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NolimitHost

How to Configure Your Space Engineers Server

Last updated: September 18, 2026

Space Engineers splits its settings across two places: the dedicated config file and the world save folder. Understanding which one the server actually reads is the key to getting your changes to stick.

The Two Config Locations

File Contains
SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfgServer identity, ports, admins, mod list, and the settings used to seed a brand-new world.
Saves/<world>/Sandbox.sbcWorld properties: mods, GPS, factions, and some experimental settings.
Saves/<world>/Sandbox_config.sbcSession rules: game mode, player limit, PCU and block limits, sync distance, and experimental mode.
Important: The dedicated config only seeds a world when it is first created. Once a world exists, the server reads its session settings from Sandbox_config.sbc inside the save folder. If a change to the dedicated config seems to do nothing, apply it to the world file as well.

Step 1: Stop the Server

In the NolimitHost Game Panel, stop your server from the Console page. Space Engineers can rewrite its config on shutdown, so edits made while it runs can be lost.

Step 2: Edit the Config

  1. In the left sidebar, click Files.
  2. Open SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg and adjust the top-level server settings.
  3. If your world already exists, also open Saves/<world>/Sandbox_config.sbc and apply any gameplay or session settings there.
  4. Save, then start the server again.

Key Server Settings

<OnlineMode>PUBLIC</OnlineMode>
<ServerPort>27016</ServerPort>
<SteamPort>8766</SteamPort>
<Administrators>
  <string>76561197960287930</string>
</Administrators>
<WorldName>My World</WorldName>
<LoadWorld>/path/to/Saves/My World</LoadWorld>
Element Purpose
OnlineModeVisibility: PUBLIC, FRIENDS, PRIVATE, or OFFLINE.
ServerPort / SteamPortPorts the server uses. Must match your panel allocation.
AdministratorsSteamID64 values given in-game admin access.
WorldNameName of the world folder to create or load.
LoadWorldFull path to the world folder in Saves/. Must exist or the world will not load.
ModsList of Workshop mod IDs to load. Requires experimental mode for most mods.

Session Settings

These live inside the SessionSettings block (in the dedicated config for a new world, or in Sandbox_config.sbc for an existing one):

Element Purpose
GameModeSurvival or Creative. See Change the Game Mode.
MaxPlayersPlayer limit. See Change the Max Players.
InventorySizeMultiplierInventory capacity multiplier.
ViewDistanceHow far clients see (server template value, often 20000).
SyncDistanceSimulation sync range. Not in the default template, so it stays at the fallback of 3000 unless you add it.
AutoSaveInMinutesAutosave interval, default 5 minutes.
Tip: The easiest way to get a valid config is to install the free "Space Engineers Dedicated Server" tool on your own PC, configure it in its interface, then upload the generated SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg. You can then change the LoadWorld path and ports for your hosting.
Important: Some hosting panels keep their own copy of these settings and rewrite the config file on every start. If your changes keep disappearing, set them through the panel's fields instead of the file.