The simplest way to play Factorio with a small group is the Steam connection: 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. Use Play on LAN when everyone is on the same network, or Connect to address for a direct Internet connection. Every player and the server must run the exact same Factorio version and the same mod set.
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Choose the connection method that fits your group
Factorio offers several multiplayer routes rather than one universal “join” button. Your best choice depends on whether everyone is together on one network, whether the host must be online for the factory to exist, and how much network administration you want to do.
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| Method | Best for | What the host does | What friends do | Internet setup | Persistence and control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam visibility | Most small friend groups | Hosts a new or saved game, enables Steam visibility, optionally sets a password | Uses Steam’s invite or join action | Steam handles the connection; normally no manual port forwarding | World is available while the player-host is running; private by default when limited to friends and a password |
| Play on LAN | Players on the same home, school, or office network | Starts the multiplayer game | Chooses Play → Multiplayer → Play on LAN | Stays on the local network and is not exposed to the public Internet | Depends on the host remaining in the game |
| Connect to address | Direct connections across the Internet or to a known server | Shares a reachable address, permits Factorio traffic, and forwards the game port when necessary | Enters the public address and port | Factorio uses UDP; the default port is 34197 | Host or server operator controls firewall, address, password, and access lists |
| Public server browser | Open communities or friends who can find a listed server | Sets visibility to Public and supplies the required Factorio account credentials in server settings | Chooses Browse public games and selects the server | Internet reachable; a password keeps an ostensibly public listing private to people who know it | Anyone who can see the listing may attempt to join unless access controls are used |
| Dedicated/headless server | A factory that should stay online without a graphical host playing | Runs the headless server, manages saves, updates, mods, firewall rules, and access lists | Connects through Steam, the browser, or an address depending on server settings | Requires a reachable machine and correctly permitted UDP traffic | Persistent while the server process and machine remain online; greatest administrative control |
For a normal co-op session, start with Steam visibility. Move to LAN when everyone is physically on one network, and use a direct address or dedicated server only when you need explicit network control or an always-available world.
What everyone must have before connecting
A supported Factorio purchase
Each participant needs a legitimate Factorio copy from a supported channel. The official FAQ lists Factorio.com, Steam, and GOG.com as purchase channels. The exact launcher or store does not change the requirement to match the game version used by the server.
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One exact game version
Factorio multiplayer is version-sensitive. The server and every client must use the same exact Factorio version, not merely the same major release. If one player has a newer update, an older installation, or a different branch, update or roll back that installation before trying to join.
The complete mod set and versions
Mods are part of the multiplayer identity of a save. Every participant must have the same enabled mods and the same versions. A missing mod, an extra mod, or a different mod revision can prevent joining or make the save incompatible. Synchronize the mod list before troubleshooting routers or firewalls.
A decision about privacy
Decide whether the factory is invite-only, limited to people on the local network, hidden but reachable by address, or deliberately public. Use a password for an invite-only world, even when you are using Steam visibility or a public listing. This prevents an unintended visitor who discovers the session from entering.
How to host a game through Steam
Start a new world
- Open Factorio and select Multiplayer from the main menu.
- Choose Host new game.
- Configure the map and game settings as you would for a single-player world.
- In the server-visibility options, enable Steam.
- Set a password if only invited friends should enter.
- Start the game and wait until the world is running.
- Have each friend use Steam’s game invite or join action for your Factorio session.
Steam is the recommended option for an average group of friends because Steam handles the connection path instead of asking you to exchange public addresses or configure a router. The host still has to remain in the game for a player-hosted session to remain available.
Continue an existing save
- From the Factorio main menu, select Multiplayer.
- Choose Host saved game.
- Select the save you want to continue.
- Confirm that its mods and versions are installed for every player.
- Enable Steam visibility and add a password when appropriate.
- Start the save, then send Steam invites or tell friends to use Steam’s join action.
A saved game does not make the world independently persistent: when the host exits, friends can no longer play in that player-hosted instance. If the factory must stay available while the usual host is away, use a dedicated/headless server instead.
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How to play over a local network
LAN play is appropriate when everyone is connected to the same home, school, or office network. It avoids exposing the game to the public Internet and eliminates the need for Internet port forwarding.
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- Each other player selects Play → Multiplayer → Play on LAN.
- Players select the host’s game from the LAN results and enter the password if one is set.
Guest or isolated Wi-Fi networks can prevent devices from seeing one another even though they share an Internet connection. If the game does not appear, verify that all machines are on the same local network, that the host’s firewall allows Factorio, and that the game versions and mods match. A direct address can be a fallback only when you know the host’s local address and the network permits peer traffic.
How to connect directly over the Internet
Host-side preparation
Direct joining uses Factorio’s UDP server port. The default is UDP 34197. If the host changed the port, friends must use that changed value instead of 34197.
- Find the host machine’s local network address in the router or operating system.
- In the router, forward UDP port 34197 to that machine, unless the server is configured for another port.
- Allow Factorio or the server process to receive UDP traffic in the host operating system’s firewall.
- Check antivirus or endpoint-security software for a second network block; permit the same UDP traffic there.
- Give the friend the host’s current public address and the port, for example
PUBLIC_ADDRESS:34197.
Port forwarding is needed only when the host’s network address is hidden behind a router or other NAT that does not already provide a reachable path. The forwarded rule must point to the current local address of the Factorio machine; a changed DHCP address can silently invalidate an otherwise correct rule.
Friend-side connection
- Open Factorio and choose Multiplayer.
- Select Connect to address.
- Enter the host’s public address. Add
:34197when the interface requires an explicit port, or use the host’s custom port. - Connect and enter the server password if requested.
Factorio documents --mp-connect ADDRESS[:PORT] for connecting to a remote server from the command line. The address and optional port use the same values as the in-game direct-connection screen.
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How to list a game publicly
Set the game’s visibility to Public when you want it to appear in Factorio’s public server list. The host or server must provide the relevant Factorio account credentials in its server settings for public listing. Friends then choose Browse public games and select the server.
A public listing is not the same as an invite-only lobby. Anyone who can discover the listing may attempt to join. Set a password for a private group, and use whitelist or ban controls when operating a longer-lived server. Public visibility is most useful for open communities rather than a closed group that already knows the host.
When a dedicated or headless server is worth using
A dedicated server separates the running factory from a player’s graphical client. It is the right choice when the world should remain available while the usual host is offline, when several people play at different times, or when you want a machine configured specifically for server uptime.
Headless options
Factorio documents a dedicated/headless mode started with --start-server SAVE. The official FAQ describes a free, lightweight dedicated headless package for Linux; the normal Windows package can also run headless. Choose the operating system and package that you can update and administer reliably.
Start a server from a save
factorio --start-server path/to/save.zipReplace the path with the save archive on the server machine. Keep regular backups of the save before changing mods, Factorio versions, or server settings.
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Important command-line controls
The command-line reference documents options for --server-settings, --port, a whitelist, a banlist, and an admin list. Use these to move off the default port, restrict entry, block accounts, and delegate administration. If you change the port, update router forwarding, firewall rules, and the address friends enter.
Operational responsibilities
- Install the exact Factorio version required by the save and clients.
- Install the complete mod set and matching mod versions.
- Back up saves before updates or mod changes.
- Keep the server process, operating system, and firewall rules maintained.
- Publish only the address and password intended for your group.
- Use whitelist, banlist, and admin-list settings when the server is shared by more than a few trusted friends.
A headless server removes the requirement for the usual host to be playing, but it does not remove maintenance. Version, mod, save, network, and access-control decisions still belong to the server operator.
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How Factorio’s multiplayer networking works
Factorio uses a client-server forwarding model. Each client sends network traffic to the server, and the server forwards it to the other clients. This design allows players inside and outside a LAN to participate in the same game. Depending on the route, traffic may take an additional network hop, which can add latency.
The model explains why the host’s connection and computer matter even when every friend has a fast Internet line. The server must process the simulation and forward traffic. Practical capacity depends on host CPU and memory, upload capacity, map complexity, and the number and weight of installed mods. The published maximum is not a performance guarantee for a particular computer or map.
The official 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 from Factorio/Wube Software’s 2026 FAQ, not a promise that every map, mod collection, or home connection will run smoothly at 500 players. A normal friends’ co-op session will generally be constrained by the host and scenario before that published ceiling becomes relevant.
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Diagnose the common joining failures
The friend cannot see a Steam game
- Confirm the host selected Steam visibility rather than LAN-only or a hidden direct-address setup.
- Confirm the host actually started the world, not just configured it.
- Verify both players are signed in to the expected Steam accounts and are friends where Steam requires it.
- Check the exact Factorio version and complete mod set on both machines.
- Use a password only when the friend has the correct password; a mistyped password can look like a connection failure.
The LAN game is not listed
- Make sure every machine is on the same home, school, or office network rather than a guest or isolated Wi-Fi network.
- Allow Factorio through the host firewall and temporarily check security software that may block local discovery.
- Confirm that the host is running a multiplayer session and that versions and mods match.
Direct address times out
- Confirm the friend is using the host’s public address, not the host’s private local address.
- Confirm the port is correct: UDP 34197 by default, or the custom port configured on the server.
- Check that the router forwards UDP traffic to the correct local machine.
- Permit the same UDP port in the operating-system firewall and antivirus or endpoint-security software.
- Check whether the host’s public address changed since the forwarding rule or instructions were created.
- Consider whether the ISP or upstream network uses a NAT arrangement that prevents inbound connections; in that case, Steam visibility or a virtual LAN tool may be more practical than additional router changes.
The player is rejected for a mismatch
Update or roll back the out-of-sync installation until the server and every client report the same exact Factorio version. Then compare the enabled mod names and versions, including dependencies. Do this before changing network settings: a perfectly reachable server still rejects an incompatible client.
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Latency can increase when the forwarding route adds a network hop. The host’s CPU, memory, upload capacity, map complexity, and mod load can also limit practical performance. Reduce unnecessary server load, close competing uploads on the host’s connection, and consider moving a persistent factory to a better-provisioned dedicated machine. There is no official benchmark in the available material that predicts performance for a particular friends’ setup, so treat the published 500-player figure as a support ceiling rather than a target.
Privacy, persistence, and maintenance trade-offs
| Priority | Recommended approach | Reason | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest setup for friends | Steam visibility | Steam handles the connection and invites | The player-host must be online |
| No public exposure | Play on LAN | Traffic stays on the local network | Only players on that network can join |
| Explicit network control | Connect to address | You choose address, port, firewall, and router rules | Port forwarding and NAT troubleshooting are your responsibility |
| Open community access | Public listing | Players can discover the server in the browser | Requires account settings and stronger access controls |
| World available while the host is away | Dedicated/headless server | The server process runs independently of a graphical player | Requires updates, backups, firewall work, and mod synchronization |
For a private group, Steam friends, LAN, or a hidden direct-address server with a password are safer defaults than a public listing. For a long-running world, decide who owns the save backups and who is responsible for updates before the first session.
A repeatable setup checklist
- Every player owns Factorio through Factorio.com, Steam, or GOG.com.
- Every client and the server use the exact same Factorio version.
- Every client and the server use the complete same mod set and versions.
- The group has chosen Steam, LAN, direct address, public browser, or dedicated hosting based on its needs.
- A password is set for an invite-only world.
- For direct Internet play, UDP 34197 (or the configured custom port) is forwarded and permitted through firewall and antivirus rules.
- For public listing, the required Factorio account credentials are present in server settings.
- For a headless server, the save path, server settings, backups, whitelist, banlist, and admin list are documented.
- Friends know whether the world disappears when the player-host leaves or remains online on a dedicated server.
Once those checks pass, the practical choice is straightforward: use Steam for the least friction, LAN for same-network play, direct addressing when you need control over the route, public listing for open access, and a headless server for persistence.
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