Factorio server settings explained
Updated 2 November 2026 · 81 settings · Factorio · By Exclsv Support
Every setting in the Factorio settings form in Exclsv HQ: what it does, where it lives, its default and the values it takes. File settings are in server-settings.json and map-gen-settings.json and map-settings.json; to edit them by hand, stop the server first, because a game can rewrite its settings while it runs.
On Exclsv you don’t need to edit the files by hand: change a setting in HQ’s form and HQ writes it for you, with the server stopped.
Settings marked “Set in HQ” are changed in HQ’s form only: HQ applies them every time the server starts, so an edit elsewhere doesn’t last.
Server
| Setting | Where | What it does | Default | Values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server name | Set in HQ | Name in the public game list. | — | Up to 100 characters |
| Description | Set in HQ | Shown in the game list. | — | Up to 200 characters |
| Password | Set in HQ | Players enter it to join. | — | |
| Max players | Set in HQ | How many people can be on at once. HQ starts it from your plan's memory; you can raise it up to the limit for your plan, shown when you save. More players use more memory. | — | 1 to 100 |
| List publicly | visibility.public | Show the server in Factorio's public list. Needs your factorio.com token. | On | On or off |
| Show on local networks | visibility.lan | Announces the game on the local network. Players on the internet don't see it. | On | On or off |
| Verified accounts only | require_user_verification | Players need a factorio.com account. | On | On or off |
| Returning players skip the limit | ignore_player_limit_for_returning_players | Players who have played on this map can join even when it is full. | Off | On or off |
| Console commands | allow_commands | Who may use /c Lua commands (they disable achievements). | Admins only | Everyone, Nobody, Admins only |
| Only admins can pause | only_admins_can_pause_the_game | Stops anyone else pausing the server. | On | On or off |
| Pause when empty | auto_pause | The game pauses while nobody is online. | On | On or off |
| Pause while someone joins | auto_pause_when_players_connect | The game pauses while a player is connecting. | Off | On or off |
Saving and players
| Setting | Where | What it does | Default | Values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autosave every | Set in HQ | Minutes between autosaves. | 10 minutes | 1 to 999 minutes |
| Autosave slots | Set in HQ | Autosaves kept before the oldest is reused. | 5 | 1 to 999 |
| Autosave only on the server | autosave_only_on_server | Off: players' games save a copy too. | On | On or off |
| Save without freezing | non_blocking_saving | Experimental on Linux: players keep playing while the game saves. | Off | On or off |
| AFK kick | Set in HQ | Minutes before an idle player is kicked. 0 is off. | 0 minutes | 0 to 999 minutes |
Network
| Setting | Where | What it does | Default | Values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upload limit | max_upload_in_kilobytes_per_second | Most the server uploads to players, in kilobytes a second. 0 means no limit. | 0 KB/s | 0 or more KB/s |
| Map downloads at once | max_upload_slots | How many players can download the map at the same time. 0 means no limit. | 5 | 0 or more |
| Least latency | minimum_latency_in_ticks | Smallest delay, in ticks of about 16 ms. 0 means none. | 0 | 0 or more |
| Network tick rate | max_heartbeats_per_second | Most network updates a second, from 6 to 240. | 60 | 6 to 240 |
| Smallest segment | minimum_segment_size | Segment size with many players connected. | 25 | 1 or more |
| Players for the smallest segment | minimum_segment_size_peer_count | From this many players, the smallest segment is used. | 20 | 1 or more |
| Largest segment | maximum_segment_size | Segment size with few players connected. | 100 | 1 or more |
| Players for the largest segment | maximum_segment_size_peer_count | Up to this many players, the largest segment is used. | 10 | 1 or more |
New map
| Setting | Where | What it does | Default | Values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Save name | Set in HQ | The save the server runs. A new name creates a new map. | gamesave | |
| Map seed | seed | Only used when a new save is created. Empty is random. Applies to a new world or map. | — | |
| Map width | width | Width of the map in tiles. 0 means endless. Applies to a new world or map. | 0 | 0 or more |
| Map height | height | Height of the map in tiles. 0 means endless. Applies to a new world or map. | 0 | 0 or more |
| Starting area | starting_area | Size of the area around the start with no enemies. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Peaceful mode | peaceful_mode | Enemies attack only when attacked. Applies to a new world or map. | Off | On or off |
| Iron ore: frequency | autoplace_controls.iron-ore.frequency | How often iron ore patches appear. 1 is normal. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Iron ore: size | autoplace_controls.iron-ore.size | How big iron ore patches are. 0 means none. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Iron ore: richness | autoplace_controls.iron-ore.richness | How much is in each iron ore patch. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Copper ore: frequency | autoplace_controls.copper-ore.frequency | How often copper ore patches appear. 1 is normal. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Copper ore: size | autoplace_controls.copper-ore.size | How big copper ore patches are. 0 means none. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Copper ore: richness | autoplace_controls.copper-ore.richness | How much is in each copper ore patch. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Coal: frequency | autoplace_controls.coal.frequency | How often coal patches appear. 1 is normal. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Coal: size | autoplace_controls.coal.size | How big coal patches are. 0 means none. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Coal: richness | autoplace_controls.coal.richness | How much is in each coal patch. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Stone: frequency | autoplace_controls.stone.frequency | How often stone patches appear. 1 is normal. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Stone: size | autoplace_controls.stone.size | How big stone patches are. 0 means none. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Stone: richness | autoplace_controls.stone.richness | How much is in each stone patch. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Uranium ore: frequency | autoplace_controls.uranium-ore.frequency | How often uranium ore patches appear. 1 is normal. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Uranium ore: size | autoplace_controls.uranium-ore.size | How big uranium ore patches are. 0 means none. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Uranium ore: richness | autoplace_controls.uranium-ore.richness | How much is in each uranium ore patch. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Crude oil: frequency | autoplace_controls.crude-oil.frequency | How often crude oil patches appear. 1 is normal. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Crude oil: size | autoplace_controls.crude-oil.size | How big crude oil patches are. 0 means none. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Crude oil: richness | autoplace_controls.crude-oil.richness | How much is in each crude oil patch. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Water: frequency | autoplace_controls.water.frequency | How often lakes appear. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Water: size | autoplace_controls.water.size | How big lakes are. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Trees: frequency | autoplace_controls.trees.frequency | How often forests appear. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Trees: size | autoplace_controls.trees.size | How big forests are. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Enemy bases: frequency | autoplace_controls.enemy-base.frequency | How often enemy bases appear. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Enemy bases: size | autoplace_controls.enemy-base.size | How big enemy bases are. 0 means none. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| First cliff row | cliff_settings.cliff_elevation_0 | Height of the first row of cliffs. Applies to a new world or map. | 10 | 0 or more |
| Cliff spacing | cliff_settings.cliff_elevation_interval | Height between rows of cliffs. Lower means more cliffs. Applies to a new world or map. | 40 | 0 or more |
| Cliff continuity | cliff_settings.richness | How unbroken cliff rows are. 0 means no cliffs, 10 solid rows. Applies to a new world or map. | 1 | 0 or more |
Map rules (new map)
| Setting | Where | What it does | Default | Values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research cost | difficulty_settings.technology_price_multiplier | How much research costs. 1 is normal. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Spoil time | difficulty_settings.spoil_time_modifier | How long items take to spoil. Higher lasts longer. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Pollution | pollution.enabled | Pollution spreads and draws attacks. Applies to a new world or map. | On | On or off |
| Spread | pollution.diffusion_ratio | Share of a chunk's pollution passed to its neighbours each second. Applies to a new world or map. | 0.02 | 0 or more |
| Absorption | pollution.ageing | How fast the ground and trees soak up pollution. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Pollution per attack | pollution.enemy_attack_pollution_consumption_modifier | How much pollution it takes to send an attack. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
| Pollution that hurts trees | pollution.min_pollution_to_damage_trees | Pollution in a chunk before trees start to suffer. Applies to a new world or map. | 60 | 0 or more |
| Evolution | enemy_evolution.enabled | Enemies get stronger over time. Applies to a new world or map. | On | On or off |
| From time | enemy_evolution.time_factor | Evolution added every tick. Applies to a new world or map. | 4e-06 | 0 or more |
| From destroyed spawners | enemy_evolution.destroy_factor | Evolution added for each spawner destroyed. Applies to a new world or map. | 0.002 | 0 or more |
| From pollution | enemy_evolution.pollution_factor | Evolution added for each unit of pollution made. Applies to a new world or map. | 9e-07 | 0 or more |
| Expansion | enemy_expansion.enabled | Enemies send groups out to build new bases. Applies to a new world or map. | On | On or off |
| Closest new base | enemy_expansion.min_expansion_distance | Fewest chunks from an existing base a new one is built. Applies to a new world or map. | 3 | 0 or more |
| Furthest new base | enemy_expansion.max_expansion_distance | Most chunks from an existing base a new one is built. Applies to a new world or map. | 5 | 0 or more |
| Smallest settler group | enemy_expansion.settler_group_min_size | Fewest enemies in a group sent to build a base. Applies to a new world or map. | 5 | 1 or more |
| Largest settler group | enemy_expansion.settler_group_max_size | Most enemies in a group sent to build a base. Applies to a new world or map. | 10 | 1 or more |
| Shortest wait between new bases | enemy_expansion.min_expansion_cooldown | Ticks between expansions at the least (60 ticks is a second). Applies to a new world or map. | 14400 ticks | 0 or more ticks |
| Longest wait between new bases | enemy_expansion.max_expansion_cooldown | Ticks between expansions at the most (60 ticks is a second). Applies to a new world or map. | 216000 ticks | 0 or more ticks |
| Largest attack group | unit_group.max_unit_group_size | Most enemies in one attack group. Applies to a new world or map. | 200 | 1 or more |
| Groups gathering at once | unit_group.max_gathering_unit_groups | Most attack groups gathering at the same time. Applies to a new world or map. | 30 | 0 or more |
| Asteroids | asteroids.spawning_rate | How many asteroids appear in space. Applies to a new world or map. | 1× | 0 or more× |
factorio.com
| Setting | Where | What it does | Default | Values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| factorio.com username | Set in HQ | Needed for public listing and mod downloads. | unnamed | |
| factorio.com token | Set in HQ | Yours, not ours: it stays with your server. Needed for mods and public listing. | — |
Sources
- wiki.factorio.com/Multiplayer#Dedicated/Headless_server
- wiki.factorio.com/Map_generator
- wiki.factorio.com/Enemies
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