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Open Factorio and choose Play > Multiplayer. Use Browse public games for a listed internet server, Browse LAN games for a game on your local network, Steam’s friend list or an invite to join a Steam friend, or Connect to address when the host gives you a server address and port. Before connecting, make sure your Factorio version and mods match the host’s exactly.
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Choose the right way to connect
The best route depends on how the host is running the game and what information they can give you. A server can be publicly listed, visible only on a local network, joined through Steam, or reached directly by address. Use this table to decide where to start.
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|---|---|---|
| Browse public games | The server is advertising itself online and appears in Factorio’s public list. | A Factorio.com account if the game prompts you to sign in; a password if the server requires one. |
| Steam friend list or invite | The host is playing through Steam and is available to join through Steam or an in-game invite. | Access to the host through Steam. The game may also ask for the server password. |
| Browse LAN games | You and the host are on the same local network. | The host’s game running and local network discovery and UDP traffic allowed. |
| Connect to address | The host has provided a server address and port, or the server is not listed in a browser. | The current address and port, plus a reachable UDP port on the host’s network. |
If you are unsure, ask the host which method they expect you to use. A server that is not publicly listed may still be joinable through Steam, LAN discovery, or a direct address.
Check the requirements before joining
Match the game version and mods
Factorio multiplayer requires every player to use exactly the same game version and the same mods. A version or mod mismatch can prevent a connection or keep you from joining the host’s game. Ask the host which version and mod set the save uses, then compare your installation before trying repeatedly.
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If you use mods, confirm that your enabled set matches the host’s—not just that you have some of the same mods installed. The requirement applies to the full mod set. If the host has changed the save’s mods since your last session, you may need to update your setup before connecting.
Get the password and correct server details
A host can require a password. This applies even if you reach the game through a browser, Steam handoff, or LAN discovery. Ask the host for the password rather than assuming that a listed or visible server is open to everyone.
For a direct connection, request the current server address and port. Factorio’s default server port is 34197/UDP, but a host can configure a different port. Do not assume the default if the host has changed the configuration.
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Understand what the host must allow
Factorio uses UDP for multiplayer traffic. For an internet-hosted game, the host must make the selected UDP port reachable and allow it through the firewall. If the host is behind a router using NAT and automatic joining does not work, they may need to forward the port or use another virtual-LAN solution.
Join a public Factorio server
Public servers appear in Factorio’s public game browser when their operators announce them to Factorio’s matching service. A server that does not appear there may be private, offline, or reachable only by another method.
- Open Play > Multiplayer > Browse public games.
- If prompted, sign in with your Factorio.com account.
- Choose the server you want from the list.
- Enter the password if the server requests one, then continue into the game.
If you cannot find a server, first check that you are looking for the right name and that the host says it is publicly listed. Ask whether the server is running and whether the operator has enabled public listing. If it is not intended to be public, request a Steam invite or the direct address and port instead.
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Join a friend through Steam
When your friend is playing Factorio through Steam, use Steam’s friend list or an in-game invite to join. Steam provides a way to hand off the connection to the game, but it does not remove the host’s password requirement: Factorio may still prompt you for the server password after the handoff.
- Ask your friend to start or open the Factorio multiplayer game and send an invite, or make sure they are available in your Steam friend list.
- Use the Steam friend list or the invite to select the option to join the friend’s game.
- Allow the handoff to open or focus Factorio.
- Enter the game password if prompted.
If the join option is unavailable, confirm that the friend is currently playing Factorio and ask them to send an invite. If the handoff reaches Factorio but fails to complete, verify the version and mod set, then ask whether the host can provide a direct address or another joining route.
Join a Factorio game on your LAN
Use LAN browsing when you and the host are on the same local network, such as the same home network. Factorio supports automatic LAN discovery without an internet connection. Older wording in the game may say Play on LAN; the current path in the supplied instructions is Play > Multiplayer > Browse LAN games.
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- Make sure the host has started the multiplayer game.
- On your device, open Play > Multiplayer > Browse LAN games (or Play on LAN if that is the label shown).
- Select the host’s game from the discovered list.
- Enter the password if Factorio asks for one.
If the game does not appear, check that both devices are actually on the same local network and that local firewall rules allow discovery and UDP traffic. A guest Wi-Fi network or network isolation can prevent devices from seeing each other even when both have internet access. If discovery remains unavailable, ask the host whether a direct address on the local network is an option.
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Use a direct connection when the host gives you an address or when you need to reach a server that is not listed in the public browser. Depending on the game version, the menu wording may be Connect to address or Connect to server.
- Ask the host for the server’s current address and port. Confirm whether the address is meant to be reached over the internet or only from the local network.
- Open Play > Multiplayer > Connect to address or Connect to server.
- Enter the address and port using the game’s connection form, then start the connection.
- Provide the password if requested.
The standard Factorio server port is 34197/UDP. A configured server can use a different port, so use the value the host supplies. For an internet connection, the host must have made that UDP port reachable through any router and firewall in the path. If the host is behind NAT, port forwarding or a virtual-LAN solution may be necessary.
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Diagnose a connection that fails
Work through these checks in order. They separate a stale server or wrong details from the more common version, mod, network, and access problems.
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- Confirm that the host is still running the save. Ask whether the game or server is currently online. A saved address does not help if the host has stopped the session.
- Check the address and port. For direct joining, have the host confirm that you have the current address and configured port. If they use the default, that is UDP 34197; if they changed it, entering the default will not reach the server.
- Compare versions and mods. Both sides must run exactly the same Factorio version and mod set. Ask the host to verify the version and enabled mods for the running save, not just the mods they normally use.
- Check the password. Confirm whether the host requires one and get the current password. A password prompt after a Steam join is possible and does not by itself mean the Steam handoff failed.
- For a direct internet connection, check UDP reachability. The host should verify that the configured UDP port is exposed and allowed through the firewall. If they use a router with NAT, they may need to forward that port to the server.
- For LAN browsing, check the local network and firewall. Both devices need to be on the same local network, with discovery and UDP traffic allowed. If devices are isolated from one another, the game may not show up even though both can browse the internet.
- Try another available route. If the server is publicly listed, try the public browser; if the host is your Steam friend, try Steam joining or an invite. These routes use Factorio’s matching and connection services and may avoid the need to exchange a public address directly.
If these checks do not identify the issue, ask the host which method they configured, whether the server is public or private, and whether the port differs from the default. Those details determine whether the next step is correcting client setup, changing the route, or fixing the host’s network configuration.
What server hosts need to know
If a friend is hosting the game, the joining route depends in part on how they made it available. A publicly listed server must announce itself to Factorio’s matching service. A direct internet connection requires a reachable UDP port and appropriate firewall access. A LAN game relies on local discovery, while Steam joining works through the friend or invite handoff.
Factorio also supports dedicated and headless servers. The Factorio Wiki documents starting a server with a save file using --start-server. Wube’s FAQ says Linux has a lightweight headless package, while the normal Windows package can run headless. These options are for the person operating the server; players joining still use one of the multiplayer routes above.
How many players can join?
Wube Software’s FAQ describes Factorio multiplayer as supporting up to 500 players in a single game. That is a product-level capability, not a guarantee that every server, map, mod combination, or network can provide a good experience at that size. Actual capacity depends on the map, mods, server performance, and network conditions.
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