Setting Up Server Tags on Your Factorio Server

Running a Factorio server is more fun when there are actual humans on it. Tags are one of the simplest ways to help the right players find your server in the public browser, whether you are running a vanilla playthrough, a heavy modpack, or something in between.

What Server Tags Do

Tags are short labels that show up next to your server in Factorio's multiplayer list. They serve two purposes:

• They tell potential players what kind of session you are hosting (vanilla, modded, PvP, casual, and so on).
• They make your server easier to locate, since the in-game search bar scans names, descriptions, and tag values together.

You configure tags by editing `server-settings.json`, the same file that controls visibility, password, and other server-wide options. HolyHosting exposes this file through the control panel's file manager, so no external software is needed.

Editing server-settings.json

1. Open the HolyHosting control panel and stop the server. Editing while it is running risks the changes being overwritten on shutdown.
2. Go to the file manager from the panel sidebar and sign in if prompted.
3. Open the `Data` folder and find `server-settings.json`.

1. Click the edit button on the right side of the file row to open the in-browser editor.
2. Find the `tags` array near the top of the file. By default it looks like `"tags": [ "game", "tags" ]`.
3. Replace those placeholder values with whatever describes your server. Each tag sits inside quotation marks, and entries are separated by commas, with no comma after the final value.
4. To add more tags, extend the list with new comma-separated strings.
5. Save the file using the button at the top of the editor, then start the server back up.

Once the server is online again, your new tags travel with it into the public browser.

Searching by Tag In-Game

To confirm your tags are working, jump into Factorio and check from the player's perspective.

1. Launch the game and stay on the main menu.
2. Pick Multiplayer, then Browse Public Games.
3. Hit the search icon in the top-right corner.

1. Type one of your tags into the search field.
2. Factorio returns every server whose name, description, or tags contain that word.

Niche tags work just as well as broad ones, so you can use something obscure if you want a closer-knit lobby and need a way for friends to locate you without sharing the IP every time.

Troubleshooting

Tags do not show up in the browser. The most common cause is a JSON syntax error. Reopen `server-settings.json`, confirm every tag sits inside double quotes, and check that commas separate each value with no trailing comma after the last one. Save again and restart the server.

The server itself is missing from the public list. This usually means public visibility is off or the Factorio profile token has not been linked. Open the Factorio profile page, log in, and click Reveal to copy your username token. Back in the HolyHosting panel, head to the server settings and paste the token into the matching field. Add your Factorio username in its slot, switch the public server option to enabled, and restart.

Useful References

• Factorio profile page, where you copy your username token.
• HolyHosting's other Factorio guides for related setup walkthroughs.