The supported way to run a Space Engineers dedicated server is the Windows Dedicated Server software. Install it from Steam’s Library > Tools section or with SteamCMD app ID 298740, then launch SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe to create the server, select a world, set session rules, and start it. Keen Software House lists 3.2 GHz and three logical cores with 6 GB of RAM as the minimum, and 4.5 GHz and three logical cores with 10 GB of RAM as the recommended dedicated-server specification.
Godlike.Host offers hosted Space Engineers servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
What the Space Engineers Dedicated Server Manager does
SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe is the configuration and launch manager for a dedicated server. It creates or opens a world, applies server and session settings, starts the simulation, and exposes the controls needed to stop or update the installation. The same configuration concepts apply whether you run the process in a visible console window for testing or arrange for it to run as a service for unattended operation.
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A dedicated server is separate from the normal game client. The figures published for the server should not be confused with the client’s gaming requirements: the server needs a Windows PC, .NET Framework 4.8 or newer, and the required Microsoft Visual C++ redistributables. The installation itself is about 8 GB before downloaded mods, logs, and world saves are added.
Check the requirements before installing
| Item | Minimum | Recommended | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | 3.2 GHz, three logical cores | 4.5 GHz, three logical cores | These are the dedicated-server figures in Keen Software House’s current guide, checked in 2026. A faster sustained clock is more useful than simply adding many low-clock cores. |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 10 GB RAM | Leave additional memory for Windows, monitoring tools, logs, and the game’s downloaded content; heavily modded worlds can need more than the published recommendation. |
| Operating system | Windows PC | The supported self-host path described here is the Windows Dedicated Server software. | |
| Runtime | .NET Framework 4.8 or higher and the required Visual C++ redistributables | Install these before troubleshooting a server executable that will not launch. | |
| Disk space | Approximately 8 GB for the server install | The Space Engineers Wiki figure is before logs, saves, and downloaded mods. Reserve substantially more free space if you keep multiple backups. | |
| Internet connection | 5 Mbps is listed in the official requirements | This is a published requirement, not a guarantee for every player count or mod set. Upload capacity, latency, and stability also matter. | |
For a public server, use a machine that can remain powered on and connected. A static public IP is optional, but Keen recommends one for public hosting because servers are stored by IP address in players’ favorites and history. A changing address means players may have to find the server again after an ISP reconnect.
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Choose Steam or SteamCMD
| Method | Best for | Where files live | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Tools | Administrators who already use the Steam client and want a graphical library entry | The Steam library folder containing DedicatedServer64 |
Steam can update the tool automatically; the manager also provides maintenance controls for automatic or manual updates. |
| SteamCMD | Headless machines, scripted deployments, or systems where the Steam client is not installed | The installation directory and its TempContent area |
Run SteamCMD again with the same app ID when you want to check for updates. |
Both methods install the same dedicated-server software. The important operational difference is the location of saves and logs, which affects backups and migration.
Install through Steam
- Open the Steam desktop client and select Library.
- Use the library filter or drop-down to show Tools.
- Find Space Engineers Dedicated Server and choose Install. Select a library with enough room for the base files plus your expected worlds, logs, and mods.
- After installation, open the tool’s installation folder and run
DedicatedServer64SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe. Launching the executable directly is useful when you need to see startup errors.
On the first run, Windows may ask for firewall permission. Permit the server process only on the network profiles you actually use, and apply your organization’s firewall policy rather than exposing an unnecessary service.
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SteamCMD is the supported option for a machine that does not have the Steam desktop client. Install SteamCMD in a directory you control, then open a command prompt in that directory and run:
steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +force_install_dir "<directory>" +app_update 298740 +quitReplace <directory> with the folder in which you want the server installed. The command logs in anonymously, selects that folder, downloads app ID 298740, and exits when the update completes. Start the server with:
<InstallFolder>DedicatedServer64SpaceEngineersDedicated.exeKeep the install directory stable. Moving it later changes the location of the SteamCMD installation’s TempContent data and can make an existing backup or automation script point to the wrong place.
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Complete the first-run manager setup
When the manager opens, create the initial configuration in this order:
The Tool Desk
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- Choose Continue to server configuration.
- Enter a distinct server name. Make it recognizable to players and avoid changing it casually after people have added the server to their favorites.
- Enter or create the world name. Decide whether to start a new world or load an existing save before changing gameplay rules.
- Adjust the available session settings for your group: difficulty, progression, inventory and assembler rules, PvP behavior, respawn options, and other controls exposed by the current build. Change one group of settings at a time so a later problem is easy to trace.
- Select Save & start. Watch the console for world loading, mod downloads, and any dependency or permission errors before inviting players.
Run in the foreground while you are validating the world and network path. Once the server is stable, use the service or unattended arrangement appropriate to your Windows installation; the world and session settings remain the same.
Find saves, logs, and downloaded content
| Installation route | Documented location | What to use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Tools | %appdata%SpaceEngineersDedicated |
Locate the server’s documented logs and saves for backup, diagnosis, and migration. |
| SteamCMD | The installation’s TempContent area |
Find the corresponding logs and world data within the SteamCMD deployment tree. |
Windows expands %appdata% to the current user’s roaming application-data folder. If the server runs under a service account, that account can have a different profile and therefore a different path. Record the account and exact directory when you first deploy the server.
Back up the world save before a major server update, before changing a large mod set, and before testing a third-party administration layer. A useful backup contains the complete save rather than only a screenshot of settings, and it should be copied off the server so a failed disk or Windows update cannot destroy both the live world and its backup.
Make the server reachable
Private or local play
For a LAN or a small private test, first confirm that clients can reach the Windows machine on the same network. Keep the server’s local address stable on your LAN so a router lease change does not invalidate your own connection instructions.
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Public hosting
Keen’s guide calls a static public IP optional but recommends it for public servers because the game records servers by IP in favorites and history. Also verify that the host has enough upload bandwidth; the official requirements list 5 Mbps, while actual needs vary with player count, simulation activity, and mods.
Your router and Windows firewall must allow the dedicated-server traffic. The current primary requirements material does not provide a verified port-forwarding table, so do not copy a port number from an old forum post. Use Keen Software House’s current networking documentation or your hosting provider’s instructions for the exact ports and protocol rules applicable to your build. Test from outside your home network, not only from the host itself.
Latency and location
Choose a host location close to most players when possible. A fast CPU and sufficient RAM cannot compensate for an unstable route or high latency. Ask players to test during the hours when the server will normally be busy, because a connection that works for one local client does not prove that an internet-facing setup is ready.
Add mods safely
Mods change the world’s dependency set and can increase both storage use and startup time. In the manager’s world or session configuration, use the available mod-list control to add the required Workshop items, then save the configuration and start the server. Keep a written list of the mod IDs and their intended order so you can reproduce the setup after a reinstall.
- Stop the server before changing the mod list; editing a live world can leave a partial configuration.
- Back up the save before adding, removing, or replacing a mod.
- Confirm that every mod supports the current Space Engineers build and that dependencies are present.
- Change a small group of mods at once. If startup fails, revert the last group rather than guessing which of dozens of changes caused it.
- Allow time for the server to download content before judging the first startup as frozen.
Do not assume a mod that works on a client will work on a dedicated server. Server-side scripts, permissions, and entity-heavy mods can affect performance and administration differently from a single-player session.
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When Torch is worth adding
Torch is optional third-party software. Its project describes it as the successor to SE Server Extender, with real-time entity management and an extensible plugin system. It is useful when the stock manager is not enough for your administrators’ needs, such as:
- live grid or entity controls without stopping the world;
- plugins for automation, moderation, scheduled tasks, or monitoring;
- administrative tools that expose more information than the standard console; and
- repeatable operational actions for a busy public server.
Torch adds another compatibility layer. Check that the Torch release and every plugin support the current Space Engineers build before installing. Test it against a copy of the world, keep the stock server files and a clean backup available, and document how to return to the standard manager if a plugin prevents startup. Treat Torch updates like mod updates: stop the server, back up first, change one component, and inspect the logs after launch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Plan updates and routine maintenance
Server software
Steam can update the dedicated-server tool automatically. The manager also exposes maintenance controls for automatic or manual updates, while SteamCMD administrators can rerun the app-update command. Automatic updates reduce the time an installation remains outdated, but they can also introduce a build change when your mods or plugins are not ready. For a public world, announce a maintenance window and keep a known-good backup before applying a major update.
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World and mod backups
Use a rotation rather than one overwritten backup: keep a recent copy, a copy from before the last update, and an older restore point. Include the world save, the server configuration, and your mod or plugin inventory. Periodically restore a copy to a separate directory so you know the backups are usable.
Logs and disk growth
Review logs after crashes, failed mod downloads, and unexpected shutdowns. The approximately 8 GB installation estimate does not include logs, saves, or mods, so monitor free space and remove obsolete backups only after confirming that a newer restore point exists.
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Access and administration
Limit who can edit the server directory and who can operate the Windows service. Separate routine player administration from file-system access, and keep a record of configuration changes. This makes it possible to identify whether a failure followed an update, a mod change, or an operating-system change.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
Self-hosting is appropriate when you want direct control of files, settings, backups, and mods and are comfortable maintaining Windows and the network. A managed host trades some control for a simpler deployment and a service-level responsibility for uptime. Keen Software House identifies GTX Gaming as its official PC server host and Nitrado as its official Xbox server host; availability, pricing, locations, and terms can change, so verify the current offer before purchasing.
| Decision factor | Self-hosted Windows | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Your Windows PC or rented Windows machine | Use the provider’s supported PC or console offering |
| Control | Full access to executable, files, settings, saves, and network | Control is mediated by the provider’s panel and policies |
| Setup time | Install prerequisites, server files, firewall rules, and backups yourself | Usually faster because the image and control panel are prepared |
| Maintenance burden | You handle Windows updates, runtimes, security, monitoring, and recovery | The provider handles the underlying machine; you still manage worlds, settings, and often mods |
| Updates | Choose automatic or manual timing through Steam, SteamCMD, or the manager | Check how the provider schedules and exposes game updates |
| Backups | Design, store, and test your own backup rotation | Confirm retention, restore process, and whether backups cost extra |
| Mods and plugins | Maximum flexibility, including Torch, subject to compatibility | Depends on the host’s panel, filesystem access, and policy |
| Uptime | Limited by your power, internet connection, and maintenance | Usually the main reason to pay: datacenter power and connectivity are managed for you |
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| Location and latency | Determined by your home or chosen machine location | Choose from the provider’s available regions and test player latency |
| Recurring cost | Existing hardware may have no new monthly bill, but uses electricity and your connection | Monthly charge varies with memory, player capacity, storage, location, and support; verify current pricing |
Choose self-hosting if control and customization outweigh the time spent maintaining the machine. Choose managed hosting when continuous availability, a convenient control panel, and delegated infrastructure work matter more than unrestricted access. In either case, confirm platform support, player capacity, mod and plugin policy, backup guarantees, update handling, location, support hours, and the total recurring cost before moving an established world.
Troubleshoot the common failure points
The executable will not start
- Verify that the machine is running Windows and that .NET Framework 4.8 or newer and the Visual C++ redistributables are installed.
- Launch
SpaceEngineersDedicated.exefrom the actualDedicatedServer64directory and read the console output. - Check that the server account can read and write its installation and save directories.
- If SteamCMD was used, confirm that app ID
298740completed without an interrupted download, then run the update command again.
The world or logs appear to be missing
First identify whether the installation came from Steam or SteamCMD. Steam uses %appdata%SpaceEngineersDedicated, while SteamCMD uses its installation’s TempContent area. A service account can also have a different application-data profile from your interactive Windows account.
Players cannot connect
- Test the server locally, then from another device on the LAN, and finally from an external network.
- Confirm the firewall and router rules using current official networking documentation; do not rely on an unverified port list.
- Check whether the public IP changed. A static address is recommended for public hosting because favorites and history use the IP.
- Check upload capacity and latency during the server’s busiest period.
A mod or plugin causes a startup failure
Stop the server, restore the latest pre-change backup if necessary, and remove the last mod or plugin group you added. Check compatibility with the current game build, then reintroduce components one at a time. For Torch, test the Torch build and each plugin independently against a copy of the world.
The server becomes slow or runs out of space
Compare the machine with the published 3.2 GHz/three-logical-core/6 GB minimum and 4.5 GHz/three-logical-core/10 GB recommendation, then account for the extra load from players, entities, scripts, and mods. Inspect logs and free disk space; the base installation estimate excludes the data that grows during normal operation.
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Quick Recap
A repeatable launch checklist
- Windows, .NET Framework 4.8 or newer, and Visual C++ redistributables are installed.
- The machine meets the dedicated-server CPU and memory target and has storage beyond the approximately 8 GB base install.
- The server was installed from Steam Tools or SteamCMD app ID 298740.
- The manager opens in Local/Console, the correct world is selected, and Save & start completes without errors.
- The actual save and log path for the chosen installation is recorded.
- A pre-update or pre-mod backup has been copied away from the live machine.
- Firewall, router, static-IP, bandwidth, and latency checks are complete for the intended audience.
- Torch and plugins, if used, are confirmed compatible with the current Space Engineers build.
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