You can run a private Factorio server without an internet connection after the game files, save, and required mods are available on the local machines. Install the dedicated or headless server, create or copy a save, configure server-settings.json, allow Factorio’s UDP traffic through the host firewall, and have players join over the same LAN. Use LAN visibility for automatic discovery or hidden visibility when everyone will connect to a local IP address.
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What an offline Factorio server can and cannot do
An offline server is a private multiplayer instance running entirely on your home or office network. It does not need to contact Factorio’s online services for players on that same network. The server host still needs the game files, the save file, and any mods installed locally before you disconnect from the internet. Every player’s client must have the same Factorio version and the same mod set as the server.
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This setup is different from making a server publicly reachable. A private LAN server does not require router port forwarding, public listing, or Factorio.com credentials. Players outside the isolated network will not be able to join unless you deliberately build a remote-access arrangement, which is outside an offline LAN setup.
| Choice | Best for | Important consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated/headless mode | A machine that runs the factory without a player character or graphics | The process can stay available while nobody is playing; headless mode has no graphical interface |
| In-game hosting | A quick session where one player is already running the game | The host’s game session is tied to the player and must remain open |
| LAN visibility | Players who should find the server in Play on LAN | The server advertises itself on the local network |
| Hidden visibility | Private networks where players will enter an address manually | The server is omitted from the LAN browser, so direct addressing is required |
| Automatic pause | Saving CPU and preventing unattended factory activity | The simulation pauses when no players are connected |
no-auto-pause |
Factories that should continue operating while everyone is away | The simulation keeps running unattended |
What you need before disconnecting
- A computer to act as the server, connected to the same local network as the players.
- Factorio installed on the server and on every client. Linux users can choose the full game package or the smaller headless package, which does not include graphics.
- A save file. A dedicated server cannot start a game without one.
- Identical Factorio versions and matching mods on the server and all clients.
- Permission to change the server computer’s firewall rules.
- The server computer’s local IP address if you plan to use hidden visibility or direct connection.
A wired connection is optional, not a Factorio requirement. Use an Ethernet cable for the most predictable wired LAN connection; Wi-Fi can also work when the network is stable and all machines can reach one another.
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Choose the server package and host machine
Linux full package
The full Linux package includes the normal game files and can be useful when the same machine will sometimes run the graphical game. It also supplies the files needed for a dedicated process. Keep the installation and its directory structure intact so the executable can find the data and saves directories.
Linux headless package
The Linux headless package is smaller and omits graphics. It is suited to a spare computer, virtual machine, or always-on system whose only job is to run the server. The commands below use the executable path from the documented Linux layout:
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Windows can use the regular Factorio executable launched from a batch file. Put the batch file in a location where its relative paths resolve to the installation’s data and saves directories. The same command-line options used by the dedicated server apply; the difference is that Windows invokes the normal executable rather than the Linux binary.
Create or copy the save
The server needs a .zip save. You can create a new map directly from the Linux command line:
./bin/x64/factorio --create ./saves/my-save.zipThe command writes my-save.zip into the server’s saves directory. Choose a filename that identifies the world, because that same path will be supplied when the server starts.
Use an existing world
To continue a single-player or previously hosted game, copy its save archive into the server installation’s saves directory. Do not unzip the archive unless Factorio’s documentation specifically requires it; the server command points to the .zip file itself.
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- Make sure the account running the server can read and write the save directory.
- Keep a backup copy before changing mods or allowing a long unattended run.
Configure server-settings.json
Start with the supplied example file. Copy data/server-settings.example.json to a working file named server-settings.json, then edit the copy. Keeping the example untouched gives you a clean reference if you need to restore a missing setting.
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Set visibility for an isolated LAN
For a home or office network, select LAN visibility in the settings. Players can then use Factorio’s Play on LAN browser. If you prefer not to advertise the instance, select hidden visibility instead. Hidden servers do not appear in discovery, so each player must use Connect to address and enter the server’s local IP address.
Leave public visibility disabled for an offline private server. Public listing is a different operating mode and requires online authentication details; it is unnecessary for players who are physically on the same LAN.
Add a password when appropriate
A game password prevents casual access by other people who can reach the LAN. Set it in the server settings and give it only to the intended players. A password is separate from operating-system accounts and does not replace firewall rules.
Use administrative files for tighter control
The command-line options support separate server whitelist, banlist, and adminlist files. A whitelist limits entry to named players, a banlist blocks specific players, and an adminlist grants administrative privileges. These files are useful when several households, classrooms, or workstations share the same local network.
Keep authentication fields empty offline
For a private offline LAN, leave Factorio.com credentials and authentication-token fields empty. Public listing needs those credentials or a token, but supplying them serves no purpose for local discovery and creates a secret that must be protected. Never publish an authentication token in a batch file, settings file, screenshot, or chat message.
Start the dedicated server
From the Factorio installation directory on Linux, start the chosen save with the settings file:
./bin/x64/factorio --start-server ./saves/my-save.zip --server-settings ./data/server-settings.jsonThe --start-server option launches a dedicated server without opening a player-controlled game. The command-line reference also supports --start-server-load-latest when you want the process to load the most recently saved world rather than naming a particular archive.
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On Windows, place the equivalent arguments in a batch file that calls the regular Factorio executable. Use paths that point to the save archive and the settings file in your installation. Start the batch file from the server machine and keep its console open so you can see startup messages and shutdown notices.
Confirm a successful launch
- The process should remain running instead of returning immediately to the shell.
- The console should identify the selected save and load the server settings.
- If the process reports that a save cannot be opened, stop and correct the path before troubleshooting networking.
- Once the world is loaded, leave the server process running while clients connect.
Allow local network traffic
Use Factorio’s UDP port
Factorio’s documented default game-server port is UDP 34197 (Factorio Wiki, 2026). Permit that UDP port in the server host’s firewall. If you change the port in the server configuration, open the configured value instead and make sure players include it when they connect directly.
Firewall permission is required even when the server and players are in the same building. The operating system can reject incoming LAN packets before Factorio sees them. Create an inbound rule for the server process or its configured UDP port, limited to the local network when your firewall supports network scopes.
Do not forward the router port for a private LAN
When every player is on the same isolated LAN, router port forwarding is unnecessary. Forwarding a port exposes the service beyond the local network and changes the security model from a private server to an internet-reachable one. Keep the router closed for this offline arrangement.
Check network isolation
Guest Wi-Fi and some managed access points deliberately prevent wireless clients from talking to one another. If discovery and direct connection both fail, verify that the server and clients are on the same non-guest network and that client isolation is disabled by the network administrator.
Have players join
Join through Play on LAN
- On the client, open Factorio’s multiplayer screen.
- Choose Play on LAN.
- Select the server name when it appears.
- Enter the game password if one is configured.
This method depends on LAN visibility and local discovery traffic. It does not require anyone to know the server’s IP address.
Connect by local address
- Find the server computer’s local IP address using the operating system’s network information.
- In Factorio’s multiplayer screen, choose Connect to address.
- Enter the local IP address.
- If the server uses a non-default port, append that port to the address as requested by the connection dialog.
- Authenticate with the game password or whitelist identity when prompted.
Direct addressing is the required method when visibility is hidden. It is also a useful fallback when a LAN browser does not show a server even though the host is reachable.
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Decide whether the factory should pause
Headless mode pauses when no players are connected by default. This conserves resources and prevents the factory from consuming items, producing pollution, or advancing scheduled activity while everyone is away.
To keep the simulation running without connected players, set no-auto-pause in server-settings.json. Choose this deliberately: an unattended factory can consume stored inputs and progress significantly before the next player returns. The server continues to save normally, and it saves on exit as well.
| Idle policy | Use it when | Operational effect |
|---|---|---|
| Default automatic pause | You want a world to wait for the next session | Simulation stops while no players are connected |
no-auto-pause |
Production should continue around the clock | Simulation proceeds while the server is empty |
Control access on a shared network
Password only
A password is the simplest control for a small group. Anyone who knows it and can reach the server can attempt to join, so change it if it is shared beyond the intended group.
Whitelist
A whitelist is better when the LAN contains people who should not enter the world. Add the permitted player identities to the whitelist file and keep the file with the server’s configuration backups.
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Use the banlist to block specific identities and the adminlist to delegate server administration. Store these files with restricted permissions because they describe who can control or access the instance.
Public listing is a separate mode
Do not enable public listing for an offline server. It requires Factorio.com credentials or an authentication token and defeats the purpose of keeping the game local. If you later change to public hosting, create and protect the required credentials rather than reusing an offline batch file unchanged.
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| Question | Dedicated/headless server | In-game host |
|---|---|---|
| Does a player need to remain in the game window? | No; the server process runs independently | Yes; the host’s session provides the game |
| Can a spare machine run it? | Yes, including a Linux headless installation | Usually no, because the host is also playing |
| How is the world selected? | By a save path supplied to --start-server |
Through the normal game menus |
| How is unattended behavior controlled? | Automatic pause by default, or no-auto-pause |
Bound to whether the host session remains active |
Choose dedicated mode when the world should be available independently of a particular player. Choose in-game hosting for a short session where simplicity matters more than continuous availability.
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Troubleshoot the most common failures
The server does not start
- Verify that the save archive exists in the server’s
savesdirectory and that the--start-serverargument matches its exact name. - Check that
server-settings.jsonis a copy of the example file and contains valid JSON. - Confirm that the command is being run from the installation location expected by the relative paths.
The LAN list is empty
- Confirm the server process is still running and has completed loading the save.
- Check the host firewall rule for the configured UDP port.
- Make sure the clients are not on a guest network with wireless client isolation.
- Try Connect to address with the server’s local IP. Hidden visibility intentionally removes the server from browser discovery.
Direct connection fails
- Recheck the server IP address; local addresses can change when a host reconnects to the network.
- Use the configured port when it is not the default.
- Confirm the firewall allows inbound UDP traffic and that the server and client are on the same LAN.
A client is rejected for version or mod reasons
Install exactly the same Factorio version and mod set on the server and every client. A mismatch can prevent joining even when the network path and password are correct.
The server appears to run but the world does not advance
Check whether everyone has disconnected and the default automatic pause is active. If continuous simulation is intended, enable no-auto-pause and restart the server so the settings are loaded.
Credentials or tokens cause confusion
Remove unnecessary Factorio.com credentials and authentication tokens from a private offline configuration. They are only relevant to public listing, and exposing a token can grant access to the associated online account.
Operate and maintain the server
Keep the server process available
Run the process on a machine that will not sleep or shut down during play. On Windows, leave the batch-file console running. On Linux, use the system’s normal process-management method if you need the server to survive closing a terminal; the Factorio commands themselves remain the same.
Back up the save
Copy the save archive before major changes, mod updates, or experiments with unattended simulation. Because the server saves on exit and autosaves normally, a current archive is available, but a separate backup protects against an unwanted change.
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Stop cleanly
Use the server’s normal shutdown action rather than abruptly terminating the process. Factorio saves on exit, reducing the chance of losing the latest progress. Wait for the save and shutdown messages before powering off the host.
Capacity and practical limits
Factorio documents a hard limit of 65,535 players (Factorio Wiki, 2026), but that number is not a realistic target for a household or small LAN. Actual capacity depends on the server machine, the map, factory complexity, mods, and the network. Start with the players you need, watch the server’s responsiveness, and add capacity only after the existing setup is stable.
Offline setup checklist
- Game files, the save, and every required mod are already stored locally.
- Server and clients use exactly the same Factorio version and mod set.
- The save archive is in the server’s
savesdirectory. server-settings.example.jsonhas been copied toserver-settings.json.- Visibility is set to LAN for discovery or hidden for direct addressing.
- Public visibility, Factorio.com credentials, and authentication tokens remain unused for the private LAN.
- The host firewall permits the configured Factorio UDP port.
- No router port forwarding has been added for an isolated LAN.
- Players know whether to use Play on LAN or Connect to address.
- Password, whitelist, banlist, and adminlist controls match the group’s access needs.
- Automatic pause or
no-auto-pausereflects the intended idle behavior. - A backup of the save exists before the first extended session.
Bottom line
Install the full or headless package, create or copy a save, copy and edit server-settings.json, launch it with --start-server, allow the configured UDP traffic through the host firewall, and keep every player on the same LAN with matching versions and mods. LAN visibility gives automatic discovery; hidden visibility plus a local IP gives controlled direct access. No internet connection or router port forwarding is needed for this private arrangement.
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