Before you start
This beta hosts the PC base game through private address connections. Space Age, third-party mods, and public server listing are not included in this guide.
Have an owned Factorio Windows game folder available. Wube documents that Windows hosting uses the normal game package; its free lightweight headless download is for Linux. Match the exact base-game version with every player.
Use a Windows 10 or 11 x64 PC. Keep it on, awake, and connected while friends play, with enough memory left for Windows and your own game.
New to Tavern? Apply for the alpha. If you already have a server, keep a separate backup before linking or importing it.
Set up with Tavern
Choose the owned Windows package
Choose Factorio and Install a new server, then select the owned Factorio Windows game folder. Tavern creates a separate managed installation. This setup does not download an anonymous Windows server package through SteamCMD.
Choose a world and save policy
Set the server/world name, player limit, join password, pause-while-empty choice, and autosave choices. Let Tavern complete world preparation before the first start; a headless server needs a prepared save to load.
Keep the base game matched
Start with the base-game setup this adapter supports. Do not add Space Age or third-party mods to work around a compatibility warning. Finish setup and start only after the owned package and save checks complete.
Finish the review and choose Create server. When setup is complete, start it and follow any instructions Tavern shows. Join yourself, then ask a friend to try the connection your group will use.
Bring your friends
Connect to address
In Factorio on PC, open Multiplayer > Connect to address and enter the server address from Tavern. Use the LAN address at home or a verified public address for your group elsewhere.
Direct UDP access
Factorio's game connection uses UDP, ordinarily port 34197. Follow Tavern's port shown by Tavern and network checklist. This beta uses private address joining rather than an public server listing, and does not advertise Playit.
Changing local ports
For custom ports, stop the selected server and open Networking > Ports. Edit its local ports, save, update any router or tunnel mappings, then start the server and use the updated address. Tavern keeps game-required adjacent ports together and checks for conflicts. These controls require a Tavern build with the Ports section.
Share the connection details from the right server in Tavern. For friends outside your home, test with someone on another network; joining from the host PC alone is not enough.
Make it your world
Pause and autosaves
Settings > Game Config exposes pause-while-empty and autosave interval/count choices. Review these with the group; keeping a PC on does not necessarily mean the factory continues progressing when nobody is connected.
Updating the managed copy
Update the owned source package before asking Tavern to update its managed copy. Back up the factory first and keep player versions aligned with the updated server. The live data and the copied package are separate locations.
Protect your progress
Use Tavern's review for native Factorio save ZIP imports and keep the original archive. The runtime loads the latest available save, so the selected world and newer autosaves matter. After migration or recovery, verify the intended factory in-game and after restart rather than relying only on world-generation output.
In Backups, choose Create backup for this server. Wait for Activity to report completion and check that the backup appears in the list. Do this before updates, imports, or major changes.
Restoring replaces the current world data, so keep a copy of your latest progress first. Use Tavern's stop control and wait for shutdown before turning the PC off.
If something gets stuck
Startup stops at package preparation
Check the selected owned Windows game folder and version. The Linux headless archive is not the Windows package this adapter expects. Read Tavern's specific preparation or recovery action.
The client refuses the server
Check exact game versions, base-game scope, and mod state before changing networking. Then confirm the selected UDP route with a real friend outside your network if direct access is intended.
Do I need to leave my game open?
The dedicated server runs separately from your game client. The host PC, server, and selected connection route need to remain available while friends play.
Sources & testing status
Checked against Tavern's app source and the publisher resources below. Game support is in beta; your installed alpha may differ. This review did not include a new gameplay, restore, or outside-network join test.
- Wube: Windows and Linux headless-server distinction
- Factorio official wiki: multiplayer and dedicated servers
The game's documentation may include features Tavern does not yet offer. Use the options available in your version of the app.