as the active session. The absence of an auto-load selection does not mean that the world files were deleted.
Can the HTTPS API or console unclaim the server?
The documented HTTPS API exposes ClaimServer for an unclaimed server, but its reference does not list an UnclaimServer operation. It also states that SetAdminPassword cannot reset the password to an empty string. Therefore, removing the port-specific settings file while the server is stopped is the documented route for clearing an existing claim.
Once the file is removed and the server has booted as unclaimed, use the normal claim operation in Server Manager. An API client cannot bypass the need to restart the service with the old settings file gone.
Why does the server still show as claimed?
Most persistent-claim cases come from editing the wrong file or failing to stop the process first. Check each item below before attempting another reset.
- The process was still running: stop it again, verify that it has exited, remove the matching settings file, and restart.
- The port suffix is wrong: compare the filename’s number with the active game-port configuration. An old-port settings file will not control the current instance.
- The wrong profile was edited: inspect the account or container volume used by the service, especially on Windows services.
- A backup restored the old state: check whether the panel automatically restored the settings file during startup, and disable that restore until the claim is complete.
What should I do if the world appears to be missing?
First inspect Saved/SaveGames/server rather than creating a new world. The unclaim procedure does not remove world files; it can, however, clear the auto-load session selection.
- Stop or leave the server running according to your panel’s file-browser requirements.
- Confirm that the expected session and
.savfiles are present under theserverdirectory. - In Server Manager, open Manage Saves and select the existing session and latest save.
- Start or restart the server if the panel requires a restart to apply the selection.
If the directory is genuinely empty, restore the save-directory backup before starting a new session. Do not overwrite the backup with a newly generated world.
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What causes certificate warnings after an unclaim?
The security certificate is part of the administrative settings that are regenerated when the settings file is recreated. A warning after the first boot is therefore expected for the reset server, not evidence that the world is corrupt.
Check that the server address and game port belong to the instance you meant to reset. Then accept the new certificate for that instance. If a client continues presenting the old identity, remove or refresh its remembered certificate entry according to the client’s certificate-management controls and reconnect.
What if the claim flow fails after the reset?
Verify build compatibility before changing files again. The client and dedicated server must be on compatible Satisfactory branches and builds for the claim process to work reliably.
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- Restart the dedicated server after applying any branch or build change.
- Check that the server is fully booted and reachable on the configured port.
- Confirm that you are claiming the newly unclaimed instance, not another server using a similar name or an old address.
Do not delete world saves as a response to a claim error; that removes useful recovery data without addressing the administrative mismatch.
Is the procedure different on a rented panel versus self-hosting?
The file reset is conceptually the same, but your control over the required operations differs by hosting route. The practical questions are whether you can reach the settings file, make a backup, stop and restart the service, see the game port, and select the correct Satisfactory branch.
| Operational need | Self-hosted server | Rented control panel |
|---|---|---|
| Filesystem access | Direct access to the service account’s save directory. | Panel file manager, mounted volume, or provider support must expose the directory. |
| Backup and restore | You choose the destination and retention policy. | Use the panel’s backup tools, but verify that they include both settings and world saves. |
| Stop and restart | Service manager or operating-system controls. | Panel Stop and Start controls; wait for a confirmed shutdown before editing. |
| Port visibility | Read the configured game port from your service configuration. | Use the port shown in the panel and match it to the filename suffix. |
| Branch support | You control the installed branch and update timing. | Confirm that the provider offers the branch and build your client uses. |
If a panel does not provide file access or a reliable backup, ask its support team to perform the reset while you retain a copy of the world saves. The required file name and port match should be stated explicitly so support does not remove the entire save directory.
How can I prevent an accidental world loss next time?
Keep administrative settings and world data in separate backup sets. That lets you reset a claim without sacrificing the factory.
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SaveGames/serverdirectory and test that a save can be opened from the backup location. - Keep a separate copy of each active
ServerSettings.<port>.savbefore upgrades or ownership changes. - Record the server’s game port beside each settings backup so an old file is not mistaken for the active instance.
- Document which operating-system account or container volume owns the live save path.
- After a reset, record the new server name, administrator-password location, and certificate change date.
These records are especially useful when a service is moved between machines or when several ports and server profiles exist on one host.
What is the shortest safe checklist?
- Stop the server and verify that it is no longer running.
- Back up the settings file and the world-save directory.
- Open the active profile’s
Saved/SaveGamespath. - Delete only
ServerSettings.<port>.savwhose suffix matches the active game port. - Leave
Saved/SaveGames/serverand its world.savfiles untouched. - Start the server, wait for boot, and claim it with a new name and administrator password.
- Use Manage Saves to select the existing world if auto-load was reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I unclaim a server if my hosting panel has no file manager?
You need either filesystem access to the service profile or help from the hosting provider. Ask the provider to stop the process, remove only the port-matched settings file, and preserve the complete SaveGames/server directory; a panel restart button alone cannot perform the reset.
Why are there several ServerSettings files in my save directory?
Multiple files commonly reflect different game ports or older server configurations. Identify the port used by the currently running service, and archive unrelated files instead of deleting them until you have confirmed which instance you are resetting.
Is a new certificate warning proof that someone else claimed my server?
No. Recreating the settings file intentionally generates a new certificate, so the first connection after an unclaim can trigger a trust warning. Verify the server address and port before accepting the new identity.
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What should I tell support when asking them to unclaim the server?
Provide the active game port, the operating-system or container profile running the service, and a request to preserve the SaveGames/server directory. Ask them to confirm a full stop before deleting the matching ServerSettings.<port>.sav file.
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