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The simplest way to play Factorio with a small group is through Steam visibility: the host chooses Play → Multiplayer → Host new game (or Host saved game), enables Steam visibility, and starts. Friends then use Steam’s invite or join action. For players on one network, Play → Multiplayer → Play on LAN avoids Internet setup. Direct Internet connections use Connect to address; the host may need to allow and forward Factorio’s default UDP port, 34197.
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Choose the right multiplayer method
Factorio supports several ways to share a world. Your choice depends mainly on whether everyone is on the same network, whether the host will be present, and how much control you need over access.
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| Method | Best for | Internet required | Does the world depend on a player-host? | Main setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam visibility | Most private friend groups | Yes | Usually yes | Enable Steam visibility and invite or join through Steam |
| Play on LAN | People on the same home, school, or office network | No public Internet connection | Yes | Start a LAN game; others select Play on LAN |
| Connect to address | Direct control over an Internet server | Yes | Usually yes, unless the server is dedicated | Enter the server’s public address and port |
| Public browser | Open communities or people who want a searchable server | Yes | Depends on the host or server | Set visibility to Public and configure account credentials |
| Dedicated/headless server | A persistent world that should stay online without the graphical client | Normally yes for remote players | No player needs to remain in the game client | Run Factorio with --start-server and manage the server process |
For a normal co-op session, start with Steam visibility. Move to LAN when everyone is physically on the same network, and use a dedicated server when the map must remain available while the usual host is offline.
Before anyone connects
Use a supported copy
Each participant needs Factorio from a supported purchase channel. Factorio’s FAQ lists Factorio.com, Steam, and GOG.com. The account or launcher used to obtain the game does not remove the need for version and mod compatibility.
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Match the exact game version
Every client and the server must run the same Factorio version. A seemingly small version difference can prevent a connection or make a save unavailable. Have everyone check the version shown by their installation and update or roll back before attempting to join.
Match every mod
The complete mod set and the version of every mod must match on all clients and on the server. “Almost the same” is not enough: a missing mod, an extra mod, or a different mod release can stop loading or produce a mismatch. For a first session, an unmodded save removes one entire class of compatibility problems.
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Choose private Steam-friends access, LAN-only play, a hidden direct-address server, or a public listing before starting. Add a password for an invite-only world. A password is especially important if a server is visible in a public list.
Steam: the easiest way to play with friends
Steam visibility is the recommended option for an average friend group because Steam handles the connection rather than requiring the host to exchange a public address or configure a router.
- Open Factorio and select Multiplayer from the main menu.
- Choose Host new game to generate a new world, or Host saved game to continue an existing save.
- At the server-visibility step, enable Steam. Set a password if you want an additional barrier beyond your friend list.
- Start the game and wait until the world has loaded.
- Have friends use Steam’s game invite or join action. They should then be passed into the Factorio session.
This approach is generally the least technical because the host does not have to expose a router port manually. It is still subject to the same version and mod requirements as every other method. If an invite does not work, confirm that both players are online, that the host actually started the multiplayer session rather than loading a single-player game, and that the installations match.
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Hosting a saved factory
Use Host saved game when the group already has a factory. Select the save from the host’s list, then apply the same Steam visibility and password choices before launching. Make a backup of an important save before a large group joins or before adding or removing mods.
LAN play for people on the same network
LAN play keeps the session on the local network instead of making it reachable through the public Internet. It is appropriate for a household, classroom, office, or event where every computer is connected to the same network.
- The host selects Play → Multiplayer.
- The host starts a new game or loads a saved game.
- Other players select Play → Multiplayer → Play on LAN.
- They choose the host’s game from the LAN list and connect.
LAN avoids public Internet exposure and normally avoids router port-forwarding. It does not bypass game compatibility rules: clients still need the exact same Factorio version and mod set. Guest Wi-Fi, school networks, and office networks may isolate devices from one another; if the game does not appear, the network may be preventing local discovery even though all computers show the same Wi-Fi name.
Direct Internet connections with “Connect to address”
Direct addressing is useful when Steam visibility is unavailable or when the host wants to control exactly which address and port friends use. The friend enters the server’s public address rather than selecting it from a Steam or LAN list.
- The host starts a multiplayer game and determines the public address that remote players should use.
- If the host changed Factorio’s port, note that custom port. Otherwise, Factorio’s documented default is UDP 34197.
- The host configures the router or gateway to forward that UDP traffic to the computer running Factorio.
- The host allows Factorio through the operating system firewall and any antivirus network protection.
- The joining player selects Play → Multiplayer → Connect to address, enters the public address and, when needed, the port, and connects.
A host behind carrier-grade NAT, a restrictive campus network, or another gateway that does not permit inbound forwarding may not be able to accept a direct connection. Factorio’s documentation identifies port forwarding or a virtual LAN tool as the alternatives in that situation. The virtual-LAN option changes how the computers reach one another; it does not change the requirement for matching versions and mods.
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When the host has a changed port
The address must include the same port configured on the server. A friend who enters only the address, or enters the default while the host is using a custom value, will contact the wrong endpoint. Treat the address and port as one connection detail and copy them exactly.
Using the public server browser
A host can set the game’s visibility to Public. The session can then appear in Factorio’s public server list, where players select Browse public games and choose the server.
Public listing is intended for open communities rather than a private group. Anyone who can find the listing may attempt to join, so use a password for a friends-only world. Public listing also requires the relevant Factorio account credentials in the server settings. If the credentials are missing or invalid, the server may not register correctly even when the game itself is running.
For a private group, Steam-friends visibility or a hidden direct-address server provides a smaller exposure surface. Use Public only when discoverability is a goal.
Dedicated and headless servers
A dedicated server keeps the factory available without requiring the usual host to remain in Factorio’s graphical client. This is the better fit for a long-running world, rotating play times, or a group that wants to reconnect independently.
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What Factorio provides
Factorio documents a dedicated/headless mode started with --start-server SAVE. Its command-line reference also provides options for server settings, the listening port, a whitelist, a ban list, and an admin list. The official FAQ describes a free, lightweight dedicated headless package for Linux; the normal Windows package can also run headless.
Start a server from a save
From a shell on the machine that will host the server, use the documented pattern:
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factorio --start-server path/to/save.zipReplace the path with the actual save file. The server process must remain running for players to connect. Store the save and configuration where they can be backed up, and decide who receives administrator access before inviting the group.
Useful command-line controls
The command-line reference includes --server-settings for a server-settings file and --port for changing the listening port. It also documents whitelist, banlist, and admin-list controls for managing access. If the port is changed, update firewall and router rules and give remote players the matching address and port.
Players can use the documented --mp-connect ADDRESS[:PORT] form to connect to a remote server. The same endpoint information can also be entered through Factorio’s multiplayer connection interface.
Maintenance responsibilities
A dedicated server removes the requirement for a player-host to be present, but it adds administration:
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- Install exactly the same mods and mod versions required by the save.
- Back up saves before upgrades or mod changes.
- Maintain firewall rules and any router forwarding.
- Use the whitelist, ban list, and admin list when the server is shared beyond close friends.
- Stop the server cleanly and verify that the save has been written before replacing files or upgrading.
How Factorio networking affects play
Factorio uses a client-server forwarding model. Clients send network traffic to the server, and the server forwards it to the other clients. That design allows players inside and outside a LAN to participate in the same game.
A remote player may take an additional network hop compared with a purely local session, which can add latency. The practical result depends on the host’s connection, the route between players, map complexity, and the number of active entities and mods. A fast Internet connection does not guarantee identical latency for every participant because each player’s route to the server can differ.
Connection troubleshooting
The game is not visible in Steam
- Confirm the host selected Multiplayer, not a single-player load.
- Check that Steam visibility is enabled in the server setup.
- Verify that both people are signed in and that the host’s session is still running.
- Check exact Factorio versions and mod lists before trying again.
The LAN list is empty
- Confirm every computer is on the same local network, not one on a guest or isolated network.
- Temporarily check whether the operating system firewall is blocking Factorio’s local traffic; create an appropriate allow rule rather than leaving protection disabled.
- Make sure the host started a multiplayer game and that the server has finished loading.
- If the network blocks local discovery, use Steam visibility or a direct address instead.
Direct Internet joining times out
- Verify the address entered by the friend is the host’s current public address.
- Confirm the server is listening on the port the friend entered.
- Check router forwarding for Factorio’s UDP traffic and ensure it points to the correct host computer.
- Allow Factorio through the host firewall and antivirus network controls.
- Check whether the host’s Internet provider or upstream network uses NAT that prevents inbound connections.
- Confirm that the server is actually running and that the client and server use the same version and mods.
A connection reaches the server but the save will not load
- Compare the full mod list, including each mod’s version.
- Compare the exact Factorio version on the server and all clients.
- Restore the mod set that was used when the save was last known to work.
- If the save belongs to a newer game version, update every participant rather than mixing versions.
A public server does not appear
- Check that visibility is set to Public, not Steam, LAN, or hidden/direct mode.
- Verify the required Factorio account credentials in server settings.
- Confirm that firewall and router rules permit the configured UDP port.
- Use a password if the server is intended for a limited group, even after it appears publicly.
How many people can join?
Factorio’s 2026 FAQ states: “The game has a very robust multiplayer system, allowing for up to 500 players in a single game.” That is a published upper-support statement, not a guarantee that every computer, map, mod set, or Internet connection will perform well with 500 participants.
For a friends’ co-op game, practical capacity is constrained by the host’s processor, memory, upload capacity, map complexity, and mod load. No official benchmark establishes a guaranteed player count for a particular home setup. Start with the number of players your host and network can sustain, then monitor latency and simulation performance as the factory grows.
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A practical decision guide
Choose Steam visibility when
- The group is small and already uses Steam.
- You want the least network configuration.
- The host will normally be present when others play.
Choose LAN when
- Everyone is on the same trusted network.
- You want to avoid exposing the game to the public Internet.
- Local discovery works on that network.
Choose a direct address when
- You need explicit control over the server endpoint.
- Steam visibility is unsuitable.
- The host can configure inbound UDP access or use a virtual LAN arrangement.
Choose a public listing when
- You want people outside your friend list to discover the game.
- You are prepared to manage a password and public access.
- The server has the required account credentials and network rules.
Choose a dedicated server when
- The factory should stay online while the usual host is away.
- Players connect at different times.
- Someone can handle updates, save backups, firewall rules, and mod synchronization.
Final preflight checklist
- Every player has Factorio from a supported channel.
- Clients and server use the exact same Factorio version.
- The complete mod set and mod versions match.
- The host selected the intended visibility mode.
- A password is set for a private or invite-only game.
- For direct Internet play, the public address, configured port, UDP forwarding, firewall, and antivirus rules are correct.
- For public listing, the required Factorio account credentials are present in server settings.
- For a dedicated server, the save, settings, access lists, backups, and server process are ready.
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