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How to Install Mods on an Abiotic Factor Dedicated Server

A practical guide to installing PAK and UE4SS mods on an Abiotic Factor dedicated server, including exact folders, client requirements, verification and rollback steps.
Length11 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team

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Install Abiotic Factor server mods only after stopping the server and making a complete backup. The correct destination depends on the mod format: packaged PAK content goes in AbioticFactor/Content/Paks, while UE4SS script mods need the UE4SS loader and belong in its Mods directory. A mod marked client-side or both-side also has to be installed by every player in a compatible version.

For a hosted Abiotic Factor server, Godlike.Host provides a game panel with SFTP/FTP access, up to three free backups a day with restore, and a built-in mod installer and updater. Not on the Abiotic Factor dedicated server wiki’s list of Verified Server Providers (github.com/DFJacob/AbioticFactorDedicatedServer, 10 Oct 2026).

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What you need before installing anything

A dedicated server mod is not a single, universal file type. Abiotic Factor mods commonly follow either a packaged-content workflow or a UE4SS script workflow, and putting one type in the other type’s folder will not make it load. Read the mod’s current installation instructions before copying files; game builds, loader requirements and compatibility can change.

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  • A working dedicated server. The community quickstart describes installing the dedicated-server tool through Steam or SteamCMD. Its June 5, 2024 note described dedicated-server support as Windows-only at that time. Treat that platform statement as historical and verify support for the server build you intend to run.
  • File access. You need local, FTP or file-manager access to the server’s installation directory. The exact parent path varies with your Steam library or host, but the game-relative folders below are the important part.
  • A maintenance window. Stop the server process before changing its content. Do not overwrite files while the game is running.
  • A recoverable backup. Copy the world/save data and the existing mod directories somewhere outside the live installation. Keep the original files until the new setup has been tested.
  • The mod’s current page. Confirm whether the download is PAK-style content or explicitly requires UE4SS, which side must run it, its dependencies, its supported game build and any required folder layout.

Install or locate the dedicated server

If the server is not installed yet, use the distribution method documented for your deployment. The community quickstart gives this SteamCMD update command:

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app_update 2857200 validate

Run it in the SteamCMD session that owns the dedicated-server installation. The command validates the app files; it does not install, configure or synchronize mods. If you use the Steam client instead, locate the dedicated-server installation folder through the library’s installed-files management rather than assuming it is under your personal game directory.

Before proceeding, start the unmodified server once and confirm that it can create or load a world. This gives you a known-good baseline and makes later mod errors easier to identify. Record the game build and the location of the save files in your change log.

Classify the mod by its installation method

Use the author’s current instructions as the authority. File extensions are useful clues, but they do not replace the mod page’s requirements.

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Packaged PAK-style content

A mod that supplies packaged Unreal content normally includes files such as .pak, .ucas or .utoc. Treat those files as one package set: preserve the names and the folder structure supplied by the author. These files are installed in the server’s AbioticFactor/Content/Paks directory.

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UE4SS script content

A mod that explicitly says it requires UE4SS is a different workflow. It needs the UE4SS loader installed in the manner required by that mod or server setup, and its script package is copied into the loader’s Mods directory. Do not move a UE4SS package into Content/Paks unless the author specifically documents an additional PAK component.

Mixed downloads and dependencies

Some projects distribute a loader requirement, a script package, configuration files or more than one archive. Read all included instructions before extracting anything. If the page names a dependency, install the dependency in its documented location first, then add the main mod. A modpack or profile can help record those relationships, but it does not eliminate the need to follow each mod’s installation notes.

PAK mod installation, step by step

  1. Stop the server. Shut down the process cleanly and wait until it has finished writing the world and log files.
  2. Back up the live installation. Save the world files and the current Paks contents outside the server directory. Include a dated copy of the configuration and a list of installed versions.
  3. Check the archive. Confirm that the download contains the expected .pak, .ucas and/or .utoc files and read any README or installation note. Do not rename files unless the author instructs you to do so.
  4. Open the game’s Paks folder. Navigate to AbioticFactor/Content/Paks inside the dedicated-server installation. This is the destination for packaged content, not the top-level server folder.
  5. Copy the complete package set. Upload the files while preserving the archive’s intended names and relative layout. If the author supplied subfolders, retain them instead of flattening the archive blindly.
  6. Apply any documented configuration. Some mods include settings or a separate dependency. Place those files exactly where the mod page specifies; the PAK destination alone is not a universal configuration location.
  7. Review side requirements. Determine whether the mod is server-only, client-only or required on both sides. A PAK file can still be client-side or both-side; its format does not tell you who needs it.
  8. Restart and inspect output. Start the server, watch the console and logs for load failures, then connect with a test account. If the server fails, remove the newly added package using your backup and diagnose it by itself.

Keep each mod’s files identifiable. A dated change log containing the game build, mod version, dependencies and result is more useful than a directory full of ambiguously named archives.

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UE4SS mod installation, step by step

  1. Stop and back up. Preserve the save data, existing UE4SS files and the server’s original state before installing the loader or a new script package.
  2. Install the UE4SS loader. Follow the current loader instructions and the mod author’s required edition or placement. A script package cannot load without the loader it was built to use.
  3. Confirm the loader’s directory. Locate the UE4SS installation and its Mods directory. The exact parent path depends on the loader package and deployment method, so do not infer it from the PAK path.
  4. Copy the script package. Place the mod in the loader’s Mods directory, preserving the package’s folder name and internal layout. If the author specifies a different nesting level, follow that instruction.
  5. Install dependencies in order. Add any required framework, library or configuration before launching the main script mod. Record versions so you can reproduce the setup.
  6. Check server/client scope. A UE4SS mod can be server-only, client-only or both-side. If the instructions require a client installation, every player must use the matching files and a compatible version in their own game installation.
  7. Start with one script mod. Launch the server and read the UE4SS and game logs for loader, dependency or script errors. Add additional mods only after the first one works.

Installing UE4SS does not automatically make every UE4SS project compatible with a dedicated server. Compatibility depends on the mod’s current instructions, the loader version and the game build.

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Server-only, client-only and both-side requirements

The side designation determines who must have the files, not whether the mod is PAK or UE4SS. Treat an author’s “server-side,” “client-side” or “required on both” label as an installation requirement.

Mod scope Dedicated server Each player’s game Operational consequence
Server-only Install the documented server files. Not required unless the author says otherwise. Players can join without copying the mod, but server behavior still depends on the installed version.
Client-only Follow the author’s server guidance; a server copy may not be used. Every player installs the matching client files. A player with a missing or incompatible version may see errors or fail to use the feature.
Both-side Install the server component in its documented location. Every player installs the same compatible release. Version drift between server and clients is a common source of connection or synchronization problems.

For a mod that must be present on clients, the published client Paks location is SteamsteamappscommonAbioticFactorAbioticFactorContentPaks. That path applies to the Windows Steam game layout described by the installation guidance; another library location changes the prefix, not the game-relative folders.

Do not distribute a server-only package to players just because it is convenient. Conversely, do not assume that clients will receive client content automatically from a dedicated server. Each player needs the files in their own installation when the mod requires it.

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PAK and UE4SS compared

Decision point PAK-style mod UE4SS-style mod
Typical files .pak, .ucas, .utoc Script package that explicitly requires UE4SS
Loader requirement No separate UE4SS loader unless the author documents one UE4SS loader required
Server destination AbioticFactor/Content/Paks UE4SS Mods directory
Server/client scope Depends on the mod’s instructions Depends on the mod’s instructions
Game-build compatibility Verify on the current mod page Verify the mod and loader against the current game build
Dependencies Use the author’s listed dependencies; not stated universally UE4SS plus any author-listed libraries or configuration
Rollback Stop the server, remove the package files and restore the backup Stop the server, remove the script package or loader change and restore the backup

The table describes installation patterns, not a compatibility guarantee. A project’s current page remains the source for supported builds, required versions and side designation.

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Keep a group’s mod list synchronized

Manual copying works for a small server, but it becomes fragile when several players need the same client files or when dependencies and configuration change together. Use a Thunderstore or r2modman profile when the participating mods support that ecosystem.

What to record

  • Game build and date of the server change.
  • Mod name, exact version and whether it is PAK or UE4SS.
  • Server-only, client-only or both-side scope.
  • Dependencies and their versions.
  • Configuration changes and the player-facing installation instructions.
  • Whether the server started, whether a test player connected and any warnings in the logs.

Use a profile or manifest

Thunderstore supports sharing dependency strings, allowing a group to reproduce a set of packages instead of downloading each item from memory. Modpack guidance also recommends including configuration in the modpack while excluding the loader core and plugin code from the archive. The loader and plugin code should be installed through the normal profile or loader process, not duplicated inside a distributable modpack archive.

For a mixed setup, keep two explicit records: the server’s file list and the client profile. Mark which entries are shared by both. This prevents a player from installing a server-only package and makes it clear which updates require everyone to act before the next connection.

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Verify the installation safely

  1. Start the server without adding another change. Watch the console as the process initializes.
  2. Read the logs for the mod’s name. Look for load failures, missing dependencies, script errors or messages that indicate the package was ignored.
  3. Connect with one test player. Test the feature the mod is meant to provide rather than assuming that a clean boot proves it works.
  4. Check the client side when required. Confirm that every player’s profile contains the same version and dependencies for client-only or both-side mods.
  5. Change one variable at a time. If a crash, desynchronization or missing feature appears, remove the newest mod or dependency and retest before changing several files.
  6. Update the change log. Record the result, the game build, the mod version and the relevant log message.

There is no universal compatibility list that covers every current game build and mod combination. Your recorded test result is therefore part of the server’s operational documentation, not a substitute for checking the author’s current instructions.

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Troubleshooting common failures

The server starts but the mod does nothing

  • Confirm that the files are in the correct destination: PAK content in AbioticFactor/Content/Paks, or UE4SS scripts in the loader’s Mods directory.
  • Check that the archive was not nested one directory too deeply and that filenames were not changed.
  • Read the mod page for a missing dependency, configuration step or required loader.
  • Verify that the mod supports the current game build and the side on which you are trying to run it.

The server fails during startup

  • Stop the server and restore the last known-good backup.
  • Reinstall only the suspect mod and launch again, changing one package at a time.
  • Inspect the console and logs for the first load error rather than the later cascade of failures.
  • Check for an incomplete upload, a mismatched dependency or a loader version that the mod does not support.

Players cannot connect or see different behavior

  • Determine whether the mod is client-only or both-side.
  • Have every affected player install the exact compatible version and dependencies in the documented client location.
  • Compare the client profile or manifest with the server’s change log.
  • Remove a recently changed mod and retest to distinguish a version mismatch from a server-side failure.

A game update breaks an existing setup

Stop treating the old installation as authoritative. Recheck every mod’s current page, confirm loader and game-build support, and test in a backup environment before changing the live world. Keep the previous files and save backup so you can roll back while waiting for compatible releases.

Rollback and maintenance procedure

  1. Stop the server cleanly.
  2. Copy the current logs and change record so the failure is preserved for diagnosis.
  3. Remove only the newly added PAK files, UE4SS script package or loader change identified as suspect.
  4. Restore the backed-up mod directory and configuration if files were overwritten.
  5. Start the server and verify the world with a test connection.
  6. Leave the failed package out until its author documents a compatible version; do not repeatedly add it to a live save without a backup.

Backups should include the world/save files even when the mod appears cosmetic. A broken load can prevent normal startup, and a clean rollback is safer than trying to repair a partially overwritten installation.

Pre-launch checklist

  • Server process stopped before file changes.
  • World/save data and original mod directories backed up.
  • Mod classified as PAK-style or UE4SS-based from its current instructions.
  • PAK files copied to AbioticFactor/Content/Paks, or UE4SS files copied to the loader’s Mods directory.
  • Loader and dependencies installed where required.
  • Server-only, client-only or both-side scope recorded.
  • Every required player given the matching client files and version.
  • Game build, mod versions and configuration recorded in a profile or manifest.
  • Server restarted and console/log output checked.
  • One-mod-at-a-time rollback plan ready if startup or synchronization fails.

Bottom line

Abiotic Factor dedicated-server mod installation is manageable when you treat the format and side requirements separately. Stop and back up first, put packaged files in AbioticFactor/Content/Paks, use the UE4SS loader and its Mods directory for script mods, install matching client files whenever the author requires both sides, and verify the result from a clean restart and test connection. Maintain a profile or manifest so the server and its players can reproduce the same dependency and configuration set after updates.

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