How to Host a Satisfactory Dedicated Server

Hosting a dedicated server lets you keep a Satisfactory world available without leaving a player’s game running. You’ll need a computer or rented server that can stay online, a copy of the game’s dedicated-server software, and access to the network settings if you host from home.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows or Linux computer with a stable internet connection, or a rented server that supports Satisfactory Dedicated Server.
• Enough free storage for the server software, world saves, and updates. Allow additional room for backups.
• Administrator access to install or update the server. For home hosting, you may also need access to your router and firewall.
• The Satisfactory game on each player’s PC. Players generally need compatible game versions and must select the same session type when joining.

Step-by-Step

1. Choose where to host. A dedicated machine or rented game server is convenient if you want the world online while your own PC is off. Hosting on a home PC costs no separate server rental, but that PC must remain running and your internet connection must be reliable. A wired connection is preferable. Check that the machine meets the game’s current dedicated-server requirements; server load increases as the world and player activity grow.
2. Install the dedicated-server software. In the Steam client, open Library and enable the display of tools if necessary, then search the Library for “Satisfactory Dedicated Server.” Install that tool rather than launching the regular game as the server. If using a supported third-party host, follow its installation instructions and confirm it is installing the dedicated-server application, not a player instance.
3. Start the server and allow network access. Launch the dedicated server once so it can create its files and appear in the network firewall prompt. Permit it through the firewall on the network types you actually use. Do not turn off the firewall entirely. If no prompt appears, add an allow rule for the server application or its required ports, using the current port guidance in the game’s official dedicated-server documentation. The commonly used server ports include UDP 7777, 15000, and 15777; verify the current requirements before configuring a router or host firewall, since settings can change.
4. Configure the home router if hosting from home. Give the server computer a stable local IP address, either by reserving it in the router or setting a suitable static address. Create port-forwarding rules for the server’s required ports and protocols, pointing to that local IP. Avoid forwarding unrelated ports. Router interfaces differ, so consult the router’s documentation. If your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT, ordinary port forwarding may not make the server reachable from outside; ask the provider about a public IPv4 address or use a hosting option that supports public access.
5. Find and claim the server. Start Satisfactory on a client PC and open the server-management or server-browser screen. Search by the server’s address or use the available discovery option. For a server on your local network, use its local address; friends connecting over the internet need the public address and any required query or connection details. Select the server and follow the in-game prompts to claim it, create an administrator password, and set a server name. Keep passwords private and use a different password from other accounts.
6. Create or load a world. In the server management screen, create a new session or select an existing save if the interface offers it. Choose a session name and set any available join permissions. Confirm the world loads, then join it from the client. If migrating a save, stop the server first and use the supported save-management process; keep an untouched copy of the original file.
7. Test access before inviting everyone. Join from the host PC, then test from a device outside the home network, such as a friend’s connection. Some routers do not support connecting to a public address from inside the same network, so a failed same-network test using the public address does not by itself prove remote access is broken. Check the firewall, forwarded ports, and server status if an external player cannot connect.
8. Keep the server maintained. Stop it cleanly before updating or moving save files. Back up the world regularly, especially before game updates or changes to server settings. Keep the server and clients on compatible versions, and check the server logs when it fails to start or load a save.

Common Mistakes

• Installing the wrong application: The regular game client is not the dedicated-server tool. Check the Library entry before troubleshooting connectivity.
• Forwarding ports to the wrong device: A changing local IP can make a correct rule point at another computer. Reserve the server’s IP and recheck the destination.
• Opening ports without the right protocol: Port numbers alone are not enough; apply the protocol specified in current server documentation. Don’t assume every required port uses the same protocol.
• Testing only from inside the network: Router loopback behavior varies. Ask someone outside your network to test, or use the server’s local address for an internal test.
• Updating while the server is running: This can interrupt access or risk save problems. Stop the server and make a backup before updating or replacing files.

Tips

• Use a clear server name and share connection details only with the people you want to join.
• Keep a dated backup in a separate location. A backup on the same drive may not help if that drive fails.
• Use a wired network connection where practical, and prevent the host computer from sleeping while the server is meant to be online.
• For a rented host, use its console and file manager for supported operations. Avoid manually changing files unless the host’s instructions explain how.
• After a game update, check whether both the server and each player’s client have updated before diagnosing a version mismatch.

Troubleshooting

The server does not appear in the browser: Confirm it is running and has finished starting. Try adding it by address through the server-management screen. Check the host firewall and required ports, then review the server log for startup errors. Browser discovery can take time or fail even when direct connection works.

Friends cannot connect: Verify the public address, port-forwarding destination, and firewall rules. Confirm the router is forwarding the required protocols to the server’s current local IP. If the provider uses carrier-grade NAT, router changes alone may not solve outside access; contact the provider or move the server to a suitable host.

The server starts but the world will not load: Stop the server and preserve a copy of the save before trying recovery. Check that the save is in the expected location and that the server version supports it. Review logs for file or permission errors. Do not repeatedly overwrite the only copy.

Players see a version or session mismatch: Update the dedicated server and clients, restart them, and make sure everyone is connecting to the intended session. If the issue began after an update, check the game’s current support information for known compatibility problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I host a server on the same PC I play on?
Yes, if the PC can handle both the server and game. Performance depends on the machine, world activity, and other running programs.

Does the server need to stay on?
Yes. Players cannot use the world while the server computer is shut down, asleep, or disconnected.

Can friends join without being on my home network?
Usually, if the server is reachable from the internet and the required firewall and router rules are correct. Carrier-grade NAT can prevent standard inbound connections.

Do all players need the dedicated-server software?
No. The host runs the dedicated-server tool; players join using the regular game client.

Will my save survive a server update?
It should remain available when updated correctly, but always stop the server and back up the save before updates or file changes.

Can the server be private?
Use the access and session settings available in the server interface, and keep administrator credentials secure. Share connection information only with invited players.

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