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To update a Satisfactory dedicated server, stop the running server, back up its saves and configuration, run SteamCMD against the same installation directory, then start the server again. Use app ID 1690800; leave out -beta experimental for the public branch and add it only when both your server and players use Experimental.
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What the update actually changes
A Satisfactory dedicated server is updated by downloading the current dedicated-server files through SteamCMD. The update process replaces or adds program files in the installation directory; it should not be treated as a save-management operation. Your world saves and server settings still need an independent backup because a failed download, an incorrect path, or a mistaken cleanup can affect the files you rely on.
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Steam Support identifies SteamCMD as the distribution and update method for standalone dedicated servers. The dedicated-server application ID is 1690800. Steam and Epic game clients can connect to a dedicated server regardless of which of those stores supplied the server binaries, provided the server and clients are on compatible branches and versions.
Before you run SteamCMD
Stop the server completely
Shut down the dedicated-server process before SteamCMD changes its files. Do not update while the server is still writing a save or while a service manager is restarting it. A clean stop prevents files from being locked or changed while SteamCMD validates them.
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Back up saves and configuration
Copy the server’s save files and configuration to a separate location before every planned update. Use the save and configuration locations defined by your installation or service configuration rather than assuming they are in the SteamCMD folder. Keep at least one backup that is not on the same disk as the server, and label it with the date and branch.
- Back up the current world save files.
- Back up server configuration, including any administrator, port, or startup settings you have changed.
- Record the current branch and the installation directory used by the service.
- Confirm that the backup can be opened or copied back before you begin a major version change.
Check the branch your players use
The public branch is the normal stable choice. Experimental is a separate branch and can receive different builds. A server on one branch can produce a version mismatch for players on the other, so decide the branch first and use the same choice on every update.
SteamCMD commands
Run one of these commands from a shell where SteamCMD is installed. Replace <server_directory> with the existing directory that already contains your dedicated-server installation. Reusing that exact path is what makes SteamCMD update the intended installation instead of creating a second copy.
| Branch | Command | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Public/stable | steamcmd +force_install_dir <server_directory> +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 validate +quit |
Use when the server and players are on the normal public branch. |
| Experimental | steamcmd +force_install_dir <server_directory> +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 -beta experimental validate +quit |
Use only when the server and players are intentionally using Experimental. |
The +force_install_dir parameter selects the installation path, +login anonymous uses anonymous SteamCMD access, +app_update 1690800 requests the dedicated-server app, -beta experimental selects the Experimental branch, validate checks downloaded files, and +quit closes SteamCMD after the operation.
Do not add -beta experimental to a public-branch update. Conversely, omitting it from an Experimental installation updates the wrong branch for that server.
Updating on Windows
Manual Command Prompt or PowerShell update
- Stop the Satisfactory dedicated-server process or Windows service.
- Make the save and configuration backup described above.
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
- Run the public-branch command, or the Experimental command if that is the branch you have chosen.
- Quote the path when it contains spaces. For example, keep the path as one argument inside double quotation marks after
+force_install_dir. - Wait until SteamCMD finishes downloading and validating, and until it exits because of
+quit. Do not close the window while files are being written. - Start the same server executable or Windows service you stopped in step 1.
- Connect with a client on the matching branch and verify that the expected save and settings are present.
Use the account that has permission to modify the installation directory. If SteamCMD reports access or file-lock errors, stop any remaining server process and check that the account can write to the folder.
Windows path example
If the existing installation is in a folder such as C:GamesSatisfactory Server, the public command must preserve the spaces in that path:
steamcmd +force_install_dir "C:GamesSatisfactory Server" +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 validate +quitThe example shows the quoting rule; use your actual installation directory. Pointing SteamCMD at a new or misspelled folder can download a fresh copy while leaving the server you normally run unchanged.
Windows service automation with NSSM
The official documentation describes an NSSM-based pattern that updates before the server service starts. Put the appropriate SteamCMD command in an update batch file, have the service run that batch file, wait for SteamCMD to finish, and then launch the server. Keep the service’s executable, working directory, account permissions, and installation path consistent with the manually tested setup.
For a public branch, the batch file must contain the public command. For Experimental, it must contain the same command plus -beta experimental. A service that starts the server before SteamCMD has returned can leave the process using partially updated files, so the wait behavior is essential. Test the batch file interactively first, then test a full service stop/start cycle during a maintenance window.
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Manual shell update
- Stop the dedicated-server process and confirm it is no longer running.
- Back up the save and configuration directories.
- Open a shell as the account that owns the server files, or use an account with equivalent permissions.
- Run SteamCMD with the existing installation path. An absolute path or a path relative to the account’s home directory is acceptable.
- Select the public command or the Experimental command, but do not mix the two branches.
- Wait for SteamCMD to complete validation and exit.
- Start the server using the same launch method as before the update.
- Check the service log or console for a successful startup, then connect with a matching client.
Linux path example
For an installation under a user’s home directory, the command can use a home-relative path:
steamcmd +force_install_dir ~/satisfactory-server +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 validate +quitAn absolute path is clearer in service files:
steamcmd +force_install_dir /srv/satisfactory-server +login anonymous +app_update 1690800 validate +quitUse the path that matches the server you actually start. The account running SteamCMD must be able to read and write that directory and the account running the server must be able to read the updated files.
Linux automation with systemd
The documented systemd approach runs SteamCMD whenever the service starts or restarts, then launches the dedicated server. This keeps an update tied to the service lifecycle, but it also means every restart can perform a validation or download. Use it only if that behavior fits your maintenance policy and bandwidth limits.
Configure the update command as the service’s pre-start action, using the same force_install_dir, app ID, and branch argument you tested manually. The main server command should run only after the pre-start action returns successfully. Run the service under the file-owning account, and make sure a failed SteamCMD update prevents the server from starting with an incomplete installation. After editing the unit, reload systemd, perform a controlled restart, and inspect both the SteamCMD output and the server log.
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How to tell that the update worked
Read SteamCMD’s completion output
Wait for SteamCMD to finish the app update and validation rather than relying on the command window merely appearing to stop. The process should reach its normal completion and then exit through +quit. If the command is interrupted, rerun it after confirming that no server process is using the files.
Start the server and inspect its log
A successful download does not prove that the server started with the intended settings. Start the server, watch the console or service log for startup errors, and verify that it is listening on the configured port. Do not overwrite your backup until you have confirmed that the expected save loads.
Test with a client on the same branch
Have a player connect using the same public or Experimental branch as the server. A branch mismatch can look like a failed update even when SteamCMD completed correctly. If a public client cannot join an Experimental server, or vice versa, move both sides to the same branch before troubleshooting networking.
Recovering from common update problems
SteamCMD updated the wrong folder
Stop the server and compare the path in its startup configuration with the path after +force_install_dir. Correct the command to point to the existing installation. Do not copy files randomly between directories; first identify which folder contains the save references, configuration, and executable used by the service.
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- Confirm that the running process was stopped before the update.
- Confirm that SteamCMD used app ID
1690800. - Check whether the command selected the intended branch.
- Make sure the service starts the same installation directory that SteamCMD updated.
- Run the command again with
validateand wait for completion.
Players receive a version or branch mismatch
Ask the affected players which branch their game clients use. The server and every connecting client must be aligned to the public branch or aligned to Experimental. If only some players fail, compare their branch selection and client update status before changing the server files again.
SteamCMD cannot write files
On Windows, stop services that may still hold files open and run under an account with write access. On Linux, run SteamCMD as the account that owns the installation or correct the directory ownership and permissions. Avoid running one update as root and later running the server as an unprivileged account unless you have deliberately configured ownership; mixed ownership commonly prevents later updates.
The update stops partway through
Leave the server stopped, preserve the backup, and rerun the same command after checking disk space, network connectivity, and permissions. The validate argument is designed to check the installation after downloading. If the process repeatedly fails, retain the SteamCMD output and service log, because the exact error determines whether the cause is a locked file, an unavailable branch, insufficient storage, or a permission problem.
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The server starts but the world or settings appear missing
Stop the server before making further changes. Verify that its startup configuration points to the original save and configuration locations and that the service account can read them. Restore the backup only after confirming that the apparent loss is a path or permission issue; never delete the original backup while diagnosing the problem.
An automated service loops or starts too early
For systemd or NSSM, make sure the update action completes before the server process is launched. Check for a second service, scheduled task, or watchdog that may restart the server while SteamCMD is still running. Test automation with the server stopped and observe the complete stop, update, and start sequence in the logs.
Public versus Experimental: choosing the right update
| Decision | Public branch | Experimental branch |
|---|---|---|
| SteamCMD selection | Omit -beta experimental. |
Include -beta experimental. |
| Best fit | Players who want the normal stable release track. | Players who intentionally test the Experimental track. |
| Client requirement | Clients must use the public branch. | Clients must use Experimental. |
| Automation requirement | Keep the public command in every script or service. | Keep the Experimental argument in every script or service. |
Branch selection is not a one-time SteamCMD preference. It must remain consistent in manual commands, systemd or NSSM automation, the server’s maintenance notes, and each player’s game client.
Where the server files can come from
The dedicated-server software is available through SteamCMD, as a tool in the Steam client, and as a free add-on through the Epic Games Store. Steam and Epic clients can connect to dedicated servers regardless of where the server binaries were downloaded. The update command in this guide uses SteamCMD because it is the documented standalone-server mechanism.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIf you switch distribution methods, preserve the existing installation and save locations deliberately. A different download method does not automatically know which directory your current service uses. Recheck the executable path, branch choice, permissions, and backup before starting the replacement installation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Hardware and network requirements
Epic’s 2025 Windows listing gives the following dedicated-server requirements. The listing distinguishes minimum from recommended memory and processor guidance; storage is listed as 20 GB for both tiers.
| Item | Minimum listed requirement | Recommended listed requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10, 64-bit | Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Storage | 20 GB available space | 20 GB available space |
| Storage type | Not stated | SSD |
| Processor | Not stated | Six-physical-core-class CPU |
Linux support is documented by the official Satisfactory wiki. Home hosting may also require a broadband connection plus port forwarding or a VPN, depending on how players reach the server and how the network is configured. These networking requirements are separate from the SteamCMD update itself: a correctly updated server can still be unreachable if its port or access path is not configured.
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Manual updates versus automation
| Method | Advantages | Risks and responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Manual SteamCMD command | Clear branch control; easy to schedule during a maintenance window; simple to verify interactively. | Someone must stop the server, back up data, run the command, and restart it. |
| Linux systemd | Can run SteamCMD automatically on service start or restart and then launch the server. | A restart can trigger a download or validation; permissions, ordering, and failure handling must be correct. |
| Windows NSSM | Can run an update batch file before starting the server service. | The batch file must wait for SteamCMD, preserve the branch argument, and avoid competing restart tasks. |
| Managed hosting | Can reduce the work of port forwarding, update scheduling, and uptime management. | Support for the public and Experimental branches varies; confirm branch support and backup behavior before choosing a provider. |
For a small private server, a manual update during a planned maintenance window is usually easiest to audit. Automation is worthwhile when the server is expected to recover from restarts, but only after the manual command, backup process, and branch choice have been proven.
A repeatable maintenance checklist
- Announce a maintenance window to players.
- Record whether the server is public or Experimental.
- Stop the dedicated-server process and confirm it has exited.
- Back up saves and configuration to a separate location.
- Verify the existing installation directory used by the server.
- Run the matching SteamCMD command with app ID
1690800andvalidate. - Wait for SteamCMD to finish and exit.
- Start the server through the same executable or service.
- Inspect startup output and confirm the expected save is available.
- Test a connection from a client on the same branch.
- Record the update date, branch, and any errors in the server’s maintenance notes.
Frequently asked questions
Will updating delete my save?
The SteamCMD update command is for the dedicated-server files, not for deleting worlds. Nevertheless, stop the server first and back up saves and configuration before every update. If a world appears missing afterward, check the server’s configured save path and account permissions before restoring the backup.
What is the Satisfactory dedicated-server app ID?
It is 1690800. Put that ID in the +app_update portion of the SteamCMD command.
Do I need a Steam account?
The documented commands use +login anonymous for the dedicated-server download, so they do not require an interactive personal Steam login for this operation.
Can Steam and Epic players join the same dedicated server?
Yes. Steam and Epic game clients can connect to dedicated servers regardless of where the server binaries were downloaded, subject to branch and version compatibility.
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Including validate checks the installation as SteamCMD updates it and is the documented command form here. It can take longer than a download-only check, so allow enough maintenance time for validation to finish.
Can I update while players are connected?
No. Stop the server before changing its files. Updating a live process risks locked or inconsistent files and can interrupt a save operation.
Does home hosting require port forwarding?
It may. The official wiki notes that home hosting can require broadband connectivity plus port forwarding or a VPN, depending on the network. Updating the files does not configure those network requirements.
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