How to customize your Factorio server details (name, description, max players, visibility) Print

This article explains how to change your Factorio server name, description, player slots and visibility on PlayNHost.

1. Log in to the Game Panel and stop the server

1. Go to https://panel.playnhost.com and log in.
2. Select your Factorio server from the list.
3. On the server dashboard, click Stop and wait until the server is fully offline.

2. Open server-settings.json

Most Factorio server details are stored in the server-settings.json file.

4. In the Game Panel, open File Manager for your Factorio server.
5. Look for server-settings.json (usually in the root folder or a config directory).
6. Click the file name to open it in the editor.

You will see a JSON file with options like "name", "description", "max_players" and "visibility".

3. Change the server name

The name shown in the Factorio server browser is controlled by the name field.

"name": "My PlayNHost Factorio Server",

• Find the line starting with "name":.
• Replace the text between the quotes with the name you want players to see.
• Keep the quotes and comma intact – only change the text inside the quotes.

Example:

"name": "Friends Factory - No Grief",

4. Update the server description

The description appears in the server browser and when players view details.

"description": "Co-op factory on PlayNHost. Be nice and expand the base!",

• Find the "description" line.
• Edit the text between the quotes to describe your server rules or theme.
• Keep it short and clear so players know what to expect.

5. Set max players

You can limit how many players can connect at the same time with the max_players field.

"max_players": 10,

• Find "max_players".
• Change the number to the maximum number of players you want to allow.
• Do not put quotes around the number.

Note: Very high player counts can affect performance. Choose a value that matches your plan size and how heavy your mods are.

6. Adjust server visibility (public or LAN)

Factorio can advertise your server on the public server list or keep it private/LAN-only.

• In server-settings.json, look for the "visibility" section. It may look similar to this:

  "visibility": {
    "public": true,
    "lan": false
  },

• Set "public" to true if you want the server to appear on the public list, or false if you want it hidden.
• Set "lan" to true only if you are using the server on a LAN network.

If you prefer a private server where only friends with the IP can join, leave "public": false and use a password (see our join/password article).

7. Optional: tags and other options

Depending on your config, you might see additional options such as "tags" or "allow_commands".

• Tags – short keywords shown in the browser:

  "tags": ["coop", "vanilla"]

  Edit or add tags to match your server style.
• Allow commands – controls admin commands/cheats; choose a value that matches how you want to play.

Only change options you understand. If you are unsure, keep the defaults or look up that specific setting first.

8. Save the file and restart the server

7. After making your changes, click Save in the file editor.
8. Return to the Factorio server dashboard.
9. Click Start (or Restart) to bring the server back online.
10. When the server is running, check the Factorio server browser or connect directly to confirm your new name, description and settings are applied.

9. If the server does not start

• If you edited server-settings.json and the server now fails to start, there is probably a JSON formatting error (missing quote, comma or brace).
• Re-open the file and compare it carefully to the original structure:
  • Every string should be in quotes.
  • Each line (except the last in a block) should end with a comma.
  • Braces {} and brackets [] must be correctly paired.

If you cannot find the issue or want us to check your settings, please open a ticket from Support → Submit a Ticket and include your server IP and a copy of your server-settings.json contents.