Want to keep your Factorio server private? The built-in whitelist is the easiest way to lock things down so only approved players can join.
How It Works
Factorio uses a file called server-whitelist.json in the server's root directory. It's a simple JSON array of Factorio usernames:
[
"PlayerOne",
"xXFactoryBossXx",
"your_friend_here"
]
Important – these are Factorio usernames (the ones tied to your factorio.com account), not Steam display names. Players can find theirs at the top of Factorio's main menu.
Enable the Whitelist
The whitelist file alone doesn't do anything until you flip it on. Head to Commandline Manager in the LOW.MS Control Panel sidebar and add this startup flag:
--use-server-whitelist true
Restart the server. Now only players listed in server-whitelist.json can connect.
Managing Players In-Game
You don't have to edit the JSON file every time. If you're an admin on the server, use these console commands:
/whitelist add PlayerName– let someone in/whitelist remove PlayerName– kick them off the list/whitelist get– see who's currently whitelisted/whitelist clear– wipe the whole list
Changes take effect immediately. No restart needed.
A Few Things to Know
Admins bypass the whitelist entirely. If you're listed in server-adminlist.json, you'll always be able to connect regardless of whitelist status.
You can edit server-whitelist.json directly through File Manager in the control panel if you'd rather bulk-add players. Just make sure the JSON formatting is valid – one stray comma will break it.
For broader access control options – like setting a server password, configuring admin lists, or tweaking visibility settings – check out the server configuration guide.