Installing mods can appear tricky, but in this guide we're going to walk through how to do it on Windows, Mac, and Linux (including servers), and we'll even show you how you can save time when playing on a Factorio server with mods.
First, find the mods to install.
The first thing we need to do is find the mods you want to play. It's easy to find these mods on the Official Factorio Mod Page. Find the mods you would like to play, login to the webiste, and download the files.
When downloading mod files make sure you check the dependencies of each mod. A single mod might contain ten-to-twenty other mods that are required to run. (Skip to the end of the article for tips on how to avoid missing dependencies for Factorio)
Installing Mods on your Computer.
This process will differ slightly for each operation system so find your OS and follow the instructions below.
Windows
To install mods on Factorio for Windows, first you need to locate the mods folder. This folder can be found in the game’s installation directory. To get to this folder, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the game’s installation directory. The default directory for the game is C:\Program Files (x86)\Factorio.
Now, you can install mods by unzipping downloaded mod files from earlier and placing them in the mods folder. Once the mod is inside the folder, it will be ran the next time you boot your client.
Mac
To install mods on Factorio for Mac, first you need to locate the mods folder. To do this, open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder. In this folder, you should find the Factorio app. Right-click on this app and select Show Package Contents.
Once you’re in the Factorio app’s package contents, open the Contents folder and then open the Resources folder. In this folder, you should find a mods folder.
Next take the files downloaded previously and unzip the mod files and place the output from that mods folder. Once the mod is inside the folder, it will be ran the next time you boot your client.
Linux
To install mods on Factorio for Linux, first you need to locate the mods folder. To do this, open a terminal window and navigate to the Factorio installation directory. The default directory for the game is /usr/share/games/factorio.
Once you've navigated to the game's installation directory, open the mods folder. Then, extract the install files you downloaded from the mods page and place them in the mods folder.
Relaunch your client and the mods will be loaded.
What about installing mods on a server?
Installing mods on a Factorio server is very similar to the Linux installation above. The main difference will come from the installation location.
If you are running a Factorio server locally, then the install location will be the same as mentioned previously. However, if you are running a server on a Factorio Game Hosting service then the mods folder will be in the main directory of your server.
If I install mods on my Factoiro server, will the clients have to install the same mods?
Yes, Factorio offers a convenient way to save time when clients connect to a server. It compares the modlist.json files and, if the client is missing a necessary mod, it will prompt the user with a one-click install for all the necessary mods.
Is there a better way to install mods on a Factorio server than just uploading the ZIP files?
Yes, there is! ServerFlex offers an intuative 1-click installation for Factorio server mods. This even included the ability to register, install and update all of the required depedencies for Factorio mods too. Check out this video tutorial:
Once you've installed the mods, be sure to take some time to explore and enjoy the new features they offer! You may find yourself discovering new ways to play and enjoying the game even more than before.
If you are looking to get started on your own Factorio server, and are looking for the simplest, most intuative Factorio server hosting around, then check out ServerFlex's Factorio Server Hosting. Plans start from as little as $5/month and you can be up and running in less than sixty seconds.