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server-settings.json is the main configuration file for a Factorio dedicated (headless) server. It centralizes options that were previously supplied separately at startup. Use the version of data/server-settings.example.json shipped with your Factorio installation as the authority, copy it to the location your server expects, edit valid JSON, and restart the server after changes. The exact keys and defaults can change between Factorio releases.
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What server-settings.json controls
A headless Factorio server reads a JSON configuration file to determine how it presents itself, how it saves the game, whether it pauses when empty, and which console commands players may use. The file replaced several older command-line options, so maintaining one settings file is generally easier than keeping a long startup command in a script.
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The file is configuration, not the save itself. Your world, mods, and server settings are separate pieces of the installation. Editing the JSON changes how the server starts and operates; it does not convert an existing save or repair a damaged world.
Factorio versions can add, rename, or remove settings. Community-maintained examples may describe a different release. Treat the example file bundled with the exact game build running on your server as authoritative rather than copying a complete configuration from an old guide.
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Where to find the template and active file
The official template
In a normal Factorio installation, the starting template is data/server-settings.example.json inside the game’s application directory. The Factorio Wiki’s Multiplayer guidance points administrators to this file when creating server settings. Copy the template, rename the copy to server-settings.json, and edit the copy so the original remains available for reference.
Installation layouts vary
Dedicated-server packages and managed hosts do not always expose the same directory tree. Some hosting-provider setups place the active file in the server root instead of a data/ directory. Confirm the path used by your launcher or control panel and inspect the startup log to make sure the intended file was loaded. A perfectly valid file in the wrong directory has no effect.
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- Keep a dated copy of the last known-good
server-settings.json. - Preserve the original, version-matched
server-settings.example.json. - Record the Factorio version, installed mods, and the server’s launch method with the backup.
How to create and edit the file safely
- Stop the dedicated server cleanly. Do not edit while the process is writing configuration or save data.
- Open the shipped
data/server-settings.example.jsonwith a text editor that does not add rich-text formatting. - Save a copy named exactly
server-settings.jsonin the path used by your installation or host. - Change only the values you need. Keep property names in double quotes, use commas between properties, and use JSON booleans such as
trueandfalsewithout quotation marks where the template uses booleans. - Validate the JSON before starting. A missing comma, an extra comma, mismatched quote, or comment can prevent the server from reading the file; standard JSON does not permit comments.
- Start the server using your normal headless-server procedure and check its log for configuration or parsing errors.
- After editing settings on a running installation, restart the server and verify the result in the multiplayer browser or in-game behavior. A restart is the cautious approach because automatic reload behavior is not consistently documented for every release.
Keep credentials out of screenshots, public repositories, and support tickets. If you use a password or token, treat the settings file as secret configuration and restrict its file permissions.
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Core settings at a glance
| Setting | Accepted form or unit | Effect | Default guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
visibility |
Object containing public and lan booleans |
Controls listing in the public matchmaking browser and broadcasting on the local network | The shipped example enables both; verify your version |
autosave_interval |
Number of minutes | Time between automatic saves | Example copies show 10; the exact current default is not established here |
auto_pause |
Boolean | Pauses the game when no players are connected when set to true |
Verify the template’s value for your release |
allow_commands |
"true", "false", or "admins-only" |
Controls whether console commands are available to players | Example copies show "admins-only"; confirm against your file |
Visibility: public browser versus LAN
Public listing
Set visibility.public to true when you want the server listed in Factorio’s public matchmaking browser. Public listing requires Factorio.com login credentials. The configuration can use a token in place of a password, which is preferable when the account supports token-based authentication. Do not assume that setting the boolean alone is sufficient: missing or invalid credentials can keep a server from appearing publicly.
Local-network discovery
Set visibility.lan to true to broadcast the server on the local network. This is useful for players on the same home or office network and does not itself make the server publicly searchable. Network firewalls, router isolation, and container networking can still prevent discovery even when the setting is enabled.
Example structure
"visibility": {
"public": true,
"lan": true
}The booleans above mirror the structure in the shipped example. Whether you choose one, both, or neither depends on how players connect. Always copy the surrounding syntax from your current template, because additional properties may be introduced in later versions.
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Saving and empty-server behavior
autosave_interval
autosave_interval is measured in minutes, not seconds. A value of 10 appears in copies of the shipped example, but that figure should be treated as a version-specific example rather than a guaranteed default. Shorter intervals reduce the amount of progress lost after a crash but create more save activity; longer intervals reduce save frequency while increasing the possible rollback window. Select a value appropriate to the size of the map, storage speed, and how much progress your players can recreate.
auto_pause
When auto_pause is true, the game pauses while no players are connected. Set it to false if you intentionally want factory production, trains, or other simulation activity to continue while the server is empty. Pausing conserves processing time and prevents an unattended factory from advancing, but it also means scheduled production will not progress until someone reconnects.
"autosave_interval": 10,
"auto_pause": trueThe snippet shows the data types and units; use the exact property order and neighboring syntax from your release’s template.
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Command permissions
allow_commands accepts three string values:
"true"permits commands for players according to the server’s command-permission model."false"disables commands."admins-only"restricts commands to administrators.
Example copies of the file show "admins-only" as the shipped value. This is a safer starting point for a public server because ordinary players cannot run administrative commands. Use "true" only when you understand the consequences and trust everyone with access. Quoting matters: these are documented string values, not JSON booleans.
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Search results and community copies mention additional properties, but their defaults and behavior should be checked against the current Wube-provided example before you depend on them:
| Reported key or group | What is safe to conclude |
|---|---|
name, description, tags |
These are reported as server metadata fields; the current accepted format and defaults are not established here. |
max_players |
Reported in community copies, including a claim that 0 means unlimited; verify both the meaning and limits in your version. |
username, password, token |
Authentication-related fields are reported, but do not copy names or assume password/token precedence without checking the bundled template. |
game_password, require_user_verification |
Reported as access-control options; exact behavior and defaults require version-specific confirmation. |
max_upload_in_kilobytes_per_second, minimum_latency_in_ticks |
Reported network or synchronization controls; units and safe values should come from the current example and official documentation. |
| Segment-size settings | Several segment-related keys are reported, but the relevant names and defaults can vary; copy them only from your installed template. |
ignore_player_limit_for_returning_players, autosave_slots |
Reported options whose precise behavior and defaults are not verified here. |
Do not fill an unknown key with a guessed value simply because another guide lists it. An unrecognized property may be ignored, rejected, or change meaning in a later release. Remove obsolete entries or rebuild the file from the new example when upgrading.
Self-hosting and managed hosting differences
| Consideration | Self-hosted machine | Managed game-server host |
|---|---|---|
| File location | You control the installation directory and can inspect the shipped template directly. | The provider may relocate the file, expose only selected fields, or require a panel-generated configuration. |
| Update timing | You choose when to update Factorio and can test the new template before switching. | The provider may schedule or apply updates; confirm which game version the panel and file represent. |
| Configuration control | You can edit the complete JSON and launch procedure. | Some keys may be hidden or overwritten by the panel; provider documentation takes precedence for its path and workflow. |
| Operational responsibility | You handle backups, firewall rules, credentials, and restarts. | The provider may handle process management, while you remain responsible for values such as visibility and access. |
Regardless of hosting model, the installed game’s example file is the best reference for valid keys. A web form may show only a subset of what the server supports.
Troubleshooting common problems
The server starts but settings do not change
- Confirm the filename is exactly
server-settings.json, notserver-settings.json.txt. - Check the active path used by the launch script or hosting panel; the template’s
data/location is not universal. - Stop and restart the server after editing, then inspect the startup log.
- Make sure you edited the server’s file rather than a client installation on another computer.
The server fails to start after an edit
- Validate the file as strict JSON and remove comments.
- Check every comma, quote, brace, and bracket.
- Compare each property name and value type with the version-matched example.
- Restore the last known-good backup to confirm that the problem is configuration-related, then reapply one change at a time.
The server is not visible publicly
Verify visibility.public is enabled, confirm the required Factorio.com credentials or token are valid, and check firewall or outbound-network restrictions. A public listing setting does not override an account failure or a blocked network connection.
LAN players cannot discover it
Check that visibility.lan is enabled and that clients are on the same reachable network. Guest Wi-Fi isolation, host firewalls, containers, and VPNs can block LAN broadcasts. Test by connecting through the server’s local address if your network permits it; discovery and direct reachability are separate problems.
Commands are unexpectedly unavailable
Inspect allow_commands for the exact string value. "false" disables commands and "admins-only" requires the player to be an administrator. Restart after changing the value and test with an account whose permission level you understand.
The factory keeps running while everyone is offline
Set auto_pause to true if the desired behavior is to pause when no players are connected. If it is already true, verify that the server actually loaded this file and that no host panel regenerated a different configuration.
Version-upgrade checklist
- Note the current Factorio version and back up the active settings file.
- Open the new release’s
data/server-settings.example.json. - Compare keys, value types, and defaults rather than assuming the old file remains complete.
- Port only the settings you still need, including visibility, save interval, pause behavior, and command policy.
- Validate the resulting JSON and test on a maintenance window.
- Check public or LAN visibility, connect with a test account, confirm command permissions, and observe an autosave before declaring the upgrade complete.
This process avoids the most common compatibility mistake: carrying an obsolete community configuration into a newer server build without checking what Wube shipped for that release.
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