To make an Astroneer dedicated server, install the separate ASTRONEER Dedicated Server tool from Steam’s Library → Tools section (or install Steam app ID 728470 with SteamCMD), run it once, stop it, edit its two configuration files, open and forward UDP port 8777, then connect through Astroneer’s Dedicated Servers menu. Self-hosting gives you control over the machine, saves, and administration, but you must handle Windows configuration, firewall access, router forwarding, updates, backups, and platform compatibility. Renting from an official provider removes the home-network setup, while cross-play and supported platforms depend on the hosting route and current first-party rules.
What do you need to host an Astroneer dedicated server?
You need a reachable Windows computer, the separate dedicated-server software, administrator access to edit files and firewall rules, and a network connection that can accept an incoming UDP connection. The server tool is not the same program as the Astroneer game client. A dedicated server can remain available for players while the person who configured it is not playing, provided the host computer and network stay online.
- Server software: ASTRONEER Dedicated Server, installed through Steam Library → Tools, or through SteamCMD using app ID
728470. - Configuration files:
Engine.iniandAstroServerSettings.ini. - Network access: UDP port
8777allowed in the host firewall and forwarded by the router to the server computer. - Public address: The address players will enter, recorded as
PublicIPin the server settings. - Save data: Optional existing save files copied into the server’s
Astro/Saved/SaveGamesdirectory.
System Era’s historical dedicated-server announcement described support for up to eight players. Treat that figure as tied to the announcement’s 2020 server information, not as a guarantee that every later build has identical limits.
How do I install the Astroneer dedicated-server files?
Steam installation
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Use the library filter or search tools to display Tools.
- Find ASTRONEER Dedicated Server and install it. This is a separate download from the Astroneer game client.
SteamCMD installation
If you administer servers from a command line, SteamCMD can install the server application with Steam app ID 728470. SteamCMD is an alternative installation method; you do not need it when the Steam Tools entry has installed the files successfully.
After installation, launch the server once. The first run creates the configuration and save directories needed for the next steps. Do not leave it running while you edit the files.
Why must the server be stopped before editing its INI files?
Stop the dedicated server before changing either configuration file. System Era’s setup warning is explicit: “DO NOT MODIFY .INI FILES WHILE THE SERVER IS RUNNING. CHANGES TO THE .INI WHILE THE SERVER IS RUNNING WILL NOT GET SAVED.” If you edit while the process is active, your changes can be overwritten when the server writes its current state.
- Start the server once to generate its files.
- Close it normally and confirm the server process has ended in Windows.
- Edit the files described below.
- Save the files, then start the server again.
Where are the Astroneer server configuration files?
Open the installation directory and navigate to:
ASTRONEER DEDICATED SERVER/Astro/Saved/Config/WindowsServerThe documented files in that folder are:
Engine.ini, which contains the listening port.AstroServerSettings.ini, which contains the public address, owner information, and save-selection settings.
Use a plain-text editor and preserve the INI section names and key spelling. Make a backup copy before changing settings so you can restore a known-good configuration if the server stops loading it.
How do I set the Astroneer server port?
The documented listening port is UDP 8777. Add or update this section in Engine.ini:
[URL]
Port=8777This entry tells the server which port to listen on; it does not automatically create a Windows Firewall rule or a router port-forward. You must configure both separately.
Allow the port through Windows
Create an inbound firewall rule that allows the dedicated-server application to receive UDP traffic on port 8777. If Windows displays a firewall prompt when the server starts, allow the program on the network profile you actually use, then verify that an explicit UDP rule exists.
Forward the port on your router
Log in to the router, create a port-forward for UDP 8777, and send it to the server computer’s local IP address. Reserve that local address in the router if possible; otherwise, a later DHCP change can point the forward at the wrong device. Players outside your home network use your public address, not the computer’s private address.
If you choose a different port, the value in Engine.ini, the firewall rule, router forward, and the port entered by every player must all match. Because 8777 is the documented default, changing it creates an additional troubleshooting variable.
How do I configure PublicIP and server ownership?
Open AstroServerSettings.ini while the server is stopped. Set PublicIP to the public address players should use to reach the host. The official example uses a public IP value and does not prescribe a particular DNS provider, so use the address or hostname that your current network setup makes reachable.
The owner settings in the documented example are:
OwnerName=yoursteamname
OwnerGuid=0OwnerName identifies the Steam account that should become the server owner. With OwnerGuid=0, the first matching Steam player can become owner; changing the owner name designates a different account. Use the exact Steam name expected by the server and avoid editing these values while the process is running.
What does PublicIP affect?
PublicIP is the address players use in the in-game server entry. It is not a substitute for the firewall exception or router forward. A correct value in the INI cannot make an unreachable home network accessible if the port is blocked upstream.
How do I load an existing Astroneer save?
Loading an existing world is optional. Copy the save into:
Astro/Saved/SaveGamesDedicated-server save filenames use a name, a dollar sign, and a timestamp, for example:
MYSAVENAME$2019.05.04-01.20.07.savegameIn AstroServerSettings.ini, put the portion before the dollar sign into ActiveSaveFileDescripiteveName:
ActiveSaveFileDescripiteveName=MYSAVENAMEKeep the key spelling shown by the official instructions, including the documented Descripiteve spelling. Stop the server before copying or selecting a save, then restart it after saving the configuration.
How do players join an Astroneer dedicated server?
Once the server is running and the network settings are in place, players add it from Astroneer’s co-op interface.
- Open Astroneer and enter the co-op menu.
- Select Dedicated Servers.
- Choose the option to add a server.
- Enter the server’s public address and UDP port.
- Give the entry a nickname so it is easy to identify.
- Select the saved entry and launch it.
For a default configuration, the port is 8777. Players must use the actual public address stored in your setup, not the server computer’s local address. If the server does not appear or the connection fails, confirm that the process is running, the public address is current, and both firewall and router rules use the same port.
Can Xbox, PlayStation, Epic, and Steam players use the same server?
Platform compatibility depends on the hosting path and the current version of the game. System Era’s dedicated-server page states that dedicated servers are live for Steam, Xbox, and PS4, while its FAQ distinguishes authenticated partner servers from self-hosted connections. Do not assume that a self-hosted server has the same cross-play behavior as a provider-hosted one.
System Era has identified Nitrado and GPORTAL as official dedicated-server partners for cross-play. The community wiki has reported self-host cross-play among Steam, Epic, and PS4, and no Nintendo Switch dedicated-server option, but those community platform details can change and should be checked against current first-party guidance before you choose a setup.
| Player group or platform | What the available documentation establishes |
|---|---|
| Steam | Included in the official dedicated-server availability statement. |
| Xbox | Included in the official dedicated-server availability statement. |
| PlayStation 4 | Included in the official dedicated-server availability statement. |
| Epic Games Store | Community documentation reports self-host cross-play with Steam and PS4; verify current first-party rules. |
| Nintendo Switch | The community wiki reports no dedicated-server option; confirm current support before planning a group around it. |
When cross-platform play is the deciding requirement, use a currently listed official partner or verify the exact self-hosting combination with System Era’s latest documentation before spending time on network configuration.
Should I self-host or rent an Astroneer server?
Self-hosting is appropriate when you already have a reachable computer and are comfortable maintaining network and configuration files. Renting is simpler when you want the provider to supply the server environment and avoid home port-forwarding.
| Decision point | Self-hosted server | Official provider |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | Install the files, edit both INIs, allow the firewall, and forward the router port. | The provider supplies a running server; you add its address in the game. |
| Hardware | Requires a computer that remains reachable and online. The cited historical announcement did not list an official Linux build. | No home server computer is required. |
| Cross-play | Platform availability varies by server type; verify the current first-party rules for your group. | System Era lists Nitrado and GPORTAL as official partners for cross-play. |
| Administration | You handle updates, save backups, firewall rules, and uptime. | The provider manages the server environment; current features, regions, and prices must be checked directly. |
| Network work | Requires a public address, firewall allowance, and router forwarding. | Avoids home port-forwarding and most inbound-firewall administration. |
What is the rented-server join process?
Nitrado’s documented player flow is Dedicated Servers → Add Dedicated Server → enter the IP and port → select the entry and launch. Other providers may label their controls differently, but the in-game connection sequence remains the useful part for players.
What does self-hosting cost?
The supplied setup information does not establish current provider prices, hardware costs, or regional rates. A self-hosted setup may use an existing Windows PC, while a rental has a recurring fee; compare the provider’s current price, region, player limit, platform coverage, and backup options before ordering.
What are the most common setup failures?
INI changes do not take effect
The usual cause is editing while the server was running. Stop the process, make the change, save the file, and restart the server. If the issue persists, check that the file is in Astro/Saved/Config/WindowsServer and that the section and key names are spelled exactly.
Players on the internet cannot connect
Check the four values as a set: the port in Engine.ini, the Windows Firewall rule, the router forward, and the port entered by the player. Confirm that the forward targets the server computer’s current local IP and that PublicIP contains the address players should use.
The wrong world loads
Stop the server and verify that the intended save is in Astro/Saved/SaveGames. Compare the text before the dollar sign in the filename with ActiveSaveFileDescripiteveName, then restart the server.
A friend cannot join from another platform
Separate a network problem from a platform-compatibility problem. First verify the address and port with a player on the same supported route; then check current System Era guidance for the specific platform combination. Official partner hosting may support cross-play where a self-hosted connection does not.
The server appears offline after a restart
Make sure the dedicated-server process actually started and that the computer is connected to the network profile covered by the firewall rule. A changed public address also requires updating PublicIP and the address players have saved in their Dedicated Servers list.
How should I maintain the server after it works?
- Stop before editing: Never change either INI while the server process is running.
- Back up saves: Keep copies of the
Astro/Saveddata before game or server updates. - Record network values: Document the local server IP, public address, forwarded port, and firewall rule so recovery does not depend on memory.
- Recheck compatibility after updates: Platform support, partner availability, port behavior, and server builds can change.
- Monitor uptime: A self-hosted server is available only while its computer, operating system, and network remain online.
For a small group that already owns a suitable Windows machine, self-hosting provides direct control over the files and saves. For groups prioritizing cross-play or avoiding router administration, an officially listed hosted provider is usually the less complicated route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SteamCMD required if Steam already shows ASTRONEER Dedicated Server?
No. SteamCMD is an alternate command-line installation path using app ID 728470; installing the server from Steam Library → Tools is sufficient for a normal desktop setup.
Can I use a different port than 8777?
You can set another value in the URL section, but that value must also be allowed in the firewall, forwarded by the router, and entered by every player. The official documentation identifies UDP 8777, so keeping it avoids an unnecessary variable.
Why does my public address work locally but not for friends?
A local test can bypass the router path that outside players need. Recheck the router’s destination computer, the inbound UDP rule, and the address in PublicIP, then have the remote player use the public address rather than the server computer’s private address.
Is there an official Linux dedicated-server build?
The cited System Era announcement did not list an official Linux build. Linux availability can change with later releases, so confirm the current first-party server requirements before selecting a Linux host.