Satisfactory
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.
Always fully stop your server before installing, updating, or removing mods. Mod files stay locked while the server is running.
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
Never copy your local game's Mods folder directly onto the server. Client and server mod files are compiled differently, and client-side files won't work on a dedicated server, they'll just produce confusing errors. Always install server-side mods through SMM connected to the server, not by hand.
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.
If your mods genuinely can't catch up in time and you need your server held on its previous game version while you wait, that isn't something available through the panel directly. Open a support ticket and our team can help.
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.
Still stuck?
Our team is happy to help. Open a ticket through the live chat button in the bottom-right corner of our website, or join our Discord and open a ticket there.
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