Abiotic Factor server loads the wrong world or players cannot join

Nearly every Abiotic Factor support ticket is one of these four problems.

1. The world is empty after a restart

The server loads the save named by the -WorldSaveName startup parameter. If that value changes, even by a capital letter, the server creates a brand new world instead of loading yours.

1. Stop the server.
2. Open the Files tab and list AbioticFactor/Saved/SaveGames/Server/Worlds/. Every world you have ever created is a folder there.
3. Note the exact folder name of the world you want.
4. Open the Startup page for your server. It is not linked in the sidebar, so add /startup to the end of your server's panel address.
5. Set the world save name to match the folder exactly, then start the server.

Nothing was deleted. The old world is still in that folder.

2. Sandbox settings are ignored

• SandboxSettings.ini must be inside the world folder you are actually loading, not next to it.
• The file must start with the line [SandboxSettings]. Without that header the whole file is skipped and no error is printed.
• The server must be stopped when you edit it. The save is written on shutdown and will overwrite your edit.

3. Players cannot find the server

• Give them the Steam favourites method with IP:QueryPort instead of the in game browser.
• Check that the server has finished loading. It does not answer queries until the facility is loaded.
• Confirm everyone is on the same game version. A client update the day before is a common cause.

4. The server starts and stops again

1. Read the last 40 lines of the Console after the stop.
2. A crash during world load usually means the save is from a newer game version than the server, which happens if you uploaded a world from a PC that updated first.
3. If memory ran out, the console shows the process being killed rather than an in game error. Reduce the player limit or move to a larger plan.

Open a ticket with the last console output if none of these fit. Include the world save name you expect to load.