How to load a save to your server
Last Update 2025-04-23 12:13:59
How to Load an Existing Save on a Factorio Server
If you've purchased a Factorio server with PingPlayers, you may want to load an existing save to continue your adventure in the game. This guide will walk you through the steps to do this safely and effectively.
Important Note
Before making any changes to your server files, it's crucial to shut down your server. Modifying files while the server is running can lead to corrupted data and may break your server. Always power it down before you begin the following steps.
The game will always load the save with the latest timestamp.There is no way to indicate the savefile to load, it'll be automatically selected based on timestamp. Uploading a save will give the savefile the timestamp of the uploading time, which would make it the latest anyway, but keep in mind when trying to select a specific save.
Steps to Load an Existing Save
- Shut down your server: Access your PingPlayers control panel and ensure that your server is turned off.
- Connect to FTP: Use FTP to upload your save file to the server. If you're not familiar with how to use FTP, we have a detailed guide here that can help you get started.
- Locate your local game saves: On your computer, navigate to your Factorio game saves located at:
\USER\AppData\Roaming\Factorio\saves. ReplaceUSERwith your actual PC username. Remember, save files should always be in .zip format. Do not uncompress them, as the game needs them to remain compressed to load correctly.
- Upload the desired save .zip file: Drag and drop the .zip file (or right-click and upload) into your server's save directory (
\Server\saves) through the FTP client.
- Restart the server: Once the upload is complete, go back to your control panel and start your server again to load the new save.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues while loading your save, consider the following:
- File Decompression: Ensure that you do not decompress the save file. If you do, the game will not recognize it.
- Mod Compatibility: Check if the mods you have installed on your server are compatible with the save file you are trying to load. Incompatible mods can cause crashes.
Scenario Mismatch: Make sure the save file corresponds with the scenario that the server is set to run; otherwise, it might not load correctly.
If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our customer care agents through our live chat or email at [email protected].