How to Make a Farming Simulator 25 Server: Step-by-Step Setup Guide

To make a Farming Simulator 25 (FS25) server, install the PC game on a computer that can stay online, activate a separate game license for that machine, run dedicatedServer.exe, configure the farm in its web panel, forward the game port, and keep the server’s game version, DLC, and mods synchronized with every player. A dedicated server runs independently of the host’s in-game session, so friends can return to the same farm even when the owner is offline.

You can self-host on a spare Windows PC or macOS machine for maximum control, or rent a managed game server for easier networking and maintenance. The steps below target FS25; FS22 uses different menus and file locations, so do not copy these paths blindly to an FS22 installation.

What do I need before setting up an FS25 dedicated server?

Prepare the license, computer, network access, and farm decisions before installing anything. Missing one of these prerequisites is the most common reason a server works locally but cannot be joined by friends.

A separate game license

The server installation needs its own FS25 PC license. If you also want to play from your everyday computer, that computer needs a separate license as well. The server process consumes the license on the machine where it is installed; it is not a free copy included with another purchase.

Any DLC activated in the server’s save must also be available to joining players. A player without the required DLC cannot load that farm, even when the base game and mods match.

Supported operating system and storage

GIANTS Software’s current FS25 PC requirements list 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11, or macOS 11.3 or newer, with broadband internet, 8 GB of RAM, and 45 GB of available storage. Those figures are the published game baseline, not a dedicated-server performance guarantee. Player count, map size, scripts, and mod combinations determine how much additional headroom you need.

Requirement	Published baseline	What it means for a server
Operating system	64-bit Windows 10/11 or macOS 11.3+	Use a supported 64-bit installation and keep its updates current.
Memory	8 GB RAM	This is the game baseline; busy farms and mod-heavy sessions may need more.
Storage	45 GB available	Leave extra space for saves, logs, downloadable mods, and backups.
Internet	Broadband connection	Upload capacity and stability matter because the server sends state to every player.

Choose self-hosting or a managed server

Self-hosting gives you direct access to files, configuration, logs, and multiple server instances without a recurring hosting bill. You are responsible for port forwarding, firewall rules, operating-system updates, backups, security, and keeping the machine powered on. Renting transfers much of that work to a provider, but adds a recurring fee and provider-specific limits on files, versions, slots, and external mods.

Consideration	Self-hosted spare computer	Managed game server
Upfront cost	Existing hardware can avoid a host charge; you still need a separate FS25 license.	Usually no server hardware purchase, but plans charge for the service.
Recurring cost	Electricity, internet, storage, and your own maintenance.	Monthly or prepaid hosting fee set by the provider.
Control	Full access to saves, XML files, logs, mods, and server processes.	Control depends on the provider’s panel and file permissions.
Networking	You configure a stable LAN address, router forwarding, and firewall rules.	The provider normally supplies a reachable address and port.
Uptime and maintenance	Your computer must remain online; you handle updates and recovery.	Datacenter uptime and basic maintenance are handled by the provider, within its service terms.
Multiple servers	Possible if hardware, licenses, ports, and bandwidth support them.	Depends on the plan’s instance and slot limits.
Crossplay and external mods	You can configure them directly, subject to console ModHub rules.	Supported features and upload policies vary by provider.

Choose self-hosting when you already have a machine that can stay online and are comfortable administering a network. Choose managed hosting when fast deployment, predictable availability, or avoiding router configuration is worth the recurring cost.

How do I install and activate the FS25 server software?

Install the normal PC edition on the server computer, launch it once to activate the license, then close the game before starting the dedicated process.

1. Install FS25. Use the official PC installer or your authorized game client on the computer that will remain online.
2. Launch the game once. Sign in, allow the license activation to complete, and reach the main menu. This creates the files the dedicated process expects.
3. Exit completely. Do not leave the normal game running while launching the dedicated server on the same installation.
4. Locate the server files. Find dedicatedServer.exe and dedicatedServer.xml in the FS25 installation directory.
5. Set the initial web-admin credentials. Open dedicatedServer.xml and enter a unique username and passphrase in the <initial_admin> block. Do not reuse an email, banking, or operating-system password.

Keep the XML file and web-panel credentials private. Anyone who obtains web-admin access can alter farms, passwords, mods, and server settings.

How do I start the dedicated server and open its control panel?

Run the executable, leave its console window open, and administer the instance through the local web interface.

1. Double-click dedicatedServer.exe or start it from a command prompt in its installation directory.
2. On the server computer, open http://127.0.0.1:8080 in a browser.
3. Sign in with the credentials entered in dedicatedServer.xml.
4. From another computer on the same home network, browse to http://SERVER_LOCAL_IP:8080, replacing SERVER_LOCAL_IP with the server computer’s LAN address.

The console window is the running server process. Closing it stops the server. For unattended operation, configure your operating system to launch the process after reboot and verify that it actually starts before relying on it.

Which farm settings should I configure first?

Stop the server before changing configuration. In the web panel, set the identity, access controls, save, gameplay rules, and capacity, then save and restart.

Identity and access

• Server name: Use a distinctive name your friends can search for.
• In-game administrator password: Protects administrative actions inside the game.
• Optional join password: Keeps strangers from entering the farm.
• Language: Select the language you want displayed in the server interface.

Farm and economy

• Save slot: Choose an unused slot for a new farm or the slot you will restore.
• Map: Select a base-game map or an installed custom map.
• Starting money and loan: Set the opening finances before the first player joins.
• Economic difficulty: Choose the price and operating-cost model for the group.

Capacity and runtime

• Player slots: The cited dedicated-server configuration allows 2 through 16 slots; FS25 supports up to 16 simultaneous players.
• Save interval: Select how often the server writes progress so a crash loses less work without creating excessive disk activity.
• Crossplay: Enable it when console and PC players need to use the farm together.

Save the configuration and start the server again. The browser listing only presents a server to players running the same game version, so update the server and every client together.

How do I create a new farm or move an existing savegame?

Creating a new farm

Choose a base-game map or a custom map that is already installed on the server. Select the farm’s economy, starting funds, loan, and difficulty in the panel, then launch the save. The first successful start creates the savegame directory and its metadata.

Migrating an existing farm

Stop the server and make a separate backup before replacing files. Compress the contents of the existing savegame folder so that careerSavegame.xml is at the archive root; do not place the files inside an additional enclosing folder. Upload or restore that archive to the server’s save location, then install every map, mod, and DLC dependency before starting the farm.

If the archive contains an extra folder layer, the server may not detect the save. If a required map or mod is absent, the save can fail to load or present missing-content errors. Keep the original backup until players have joined successfully and confirmed that vehicles, contracts, and finances are intact.

How do I add mods to an FS25 dedicated server?

Use the web panel’s Mods page. Download items from the in-game ModHub where available, or upload trusted .zip files without extracting them.

1. Stop the server before changing its mod set.
2. Open the Mods page in the web panel.
3. Download a ModHub item or upload the original mod .zip file. Keep the archive’s filename and do not unpack it.
4. Return to the home page and activate the selected mods for the save.
5. Save the settings and restart the server.
6. Have every player install or download the identical mod and DLC versions before joining.

ModHub content can be offered to players during the join process. External mods generally require manual installation and may not be available on consoles. For console crossplay, every active mod must be available through the console ModHub; one unsupported external mod can prevent console players from joining.

Only use mods from sources you trust. A mod can alter a save, depend on another package, or become incompatible after a game update. Keep a dated backup before changing the active list.

Which ports and firewall rules does an FS25 server need?

GIANTS Software support lists UDP ports 10823, 10824, and 10825 for multiplayer. The practical setup guide uses UDP 10823 as the main game port. Forward the required game port from your router to the server’s stable local IP and allow the same traffic through the operating-system firewall.

Port	Protocol	Use	Exposure guidance
10823	UDP	Commonly configured main FS25 game port.	Forward to the server’s LAN address and allow in the firewall.
10824	UDP	Listed by GIANTS support for multiplayer.	Permit when required by your server configuration.
10825	UDP	Listed by GIANTS support for multiplayer.	Permit when required by your server configuration.
8080 and 8443	HTTP/HTTPS	Web administration interfaces.	Keep private; do not broadly forward them to the public internet.

Assign the server a DHCP reservation or another stable LAN address so a router reboot does not send forwarding to the wrong computer. GIANTS’ support guidance is direct: “Make sure that your router and firewall are not blocking the required ports.”

When port forwarding does not work

Some internet connections use carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), which prevents unsolicited inbound connections even when your router rules are correct. Ask your internet provider whether you have a public IPv4 address. If you cannot obtain one, use a provider that supplies a reachable server, a suitable virtual private server, or a managed game host instead of repeatedly changing local firewall rules.

How do friends join the server?

Give players the exact server name, join password, and any required DLC or external-mod instructions.

1. Each player updates FS25 to the same game version as the server.
2. Open Multiplayer and choose Join Game.
3. Search for the server name. Enable the crossplay filter when looking for a cross-platform session.
4. If the server offers ModHub downloads, accept the requested items and wait for them to finish.
5. Enter the game password, if one is configured, and join the farm.

If the listing is missing, check the client’s version, search filters, crossplay setting, server process, forwarded UDP port, and firewall rule. A player with a mismatched DLC package or mod version may see the server but still fail during loading.

How do I keep an FS25 server reliable and secure?

Back up saves on a schedule

Copy the active savegame to separate storage at regular intervals and before every game, map, or mod update. Keep more than one dated backup so a corrupted newest copy does not erase the farm’s history. Test a restore on a temporary slot instead of assuming that a file copy is usable.

Update as one coordinated change

Update the server game, then update clients and mods to compatible versions. Review the server log after each change. If startup hangs or a player crashes while joining, remove the most recently added or updated mod, verify its dependencies, and restart. Reintroduce mods one at a time so the offending package is identifiable.

Protect administration

Use a long, unique web-admin passphrase and keep ports 8080 and 8443 reachable only from the LAN or a restricted remote-access method. Do not publish the admin URL or credentials in a group chat. Limit operating-system accounts that can edit the installation and save directories.

Plan for restarts

Keep the server computer powered and connected, but schedule maintenance windows for operating-system updates, backups, and mod changes. Notify players before stopping the process so they can save vehicles and progress safely.

What should I troubleshoot when players cannot connect?

Symptom	Likely cause	Action
Server is absent from the browser	Version mismatch, search filter, stopped process, or blocked port.	Match versions, clear filters, confirm the console is running, and verify UDP forwarding and firewall rules.
Server appears but join fails immediately	Wrong password, incompatible DLC, or a crossplay restriction.	Re-enter the password, confirm DLC ownership, and check whether crossplay is enabled.
Join hangs while loading	Missing map dependency, broken save archive, or incompatible mod.	Check the log, verify dependencies, restore a known-good save backup, and disable the newest mod.
Console player cannot join	An active external mod is unavailable on the console ModHub.	Remove that mod or use a console-compatible ModHub version.
Friends connect locally but not from outside	Incorrect LAN address, CGNAT, router rule, or public firewall block.	Reserve the server’s LAN IP, confirm the external address, inspect forwarding, and ask the provider about CGNAT.

Make one change at a time and record what changed. That approach is faster than replacing the entire mod set or repeatedly reinstalling the game.

Can I run more than one FS25 server?

Yes, provided the machine has enough CPU, memory, storage, and upload capacity, and each instance has its own configuration, save location, and network port. Each additional server also needs the appropriate game licensing. Assign distinct game ports and keep separate backups so stopping or restoring one farm does not affect another.

What is different about an FS22 server?

The overall concept is the same—dedicated process, web administration, savegames, mods, and forwarded ports—but FS22 menus, executable locations, XML settings, and compatibility rules differ. Use FS22-specific documentation and files for an FS22 installation; do not overwrite an FS25 save or configuration with an older version’s structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the farm stay available when the owner’s gaming PC is turned off?

Yes. A dedicated server runs on a separate computer or hosted instance, so the owner’s usual gaming machine can be shut down. The server computer itself must remain powered, connected, and running the dedicated process.

How can I tell whether my internet uses CGNAT?

Compare the public address shown by your router with the address shown by an independent internet connection diagnostic. If the router receives a private or carrier-range address and inbound forwarding never works, ask your provider whether CGNAT is enabled and whether a public address is available.

Can players use different mod versions if the filenames match?

No. The server and clients need compatible files, not merely identical filenames. Replace outdated archives and verify dependencies whenever a mod update changes behavior or causes a join failure.

Does enabling crossplay make every PC mod available to consoles?

No. Crossplay allows supported platforms to share a session, but console players can use only mods distributed through the console ModHub. External PC-only mods can make the active farm unavailable to those players.