How to Update a Space Engineers Dedicated Server Safely (Steam and SteamCMD)

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted Space Engineers servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.

The dependable update process is: stop the server cleanly, back up its world and configuration, update the installation with Steam or SteamCMD, restart it, and verify the game version and client connection. For SteamCMD installations, the core command is steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir "<server-directory>" +app_update 298740 +quit; App ID 298740 is the Space Engineers Dedicated Server.

This guide covers Windows dedicated servers, including GUI installations, Windows services, SteamCMD deployments, automatic updates, workshop-download failures, and the checks that explain why a server can appear to update while still running old files.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Homeworlds Pyramid Strategy Game - Deep Space Warfare for Two Players	$21.95	Buy on Amazon
2		Skillmatics Guess in 10 – NASA Space, Educational Card Game, Gift for Kids	$19.97	Buy on Amazon
3		Gifts for Engineers – Engineering Playing Cards Deck – Cool Engineer Gift for Men, Graduation,...	$18.99	Buy on Amazon

Before updating: schedule downtime and identify the live installation

An update replaces server binaries and can require a restart. Announce a maintenance window, prevent players from entering during the change, and determine exactly which installation your service or shortcut launches. Updating a different folder is the most common reason an apparently successful SteamCMD update has no effect.

Stop the server gracefully

Use the dedicated-server GUI’s Stop control, or stop the Windows service that owns the instance. From an elevated Command Prompt, Keen documents this graceful process command:

#1 Best Overall

Homeworlds Pyramid Strategy Game - Deep Space Warfare for Two Players

• Family Games - Homeworlds is a deep strategy game with no board and only 36 pieces. This fun family game requires perfect information, resource management and galactic wars. Can you destroy your opponent's world before their space fleet reaches yours
• Pure Strategy Game - If you enjoy strategy board games or card games you will love Homeworlds. Made for 2 players from 8 to adult. Play time ranges from 30-60 minutes. Take an hour to learn and a lifetime to master
• Family Games for Game Night - Homeworlds has been developed to perfection. This interesting game keeps engagement high. Perfect for game night for families and friends. This edition is good for couples, girls night, travel games, party games and more
• Cool Gifts - A fun card game or board game makes a really great gift for boys and girls age 8 and up. If you want the ultimate challenge, join the robust online community. You can play with the best and join the fan-run tournament held every year
• Looney Pyramids - This game is super fun on its own or it can be expanded to play other games. The colorful, pyramid shaped pieces add a twist instead of playing with a deck of cards. Other games in the series include Nomids, Martian Chess & Ice Duo

$21.95

Buy on Amazon

taskkill /IM SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe

Do not add /f for a normal maintenance stop. Forced termination kills the process without giving it the normal opportunity to save the world, risking lost progress or a damaged save.

Back up the world and configuration

Before changing any binaries, copy the instance’s world and configuration directories to a separate location. Depending on how the instance was created, Keen documents saves under one of these Windows paths:

• AppDataRoamingSpaceEngineersDedicated
• ProgramDataSpaceEngineersDedicated

Back up the complete relevant directory rather than only one world file. Include server settings, sandbox configuration, mod lists, and any scripts or service definitions that determine how the instance starts. Label the backup with the date and the game version shown before maintenance so you can restore the correct state if the update or a mod change causes a problem.

Record the current state

• Note the displayed game version from the server console or management interface.
• Record the executable path used by the Windows service, shortcut, or scheduled task.
• Save a copy of the current log and the SteamCMD output from the last update.
• Write down the server’s listen port and any custom launch arguments.

These records let you distinguish a failed download from a service that is still launching an older second installation.

Update a server installed through Steam

If the dedicated server was installed and managed through the Steam client, the normal update path is built into Steam.

1. Stop the server cleanly and complete the backup described above.
2. Open the Steam client and select Library.
3. Change the library filter to Tools.
4. Select Space Engineers Dedicated Server.
5. Allow Steam to download and apply the available update. Do not launch the server until the download and installation queue show it has finished.
6. Start SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe or start the Windows service.
7. Check the console or log for a successful startup, then have a client connect and confirm that the world loads normally.

If Steam keeps the update in a pending queue, the server may continue running the previous build. Open Steam’s Downloads view, let the dedicated-server download complete, and only then restart the process.

Update with SteamCMD

SteamCMD is the usual choice for a headless Windows server, a scripted deployment, or a machine where the Steam desktop client is not kept open. Run the command from the directory containing steamcmd.exe.

The standard update command

Replace <server-directory> with the folder that the running service or launcher actually uses:

steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir "<server-directory>" +app_update 298740 +quit

+login anonymous authenticates the public dedicated-server download, while +force_install_dir directs SteamCMD to the installation folder. +app_update 298740 downloads the current dedicated-server files, and +quit closes SteamCMD when the operation completes.

Run the update safely

1. Stop the server and make the backup.
2. Open Command Prompt or a maintenance script in the SteamCMD directory.
3. Run the command with the exact live server path in quotation marks. Quotation marks are required when the path contains spaces.
4. Read the SteamCMD output until the app-update operation has completed; do not close the window halfway through.
5. Keep the output in your maintenance record.
6. Start the server from the same directory that you updated.

Re-running app_update 298740 is the normal update operation. Add the optional validate parameter only when diagnosing suspected corrupted or missing files:

steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir "<server-directory>" +app_update 298740 validate +quit

Rank #2

Skillmatics Guess in 10 – NASA Space, Educational Card Game, Gift for Kids

• ULTIMATE GUESSING GAME: Divide yourselves into teams, or play one on one. Ask up to 10 questions to guess what's on the game card! Is it a planet? Does it emit its own light? Think hard, ask intelligent questions, use your clue cards wisely, and be the first player to collect 7 game cards to win!
• EDUCATIONAL FUN: Experience the thrill of learning all things space with this educational game! Explore everything from the Milky Way to each planet in a fun and competitive way, complete with captivating NASA images!
• STRATEGIZE YOUR WAY TO VICTORY: Make use of exciting features such as Clue Cards and Bonus Questions to plan your way to winning 7 cards.
• PLAY IT ANY TIME, ANY PLACE: Includes 50 Collectible Game Cards, 6 Clue Cards, and a portable box. Ideal for game nights, parties, playdates, road trips, travel, and outdoor adventures.
• BEST GIFT EVER!: Makes the perfect gift for boys, girls, parents, adults, friends, families, as well as for any board game, card game or space lover.

$19.97

Buy on Amazon

Validation performs a longer file check. It is not required for every routine update and can substantially extend downtime, especially when the installation is large.

Make sure SteamCMD changed the files that are actually running

After SteamCMD reports success, compare the path in +force_install_dir with the executable path configured in the Windows service, scheduled task, shortcut, or wrapper. A server can remain unchanged when two installations exist and the update was applied to an unused folder. Also check that a previous server process is not still running while you start another copy.

Restart and verify the update

Start SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe directly or start the Windows service. A successful update is more than a completed download; verify the running process.

Server-side checks

• Confirm the console reaches its normal ready state without immediate crashes.
• Read the startup log and record the exact game version it reports.
• Check that the expected world, settings, and mod list are present.
• Confirm the process is listening on the configured port.

Client-side check

Have a client on the current Space Engineers build join the server. A successful connection confirms that the server is reachable and that the client and server versions are compatible. If the client reports a version mismatch, update the client as well as the server, then check Steam’s download queue for a pending client or server update.

Do not delete the world or configuration to resolve a version mismatch. Restore from the backup only if the updated server cannot load the save and your logs point to a file or configuration problem.

Use the dedicated-server GUI’s automatic maintenance

Keen states that the dedicated-server GUI has a Maintenance tab with Auto Update and Auto Restart options. Auto Update works only while that dedicated-server GUI remains running.

When the GUI is always open

1. Open the dedicated-server GUI for the instance.
2. Go to the Maintenance tab.
3. Enable Auto Update.
4. Enable Auto Restart if you want the GUI to restart the process after maintenance.
5. Keep the GUI session running and verify after the next maintenance cycle that the log shows the new version.

Schedule a backup before an automatic update. Automation does not remove the need to preserve a recoverable world and configuration copy.

When the server runs as a console application

A plain console launch does not provide the GUI’s Auto Update function. Use a script or Windows Task Scheduler to stop the process gracefully, copy the save and configuration directories, run the SteamCMD command, and start the server again. The scheduler should record command output and return codes so a failed download does not look like a successful maintenance cycle.

When the server runs as a Windows service

If the service does not launch the dedicated-server GUI, configure the service’s recovery actions and add a scheduled health check. The health check should verify that the expected executable is running, the configured port is listening, and the startup log contains the current version. Keep the SteamCMD update step separate from the service restart so you can identify whether a failure occurred during download or startup.

Fix workshop mods that stop downloading after an update

Keen’s support response to a dedicated-server workshop-download problem affecting vanilla and Torch servers documented hotfix 1.206.032 b1 and instructed administrators to run a Force Update Check on their servers:

“We’ve just released hotfix 1.206.032 b1 for Dedicated Server. This update should resolve the issue you reported. Please make sure to run a Force Update Check on your servers to apply the fix.”

Run Force Update Check

1. Open the server management UI.
2. Choose Force Update Check.
3. Allow the check to finish and apply any requested files.
4. Restart the server if the interface requests it.
5. Review the log for workshop-download errors and test a client connection.

Force Update Check is the documented first remedy, not a guarantee that every workshop failure is fixed. Keen’s support thread also records later reports of continued failures. If downloads still fail, preserve the complete log, the displayed game version, the mod identifiers involved, and the time of the attempt before escalating to Keen support.

Rank #3

Gifts for Engineers – Engineering Playing Cards Deck – Cool Engineer Gift for Men, Graduation, Father’s Day, Dad & College – Unique Mechanical, Electrical & Civil Engineering Cards

• 52 Unique Engineering Drawings from Real American Patents — Every single card features a different engineering schematic sourced from authentic, expired American patents. Mechanical mechanisms, aerospace systems, electrical circuits, civil structures, and much more!
• Premium Quality Playing Cards – Standard 3.5” x 2.5” Poker Size — Printed on high‑quality, durable card stock with a smooth, linen‑style finish for professional handling and long‑lasting performance. These engineering playing cards are perfect for poker night, game night, cardistry, magic, collecting or display. Designed to feel like a luxury deck while maintaining official casino dimensions.
• Interactive QR Code to Explore Each Patent Drawing — Scan the built‑in QR code to unlock deeper insight into the engineering behind the artwork. Learn about the original inventors, patent numbers, design intent, mechanical principles, electrical concepts and real‑world applications. Perfect for engineers, students and curious minds who want to dive deeper into the STEM behind the art.
• Extremely Detailed Engineering Art – Printed at 0.1mm Resolution Accuracy — Each patent drawing is reproduced with ultra‑fine precision down to 0.1mm line accuracy, capturing every gear, circuit, bolt, beam, linkage and contour. The intricate detail makes the deck mesmerizing to look at, creating a visually stunning and immersive experience for engineers, students, designers and STEM lovers.
• Highly Unique & Collectible – Perfect for Playing Card Enthusiasts — A standout addition to any playing card collection, engineering collection or STEM display. Ideal for card collectors, poker players, cardistry fans, magicians, engineers, designers and anyone who appreciates technical art. A rare, niche, premium deck that makes an unforgettable gift for engineers and collectors alike.

$18.99

Buy on Amazon

Separate a workshop problem from a server-version problem

• If the server itself reports an old version, return to the Steam or SteamCMD update steps and verify the live executable path.
• If the server is current but only workshop content fails, run Force Update Check and inspect the workshop-related log entries.
• If one mod prevents startup, test the backed-up world with the affected mod identified rather than deleting the entire save.

Why an update appears successful but the server is still out of date

SteamCMD updated the wrong folder

Check the service’s executable and working-directory settings against the path passed to +force_install_dir. Correct the command or service definition, then stop the old process and start the updated installation.

A second installation is running

Search the running processes and launch configuration for another SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe. Stop the unintended instance before testing the updated one. Keep one authoritative installation per service unless you deliberately maintain separate instances.

Steam has not finished downloading

In the Steam client, open Downloads and wait for the dedicated-server update to leave the queue. A restart performed while Steam is still downloading can load the old files.

Files are corrupted or incomplete

Run SteamCMD with validate after stopping the server. Expect a longer check, then restart and compare the reported version with the version recorded before maintenance.

The client is the component that is out of date

Update the joining client and confirm that its Steam download has completed. A mismatch can persist when only one side has received the new build.

System requirements and network checks

Keen’s published dedicated-server minimums and recommended configuration are:

These figures are Keen Software House’s published requirements, not an independent capacity benchmark. Actual player capacity and simulation performance depend on the world, mods, scripts, and concurrent activity.

Open the default listen port

The default listen port is UDP 27016. For Internet players, forward UDP 27016 from the router to the server’s static local address and allow the same port through the Windows host firewall. If you choose a different port, use that value consistently in the server configuration, router rule, firewall rule, and any client connection instructions.

Test from an external network rather than only from the hosting machine’s local address. A local connection can succeed even when the router forwarding or firewall rule is wrong.

Self-hosting or managed hosting for updates?

Updating your own Windows machine gives you direct control over SteamCMD, scripts, backups, logs, and maintenance timing. A managed host can remove operating-system administration, but the provider determines how updates, backups, hardware allocation, and support are handled. Ask for the exact details before moving an established world.

Whichever model you use, retain a local copy of the world and configuration. A hosting panel is not a substitute for an independently restorable backup.

A repeatable maintenance checklist

1. Announce downtime and record the current displayed game version.
2. Stop the process through the GUI, service control, or graceful taskkill /IM SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe.
3. Copy the relevant AppDataRoamingSpaceEngineersDedicated or ProgramDataSpaceEngineersDedicated directory.
4. Confirm the executable path used by the live service.
5. Update in Steam through Library > Tools > Space Engineers Dedicated Server, or run the SteamCMD App ID 298740 command.
6. Use validate only for suspected corruption.
7. Start the same installation you updated.
8. Read the startup log and record the new game version.
9. Check UDP 27016 forwarding and firewall rules if external players cannot connect.
10. Have a client join and test the world, then monitor workshop downloads.

What a dedicated server changes

Keen Software House describes the model this way: “Dedicated servers in Space Engineers allow players to connect to a third party host, rather than using a player-host, in a peer-to-peer set-up.” The practical implication for maintenance is that the host machine owns the running server process, save files, network listener, and update schedule; every client must then connect to the version that machine is actually running.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

Homeworlds Pyramid Strategy Game - Deep Space Warfare for Two Players

$21.95

Bestseller No. 2

Skillmatics Guess in 10 – NASA Space, Educational Card Game, Gift for Kids

$19.97

Bestseller No. 3

Gifts for Engineers – Engineering Playing Cards Deck – Cool Engineer Gift for Men, Graduation, Father’s Day, Dad & College – Unique Mechanical, Electrical & Civil Engineering Cards

$18.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.