Satisfactory has a genuinely active modding scene through ficsit.app, the official mod repository. Getting mods running on a dedicated server takes a couple more steps than a local install, mostly around making sure a mod actually supports dedicated servers and that everyone connecting is running the exact same setup. This guide covers the full process.
Step 1: Check the Mod Supports Dedicated Servers
Not every mod works on a server, some are client-only visual or UI tweaks. Before installing anything, open the mod's page on ficsit.app and check the Latest Version section. If there's a Server column with a checkmark, it's compatible with dedicated servers. An X means it isn't, and installing it on the server won't do anything useful.
Step 2: Understand SML Version Matching
Every mod runs on top of SML (Satisfactory Mod Loader), and SML itself is tied to a specific Satisfactory game version. A mismatch between your server's SML version and its game version is the most common reason a freshly modded server refuses to start. If you're using the Satisfactory Mod Manager (SMM) as described below, it handles picking the right SML version for you, so this is mostly something to be aware of rather than something you manage by hand.
Step 3: Install Mods Through SMM and SFTP
- Download the Satisfactory Mod Manager (SMM) from ficsit.app onto your own PC, not the server.
- Stop your server on the MintServers panel.
- Get your server's SFTP details (host, port, username, password) from your MintServers panel.
- Open SMM and go to Manage Servers in the left sidebar.
- Choose SFTP as the connection type and enter your server's details, then click Add.
- Once connected, your server appears in SMM's Game Version dropdown alongside your local install.
- With your server selected, browse or search for mods and click Install on each one you want.
- Click Apply Changes if it isn't triggered automatically.
- Start your server back up and check the Console tab for each mod loading cleanly.
Step 4: Keep Client and Server Mod Lists Identical
Every player connecting to your server needs the exact same mods, at the exact same versions, as the server itself. Any mismatch, even a single mod version being one release behind, will cause a failed connection, usually a stuck loading screen or a disconnect message mentioning a mod.
The easiest way to keep a group in sync is SMM's profile export feature. Set up your mod list locally in SMM to match what's installed on the server, export it as a file, and share it with everyone in your group so they can import the same profile. Whenever you update mods on the server, re-export and re-share before your next session.
If the Server Won't Start After a Game Update
Game updates are the single most common cause of a modded server suddenly refusing to start. Mods built against the previous Satisfactory version frequently break the moment the game updates underneath them.
- Check the Console tab for startup errors. They'll usually name the specific mod or an SML version mismatch.
- Remove or disable the most recently added or updated mod first, a single incompatible mod is enough to block the entire server from starting.
- If it's an SML mismatch rather than one specific mod, mod authors are usually quick but not instant, give it a day or two for the mod (or SML itself) to catch up to the new game version before troubleshooting further.
- Reconnect through SMM and update each mod to its latest version once updates are available.
Start with three to five mods and add more gradually rather than installing a large list all at once, if something breaks, you'll know exactly which mod caused it. If you get stuck at any point, no worries! Just open a support ticket and our team will be happy to help.