Automation · Lightweight

Host a Factorio Server

Host Factorio on your own Windows 10/11 or Linux computer. Swarm Hosts gives you a browser control panel to start, stop, monitor, and back up your server.

  • Server Actions
  • Backups
Start a Factorio server Read the complete game guide
Factorio dedicated server artwork Available in Early Access

Hardware and runtime

What Factorio needs

Minimum requirements are a starting point. World size, player count, content, and game settings can require more resources.

CPU
2+ cores
Memory
2 GiB minimum
Player traffic
UDP
Backup coverage
4 saved data locations
  • Persistent data: /factorio
  • Gameplay: assigned UDP port
  • First start: creates a save automatically when none exists
  • Files: saves, mods, and server settings persist across restarts
  • Ready signal: the server log reports Hosting game at IP ADDR:
  • Minimum resources: 2 CPU and 2 GB RAM
Technical overview

Factorio uses UDP for gameplay and stores saves, mods, and configuration under /factorio. The current managed server version is Factorio 2.0.77.

Launch workflow

From host to running server

Factorio currently has no game-specific settings form. Use Files & Backups → File Manager for saves, mods, and configuration files. Stop the server before editing game configuration. Create a backup before replacing a save or changing a mod set. Platform backups include /factorio/saves, /factorio/config, /factorio/mods, and /factorio/scenarios.

  1. Choose Factorio.
  2. Select the target Swarm Host or Swarm Zone.
  3. Set the Swarm Server name and resource limits.
  4. Launch and wait for the server to create or load its save.

Networking

How players connect

Players can use Factorio's multiplayer browser or direct-connect flow with the published host and assigned UDP port shown on the Swarm Server.

Managed shared relay when the game, host, and current relay path support it.

Server Actions

Manage your Factorio server

Available tools depend on the game, server status, and your permissions. The game guide explains any setup needed for Server Actions.

Server status

Read the pinned Factorio version, save, settings, and online-player summary.

Discover players

Refresh known and currently online Factorio players for trusted selections.

Access lists

Refresh persisted Factorio bans, whitelist members, and administrators.

Broadcast message

Send a server-authored message to every connected force.

Save map now

Save the active map and wait for a correlated, structurally valid save archive.

Kick player

Disconnect a currently online Factorio player.

Ban player

Disconnect and persistently ban a known Factorio player.

Unban player

Remove a player from the persisted Factorio ban list.

Add to whitelist

Add a known player to the whitelist; the first entry restricts server access.

Remove from whitelist

Remove a player from the whitelist; removing the last entry allows everyone.

Promote administrator

Grant Factorio administrator rights to a known player.

Demote administrator

Remove Factorio administrator rights from a selected administrator.

Mods & Content status

Mods and custom content

Factorio mods remain a manifest-only manual-files workflow under /factorio/mods. Mod archives execute code and must match the pinned game/DLC version. Swarm Hosts does not resolve portal versions, dependencies, updates, order, or exact rollback in this integration.

Factorio mods are managed manually through Files & Backups. There is no Factorio Mods & Content page. Mod ZIPs live under /factorio/mods and execute code in the game runtime.

  • Compatibility depends on Factorio 2.0.77, enabled DLC, dependencies, and each mod's declared version constraints.
  • The current integration does not promise portal discovery, dependency resolution, automatic updates, load ordering, drift repair, or exact-version rollback.
  • Back up saves, configuration, and the complete mod set together before a change. Restart the server after changing mods and verify the load log before players rejoin.
  • Automatic mod updates on startup are disabled by default.

Know before launch

Before you launch

  • Host on Windows 10/11 or Linux with Docker Desktop in Linux-container mode on Windows, or Docker Engine or rootful Podman on Linux.
  • Managed shared relay when the game, host, and current relay path support it.

Related guides

Windows 10/11 + Linux

Ready to host Factorio?

Connect the Windows or Linux computer you already own, then follow the game-specific launch path.

Start a Factorio serverCompare supported games