How to Install and Manage Mods on Your Factorio Server

Factorio has a thriving modding community, and adding mods to your server is one of the best ways to shake up the gameplay. Whether you want quality-of-life tweaks, new buildings, or a completely overhauled tech tree, mods can transform the experience for everyone on your server.

This guide walks you through installing and managing mods on your Factorio server using the RiverHosting panel. You do not need any Linux knowledge or manual file editing to get started.

Before you start

• You need an active Factorio server on RiverHosting. Log in to the panel at panel.riverhosting.com to access it.
• Every player who joins your server must also have the same mods installed in their own Factorio client. Factorio will not let mismatched clients connect.
• If you are adding mods to an existing save, be careful. Some mods change the game world in ways that cannot easily be undone. It is a good idea to take a backup before making changes.

1. How to install mods using the built-in Mods page

The easiest way to add mods to your Factorio server is through the Mods page in the RiverHosting panel. This lets you search for and install mods directly without uploading any files by hand.

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel and open your Factorio server.
2. In the left-hand menu, click Mods.
3. Use the search bar to find the mod you want to install. You can search by mod name or keyword.
4. When you find the mod you want, click the install button next to it.
5. Wait for the panel to confirm that the mod has been installed. This usually only takes a few seconds.
6. Repeat for any other mods you want to add.
7. Once all your mods are installed, restart your server from the Console page so they load properly.

2. How to remove or disable a mod

If a mod is causing problems or you simply want to remove it, you can do that from the same Mods page.

1. Go to your Factorio server in the RiverHosting panel.
2. Click Mods in the left-hand menu.
3. Find the mod you want to remove from your installed mods list.
4. Click the remove or uninstall button next to that mod.
5. Restart your server from the Console page to apply the change.

3. How to upload a mod manually using the File Manager

If a mod is not available through the built-in Mods page, for example a private or custom mod, you can upload it manually using the File Manager.

1. Download the mod file to your computer. Factorio mods come as .zip files and follow the naming format ModName_version.zip, for example RecipeBook_4.2.0.zip.
2. Open your Factorio server in the RiverHosting panel.
3. Click Files in the left-hand menu to open the File Manager.
4. Navigate to the mods folder inside your server directory.
5. Upload the .zip file directly into the mods folder. Do not unzip it.
6. Restart your server from the Console page once the upload is complete.

4. How to check which mods are active

You can check your active mods at any time from the Mods page in the panel. It shows all currently installed mods and their versions. This is useful when you want to confirm what is running or share your mod list with players so they can match it on their own clients.

You can also check the server console output when the server starts. Factorio prints a list of loaded mods to the console during startup, which makes it easy to confirm everything loaded correctly.

Troubleshooting

• Server fails to start after adding a mod. Check the Console for error messages. The error will usually name the mod or a missing dependency. Remove the problem mod and restart.
• Players cannot connect after you added mods. Make sure every player has the same mods and the same versions installed in their Factorio client. Factorio enforces an exact match.
• A mod was installed but does not seem to be working. Make sure you restarted the server after installing. Also check the Console output at startup to confirm the mod loaded without errors.
• Your save file is throwing errors after a mod was removed. Restore your server from a backup taken before the mod was removed. Use the Backups tab to find and restore an earlier snapshot.
• You cannot find a specific mod in the Mods page search. The mod may not be indexed in the panel. In that case, download the .zip file manually and upload it through the File Manager as described in section 3 above.

Need help?

If you run into an issue that is not covered here, the RiverHosting support team is happy to help. Visit the support page and open a ticket and a team member will get back to you.