How to install mods in Satisfactory

Mods add new content and features to Satisfactory. Our Satisfactory server runs on Linux, so server mods must be downloaded as Linux Server versions and uploaded through the gameserver FTP.

The server must be switched off for every upload or update. Its status must show Server is not running.

Important: You need to use an FTP client such as FileZilla or WinSCP.

FileZilla: https://filezilla-project.org/
Important: In FileZilla, set the transfer mode to Binary. Click Transfer → Transfer type → Binary.
WinSCP: https://winscp.net/eng/index.php

What you need

the login details for your gameserver FTP
the Satisfactory Mod Manager for your local Satisfactory installation
the desired mods from the mods page on ficsit.app

Before installing

First create a backup of your current savegame. You can find instructions here: Download a savegame from your Satisfactory server.

Then install the Satisfactory Mod Manager on your computer. Select your Satisfactory installation and install the desired mods. The Mod Manager downloads the matching client versions and required dependencies for your game.

This local installation is only for your computer. The server files must be downloaded separately in the next step.

Step 1: Download the Linux Server versions

Open the mods page on ficsit.app and select the desired mod.
Click View Versions on the mod page.
Find a version that matches your Satisfactory version. Open the Download… dropdown in that row and select Download Linux Server.
Repeat these steps for every desired mod and every required dependency.

Never download Windows Client or Windows Server for your server. The downloaded file normally ends in .smod.

Step 2: Stop the server and connect by FTP

Stop your Satisfactory server in the webinterface.
Wait until the status shows Server is not running.
Connect to the gameserver FTP with your FTP program. You can find the login details in the FTP overview by clicking FTP.
In the FTP root directory, open the FactoryGame folder and then the Mods folder.

The correct path is:

FactoryGame/Mods

If the Mods folder does not exist yet, create it directly inside the FactoryGame folder.

Important: Do not change mod files while the server is running. Stop the server before every later mod update or removal as well.

Step 3: Install the Satisfactory Mod Loader

The Satisfactory Mod Loader (SML) is the foundation for most Satisfactory mods. Install it first.

Open the Satisfactory Mod Loader page.
For the latest version, choose Download and then Download Linux Server.
Open the download folder on your computer.
If the file ends in .smod, change only the extension to .zip and confirm the Windows prompt. If it already ends in .zip, skip this step.
Open the ZIP file and extract its contents into FactoryGame/Mods/SML on the server.

If the SML folder does not exist yet, create it inside FactoryGame/Mods.

The files and subfolders from the archive must be directly inside the SML folder. Do not accidentally create an extra folder such as FactoryGame/Mods/SML/SML.

Step 4: Upload the desired mods

Repeat the following steps for each mod:

Change the downloaded .smod extension to .zip if you have not done so already.
Open the ZIP file on your computer.
Find the file ending in .uplugin. Its name without .uplugin is the name of the mod folder.

Example:

ThroughputLimiter.uplugin  ->  folder name: ThroughputLimiter

Create a new folder with exactly this name inside FactoryGame/Mods on the server.
Extract the ZIP contents into this folder. The .uplugin file and subfolders such as Binaries, Content, or Resources must be directly inside it.
Repeat the process for all desired mods and their dependencies.

The resulting structure may look like this:

FactoryGame/
└── Mods/
    ├── SML/
    │   ├── Binaries/
    │   ├── Content/
    │   └── SML.uplugin
    ├── ThroughputLimiter/
    │   ├── Binaries/
    │   ├── Content/
    │   └── ThroughputLimiter.uplugin
    └── AnotherMod/
        └── AnotherMod.uplugin

Important: Do not upload the `.smod` or `.zip` file itself. Upload the extracted contents to the matching mod folder. Folder names and capitalization must exactly match the corresponding `.uplugin` filename.

Step 5: Start the server and check the mods

Check that all files have finished uploading.
Start your server in the webinterface.
Start Satisfactory on your computer.
Make sure the same mods and versions are installed in your local Satisfactory installation through the Mod Manager.
Connect to your server.
Open the Mods menu in the game and check that the Satisfactory Mod Loader and your installed mods are shown.

Every player joining the server needs the matching client versions of the installed mods. If the versions differ, joining may fail or a mod may not work correctly.

If the server does not start or a mod is missing

First check the following points:

The server was fully stopped during the upload.
You used the Linux Server version for every mod.
The SML folder is directly inside FactoryGame/Mods.
The files are not inside an extra folder such as FactoryGame/Mods/SML/SML.
The mod folder name exactly matches the .uplugin filename without its extension.
All required dependencies were installed as well.
Compatible mod versions are installed on both your computer and the server.

If the problem started after adding a specific mod, stop the server and remove only the last mod you added. Start the server again afterwards. Always make file changes while the server is switched off.