How to Make a Satisfactory Server in 2026
Create a dedicated Satisfactory server in 2026, hosted or self-hosted, explained step by step.
Want to build your factory with friends 24/7 instead of relying on a hosted co-op session from someone's PC? Satisfactory's official Dedicated Server (added back in Update 8) lets you run a persistent world that stays online whether or not anyone is playing. This guide walks through both ways to set one up and how to configure it properly from the start.
The two ways to create a Satisfactory server
Before anything else, you need to pick your approach. For Satisfactory specifically, this choice matters more than for most games — the answer below explains why.
Option 1: host with a provider
You rent a Satisfactory server from a specialised gaming host. It runs around the clock on dedicated hardware, sized with enough RAM to handle your factory as it grows, and you configure everything from a web panel plus the in-game Server Manager. This is the recommended path for almost everyone.
Option 2: run the server on your own PC
You install the free Dedicated Server files via SteamCMD and run them at home. No monthly cost on the software side, but your PC has to stay on permanently, you forward ports on your own router, and — critically for this game — your factory's RAM appetite competes with everything else running on your machine.
Why RAM makes this decision easier than usual
Satisfactory is notoriously RAM-hungry: usage scales with how much you've built, not how many players are online. A late-game factory with trains, belts and hundreds of machines can eat well past 16 GB. Most home PCs weren't bought with that headroom to spare for a background server — a host that guarantees dedicated RAM sidesteps the problem entirely, and the price gap for 12-16 GB plans is small (often €12-20/month).
Creating a Satisfactory server with a host (recommended)
Here's the full procedure with a specialised gaming host.
1
Choose your hosting plan
Pick a host that lists Satisfactory with native one-click install. Size the plan by factory ambition, not headcount: 8-12 GB is fine for a small early-game base, but 16 GB is the reference plan once you plan to keep the world running long-term with multiple production lines. Prices generally run €13-25/month. Check our [Satisfactory server cost guide](/en/guides/satisfactory/satisfactory-server-cost) for exact plan-by-plan pricing.
2
Order and access the panel
After ordering, you get panel credentials by email. Log in and you'll see your Satisfactory server listed, initially in Stopped status.
3
Install the Dedicated Server
From the panel, select Satisfactory as the game/app to install. Behind the scenes, the host pulls the official Dedicated Server build from Steam using its own App ID (distinct from the game client you play on) — that's normal, and you don't touch SteamCMD yourself.
4
Start the server for the first time
Launch it from the panel. On first boot, the server generates its save and config folders. Give it a couple of minutes, then confirm the status shows Online or Running.
5
Configure it from the Server Manager
Open Satisfactory on your own PC, go to the main menu and select Server Manager, then Add Server. Enter your server's IP and game port (default 7777). The Server Manager is the official tool for setting the session name, admin password and client password, and for uploading or managing save files — you rarely need to touch config files by hand.
6
Get your server's IP and port
Your panel displays the connection address, something like
123.45.67.89:7777. That's what you and your friends add in the Server Manager.7
Connect in-game
Once the server appears in your Server Manager with an active session, select it and choose Play. If a client password was set, you'll be prompted for it. Share the same IP:port with your friends so they can add the server on their own client.
Online in about 15 minutes
With one-click install, the whole setup takes 10-20 minutes — most of that is waiting for the server files to download and the world to generate on first launch.
Creating a Satisfactory server on your own PC
If you want to self-host, here's the procedure.
1
Install SteamCMD
Download SteamCMD and extract it anywhere on your PC. It's a free command-line tool from Valve used to install dedicated server files that Steam doesn't distribute through the normal library.
2
Install the Dedicated Server files
The Satisfactory Dedicated Server has its own Steam App ID, 1690800 — separate from the game client (526870). Run the following in SteamCMD to install it anonymously into a folder of your choice:
login anonymous
force_install_dir "C:\SatisfactoryServer"
app_update 1690800 validate
quit3
Launch the server
Run
FactoryServer.exe (Windows) or FactoryServer.sh (Linux) from the install folder. A console window opens; wait until it reports the server is ready and listening for connections.4
Open the necessary ports
Set up port forwarding on your router for the Game Port, default 7777 (both UDP and TCP — the forwarded port must match the internal one, port translation isn't supported here) and the Reliable/Messaging Port, default 8888 (TCP). Older guides also mention separate Beacon and Query ports (15000 and 15777 UDP); those were retired once the server moved to the simplified 7777/8888 scheme, so you don't need them on a current install.
5
Add the server via Server Manager and share your IP
From Satisfactory's main menu, open Server Manager > Add Server and enter your public IP and port. Friends do the same with your IP. Remember that most home connections have a dynamic IP that can change on router restart.
The limits of a home server
Your PC needs to stay on and connected for the world to keep simulating — Satisfactory doesn't run when the host machine is off. Beyond that, your factory's RAM usage will keep climbing as you build, competing directly with whatever else you run on that PC. For anything beyond a short test, a host with guaranteed RAM heads off most of the pain.
Essential configuration via the Server Manager
Whether hosted or self-hosted, here's what actually gets configured where.
| Setting | Where you configure it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Session/server name | Server Manager → server settings | Name shown when you or friends add the server |
| Admin password | Server Manager (set on first connect) | Required to access full server settings and admin tools |
| Client password | Server Manager → server settings | Password players need to join the session |
| Game Port | Server Manager → Add Server (IP:Port) | Main connection port, default 7777, UDP + TCP |
| Reliable Port | Startup flag / host panel | Secondary messaging port, default 8888, TCP |
| Allocated RAM | Your hosting plan, not the Server Manager itself | Sized to your factory's scale — 16 GB is the comfortable reference for a long-running world |
Basic settings (name, passwords, saves) are managed through the in-game Server Manager. Ports and RAM are set at the panel/hosting level, not inside the game.
Managing your Satisfactory server
Back up your saves
The Server Manager's **Manage Saves** tab lets you upload and download save files directly. On a host, you can also grab the save folder via the file manager or SFTP for a manual backup — do this before any major update or big build.
Update the server
Coffee Stain patches Satisfactory regularly, and server and clients must run matching versions or the connection is refused. On a host, updates are usually a one-click button in the panel. Self-hosted, re-run the SteamCMD `app_update 1690800 validate` command.
Be realistic about mods
There's no official mod loader built into the dedicated server the way some other games have one. Modding relies on community tools (Satisfactory Mod Manager and the Satisfactory Mod Loader), and every single client plus the server itself must run the exact same mod list and versions — one mismatch and people can't connect or the server crashes. It's more coordination than most modded servers require, so plan for a vanilla setup unless your whole group is committed to keeping mods in sync.
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Frequently asked questions
How much RAM does a Satisfactory server need?
Coffee Stain's official minimum is 8 GB, but that assumes a small factory with few players. In practice, RAM use grows with how much you've built — belts, machines, trains — not with player count, so 16 GB is the comfortable reference for a persistent world that keeps growing. See our [Satisfactory server cost guide](/en/guides/satisfactory/satisfactory-server-cost) for exact plan pricing by RAM tier.
How much does a Satisfactory server cost?
Real plans on our comparison start around €12.88/month for 6 GB, with the 12-16 GB range most people actually need landing around €15-24/month. Full breakdown in the [cost guide](/en/guides/satisfactory/satisfactory-server-cost).
Why does Satisfactory need so much RAM compared to other survival games?
The server keeps every placed building, belt segment, vehicle and item in active memory to simulate the factory in real time. Unlike games where the world resets or streams in chunks, a Satisfactory save just keeps growing as you build, and so does the RAM it takes to run it — especially late-game with sprawling, multi-biome factories.
How many players can join a Satisfactory server?
There's no hard player cap enforced by the game itself, but performance is bound by a single primary simulation thread — a huge, heavily automated factory can bottleneck the server regardless of RAM or player count. Small, dedicated co-op groups (2-8 players) get the smoothest experience.
Which ports does a Satisfactory server use?
As of the current server build, you need the Game Port, default 7777 (UDP and TCP, and the forwarded port must match the internal one — no port translation), plus the Reliable/Messaging Port, default 8888 (TCP). Older setups used separate Beacon (15000 UDP) and Query (15777 UDP) ports; those were retired when the server moved to this simpler two-port scheme, so you can ignore them on a current install.
Can I add mods to a dedicated server?
Yes, via community tools like Satisfactory Mod Manager, but there's a strict catch: the server and every connecting client must have the exact same mods and versions installed, or connections fail or crash. It's a heavier commitment than modding most other games' servers, so weigh it against just staying vanilla.
Is the Satisfactory Dedicated Server free?
Yes, the Dedicated Server software itself is free and available via SteamCMD under its own App ID. What you pay for is either the cloud server from a host, or the electricity and wear on your own PC if you self-host.
Can I run the server on my PC and still play on the same machine?
Yes, the dedicated server runs as a separate process from the game client, so you can host and play from the same PC. Just remember both share your CPU and RAM, which adds extra pressure on top of an already RAM-heavy workload.
Our recommendation
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