For most friend groups, start with a recognizable ServerName, a strong ServerPassword, the correct OwnerName, and MaxPlayerCount=8 unless you deliberately want a smaller session. Use MaxServerFramerate=30, MaxServerIdleFramerate=3.000000, AutoSaveGameInterval=900, and BackupSaveGamesInterval=7200 as documented starting points, not guarantees for every world or machine. Put group-access settings in AstroServerSettings.ini; put the listening port in Engine.ini. Always stop the server before editing, then save the file and restart. Self-hosting also requires firewall and router forwarding, while a rented host generally handles the network endpoint and operational tooling.
Which Astroneer server files control each setting?
A dedicated server uses two important configuration files in Astro/Saved/Config/WindowsServer. They serve different purposes, so changing the right file prevents settings from being ignored or overwritten.
| File | What it controls | Typical values |
|---|---|---|
AstroServerSettings.ini |
Server identity, ownership, access control, player capacity, save selection, and save intervals | PublicIP, ServerName, OwnerName, OwnerGuid, ServerPassword, DenyUnlistedPlayers, MaxPlayerCount, AutoSaveGameInterval, BackupSaveGamesInterval, ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName |
Engine.ini |
Engine and network options, including the listening port in the official self-hosting example | [URL] followed by Port=8777 |
System Era places both files under the Windows server configuration directory. A hosted control panel may write values into these files when the server starts; if your provider says a Startup field owns a setting, use that field instead of editing the file directly.
How should I edit AstroServerSettings.ini safely?
System Era warns that changes made while the server is running will not be saved. Use this order every time:
- Stop the dedicated server from its console, service manager, or hosting panel and wait until the process has exited.
- Open
AstroServerSettings.iniin a plain-text editor. Avoid word processors that add formatting. - Change only the keys you need. Keep one setting per line and preserve the existing section structure.
- Save the file, then close the editor so the write is complete.
- Start the server again and connect with a test account. Check the server name, password behavior, player limit, and save selection before inviting everyone.
If a value reverts after a restart, the panel may be regenerating the file. Set the value in the panel’s Startup or configuration fields, or stop the service and edit the file only when the provider documents file-level editing.
What is a good baseline configuration for a group?
The following values are a practical starting profile based on Nodecraft’s 2026 documented example. They are reference settings, not performance promises: CPU speed, world complexity, storage, and the number of active players can require different choices.
| Setting | Starting value | Why use it |
|---|---|---|
ServerName |
A distinctive name for your group | Helps friends identify the correct server in the list or connection screen. |
ServerPassword |
A long, unique password | Provides a simple gate for a private group without maintaining a list of every player. |
OwnerName |
The intended owner’s exact Steam name | Lets the first matching player claim ownership. |
OwnerGuid |
0 for initial assignment |
The server replaces this with a unique GUID after the owner connects. |
MaxPlayerCount |
8 |
Nodecraft documents eight as the default capacity. Lower it when you want a deliberately smaller session. |
MaxServerFramerate |
30 |
Nodecraft’s documented server-tick example; higher values can increase CPU demand. |
MaxServerIdleFramerate |
3.000000 |
Allows the idle server to use less processing while nobody is active. |
AutoSaveGameInterval |
900 seconds (15 minutes) |
Regular protection against progress loss during normal play. |
BackupSaveGamesInterval |
7200 seconds (2 hours) |
Creates a less-frequent backup cadence in the documented example. |
Do not treat the eight-player figure as a promise that every home computer can run eight busy players smoothly. Capacity is a limit, not a hardware recommendation. Start with the documented values, watch CPU, memory, storage activity, and disconnects, then lower the cap or adjust intervals if your machine struggles.
How do I set the owner, password, and whitelist?
Assign the first owner
Set OwnerName to the intended owner’s Steam display name and leave OwnerGuid=0 for the initial connection. The first player who joins with that name becomes the owner; the server then records that account’s unique GUID. Make the name match exactly, including spaces and capitalization as displayed by Steam.
If the wrong person claims ownership, stop the server before correcting the owner fields. Do not edit them while the process is active, because the running instance can overwrite your change.
Use a password for a small private group
A password is the simplest access control for friends. Choose a phrase that is not reused on another service, share it through a private channel, and change it if it becomes public. A password still allows anyone who learns it to attempt a connection, so remove it from screenshots and public server listings.
When should I enable DenyUnlistedPlayers?
Set DenyUnlistedPlayers=True when you want whitelist behavior. The server will then require each permitted account to have a current PlayerProperties entry. This is appropriate for a tightly controlled community, but it creates maintenance work whenever the group changes.
Leave DenyUnlistedPlayers=False when you do not want to maintain those entries. In that mode, rely on the password and review the player list if an unknown account appears. Turning on the flag without preparing the entries can lock out legitimate friends.
How do I configure the Astroneer port for self-hosting?
System Era’s official self-hosting example uses port 8777 in Engine.ini. That number is an example, not a universal requirement; another service on your machine may require a different unused port.
- Stop the server.
- Open
Engine.iniunderAstro/Saved/Config/WindowsServer. - Add or edit this section:
[URL]
Port=8777- Save the file and restart the server so it binds to the new port.
- Allow the same port through the host computer’s firewall for the protocol required by your installation.
- Configure a router port-forwarding rule from the public port to the server machine’s local address. Give that machine a stable local address so the rule does not break after a DHCP change.
- Set
PublicIP=...inAstroServerSettings.inito the public address players should use, then test from outside your home network.
Port forwarding and firewall rules expose a service to outside connections. System Era describes the firewall work as complicated, provides no direct warranty or support for home hosting, and places the risk of opening the network on the host. Keep the operating system patched, restrict the rule to the required port, and remove the forwarding rule if you retire the server.
How do I load an existing save on a dedicated server?
Copy the save file into COMMON -> ASTRONEER DEDICATED SERVER -> ASTRO -> SAVED -> SAVEGAMES. Stop the server before copying so it cannot write a different save at the same time.
System Era’s example file is named MYSAVENAME$2019.05.04-01.20.07.savegame. Set ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName to the portion before the dollar sign: MYSAVENAME. The timestamp suffix remains part of the file name, while the descriptive-name field tells the server which save family to activate.
- Make a separate copy of the original save before changing anything.
- Place the complete
.savegamefile in the server’sSAVEGAMESdirectory. - Enter the matching text before
$inActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName. - Start the server and verify that the terrain, bases, and player progress match the expected world.
If the server starts a new world, check spelling, capitalization, the dollar-sign boundary, and the directory path. A panel may use a different save-upload screen; follow that panel’s documented path if it copies files into a managed location.
How often should the server autosave and create backups?
Use AutoSaveGameInterval=900 for a 15-minute autosave and BackupSaveGamesInterval=7200 for a two-hour backup interval as a starting point. Nodecraft publishes these as configuration examples for 2026; it does not claim they are optimal for every world, CPU, disk, or hosting plan.
Shorter autosaves reduce the amount of progress lost after a crash but can increase disk activity. Longer intervals reduce write frequency but make a failure more costly. Change one interval at a time, observe storage latency and server responsiveness during saves, and keep independent copies of valuable worlds instead of treating the in-server backup cadence as your only recovery plan.
What framerate settings should I use?
MaxServerFramerate=30 and MaxServerIdleFramerate=3.000000 are sensible reference values for a first launch. The active limit caps server update work; the idle limit allows the process to sleep more aggressively when no players are connected.
Raising the active limit may improve simulation responsiveness in some situations, but it also raises CPU demand and does not fix a slow network, overloaded disk, or a world that is already limited by another resource. If players report stutter or timeouts, first check host utilization and save-time disk activity, then test a lower player cap before increasing the framerate limit.
Will Xbox, PlayStation, and PC players be able to join?
System Era says Xbox and PC players can connect through a preferred authenticated dedicated server and that PS4 players can connect to dedicated servers. The same guidance points users toward trusted rented providers for cross-play. Treat cross-play as a provider- and platform-specific capability rather than an automatic property of every self-hosted installation.
Before promising a mixed-platform session, verify the provider’s current platform matrix, authentication method, region availability, and any version restrictions. Have one player from each platform test a fresh connection before transferring a long-running world.
What does the client encryption setting mean?
Some provider setups require each PC client to add the following to %LocalAppData%AstroSavedConfigWindowsNoEditorEngine.ini:
[SystemSettings]
net.AllowEncryption=FalseOmneHosting documents this as a requirement for its setup. It is host-specific guidance, not a universal Astroneer rule, so do not add it merely because another server uses it. Follow the instructions for the particular provider and remove the override when that provider no longer requires it.
Should I self-host Astroneer or rent a server?
Self-hosting gives you direct control, but renting shifts much of the networking and maintenance burden to a provider. The right choice depends on whether your group values configuration access or predictable operations.
| Decision factor | Self-hosting | Rented dedicated server |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Direct access to files, ports, firewall, and router rules. | A control panel may abstract settings or rewrite them at startup. |
| Network work | You configure the firewall, public address, and router forwarding. | The provider normally supplies the endpoint and handles the network layer. |
| Cross-play | Requires you to validate authentication and platform compatibility. | System Era directs users toward trusted providers for authenticated cross-play; confirm the provider’s current matrix. |
| Maintenance | You own updates, backups, uptime, monitoring, and troubleshooting. | Operational tooling and support are usually included, subject to the provider’s terms. |
| Cost and geography | Uses your existing machine, electricity, bandwidth, and storage. | Pricing, data-center location, cancellation terms, and platform support vary and must be checked currently. |
Choose self-hosting when someone in the group is comfortable with firewall rules, port forwarding, backups, and keeping the machine online. Choose a provider when cross-play, public uptime, or a managed panel matters more than having unrestricted access to the underlying files. No current rental price or partner term is established here, so compare those details directly before paying.
What should I check when the server does not work?
- Friends cannot see or join it: confirm the server is running, the configured port is open in the host firewall, and the router forwards that port to the correct local machine. Verify that
PublicIPis the address players should use. - The port appears occupied: choose an unused port, update the
[URL]value, firewall rule, router rule, and connection details together, then restart. - Changes disappear: stop the server before editing and check whether a hosting panel regenerates the file at startup.
- The wrong player becomes owner: stop the server, correct
OwnerName, restoreOwnerGuid=0only for a fresh assignment, and have the intended account connect first. - Friends are rejected despite a correct password: inspect
DenyUnlistedPlayersand thePlayerPropertiesentries. A whitelist flag can reject accounts that are not listed. - The wrong world loads: verify the save directory and make sure
ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveNamematches the text before$in the file name. - Performance drops during saves: watch disk activity and CPU usage, lower the player cap if needed, and lengthen intervals only after preserving a separate backup of the world.
- Cross-platform clients fail: confirm the provider supports every platform in the group and check whether its setup requires the client-side encryption override.
What is the complete starter configuration?
Use this as a checklist rather than a blind copy. Replace the identity, password, public address, and save name with your own values, and keep the port consistent with your firewall and router.
ServerName=Your Group Name
ServerPassword=Use a unique long passphrase
OwnerName=Your exact Steam name
OwnerGuid=0
PublicIP=your.public.address
DenyUnlistedPlayers=False
MaxPlayerCount=8
MaxServerFramerate=30
MaxServerIdleFramerate=3.000000
AutoSaveGameInterval=900
BackupSaveGamesInterval=7200
ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName=YOUR_SAVE_NAMEPlace the connection port separately in Engine.ini:
[URL]
Port=8777After restarting, test with one client, confirm the intended owner, then add the rest of the group. If the machine cannot sustain the load, lower MaxPlayerCount before changing several performance variables at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change Astroneer server settings while people are playing?
Do not edit the files during a live session. The official warning says running servers can overwrite those edits, so schedule a stop, make the change, restart, and test before players return.
Do I need a static public IP address to host from home?
A stable public address makes joining easier, but the configuration evidence only establishes that players need the correct public address in PublicIP. If your internet address changes, you must communicate the new address or use a separately managed dynamic-address solution.
Where should I keep backups of an Astroneer world?
Keep copies outside the active SAVEGAMES directory and, ideally, on another disk or machine. A separate copy protects against accidental deletion, corruption, and a host failure that affects both the live save and its local backups.
Can I run two Astroneer dedicated servers on one computer?
The documented material establishes one port value per server instance, so separate instances would need separate configuration directories and non-conflicting ports. Verify the game build and provider documentation before attempting a multi-instance setup.