Short answers to the questions Factorio server owners ask most on PlayNHost. Each links to the full guide.
Getting started
How do I know the server is ready? The Console prints Hosting game at and the badge turns Online. Full guide
How do my friends join? In Factorio: Multiplayer, Connect to address, then the Server Address from Overview, port included. Full guide
Do players use port 34197? No. Your server has its own port, shown in the Server Address. Factorio uses UDP only. Full guide
Does the server need its own copy of the game? No. The headless server is a free download from factorio.com that the server installs itself. Each player needs the game.
Do players need Space Age? Yes while Space Age is on, which is the default. Switching it off for a new world turns off three of the expansion's four mods; read the Recycler note in the full guide first. Full guide
Why is my server not in Browse public games? It needs your factorio.com username and token. Full guide
How do I set a password? Settings, Game Settings, Server password, then restart. Full guide
How do I become admin? Type /promote YourName in the Console. Full guide
Worlds and saves
Can I bring my own world? Yes. Saves, Upload a save, then Use this save and restart. Full guide
Where are my saves on Windows? In %appdata%\Factorio\saves. Full guide
Can I download the server's world? Yes, with the download icon on Saves. Full guide
Can I undo a griefer or a mistake? Yes, if you took a snapshot before: Make it a save, Use this save, restart. Full guide
Is progress lost when I stop the server? No. Factorio saves when it shuts down, and it autosaves every 10 minutes by default. Full guide
Does the factory keep running when nobody is on? Not by default: Pause when empty pauses the game with no players connected. Full guide
How do I start a new map? Set a new Save Name (and Map Preset, Map Seed if you like) and restart; old saves stay. Full guide
Are backups included? Backups use your plan's backup slots and keep saves, mods and settings. Full guide
Mods
How do I add mods? Modding, Mods, Browse, Install, then restart. Dependencies come with them. Full guide
Why does the Modding tab ask for my factorio.com token? The Mod Portal only allows downloads from a signed-in account. Uploading .zip files under Files needs no account. Full guide
Do players have to install the mods themselves? No. Factorio offers to sync the server's mods when they join. Full guide
Versions and players
Does the server update itself? Yes, at every start, to the stable build players' games use. A Daily restart runs every morning. Full guide
Can I stay on one version? Yes: switch Auto-update server off, or set Factorio Version to the exact number it runs. Full guide
Can I play the experimental version? Yes: Factorio Version experimental. Players need the same build. Full guide
Can Nintendo Switch players join? Wube's wiki lists the limits: cross-platform play needs the same game version, the Switch has no mods, Space Age exists only on the Switch 2 version, and games on a dedicated server are not shown in the Switch's browse lists (Factorio wiki). Full guide
How many players can join? Your plan's Maximum Slots, shown as Slots on Overview. Admins can join even when it is full. Full guide
How much RAM does it need? Read Usage, RAM with players on. Only the card This server ran out of memory means the plan is too small. Full guide
More: Factorio server problems and fixes. Plans: Factorio server hosting.
