---
title: "Configuring your Space Engineers server"
description: "Generate SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg locally, manage Sandbox.sbc world setups, and configure hardware-safe PCU and block limits."
url: "https://www.gameserverkings.com/knowledge-base/space-engineers/configuration-overview/"
category: "Space Engineers"
category_url: "https://www.gameserverkings.com/knowledge-base/space-engineers/"
published: "2026-07-03T00:10:17.448Z"
updated: "2026-08-07T20:33:26.287Z"
source_format: "markdown"
site: "GameServerKings"
---

# Configuring your Space Engineers server

This guide covers `SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg` (the main server config), the easiest way to generate it, and world management. Complete [Getting started with your Space Engineers server](/knowledge-base/space-engineers/getting-started-with-your-server/) first.

## The Config File

The server config is in the data folder shown on your [hosted Space Engineers server](/games/space-engineers-hosting/) (typically `instance/SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg`). World-specific settings also live in `Saves/<World>/Sandbox.sbc`.

The cleanest way to edit settings is the in-game Dedicated Server Configurator (see "Generating a Config Locally" below), but for quick changes you can edit `SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg` directly:

```xml title="SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg"
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<MyConfigDedicated>
  <ServerName>My GSK Space Engineers Server</ServerName>
  <ServerDescription>Survival on Earth-like</ServerDescription>
  <Welcome>Welcome to the server!</Welcome>
  <Pause>false</Pause>
  <IgnoreLastSession>false</IgnoreLastSession>
  <ServerPort>27016</ServerPort>
  <SteamPort>8766</SteamPort>
  <ServerPasswordHash></ServerPasswordHash>
  <ServerPasswordSalt></ServerPasswordSalt>
  <RemoteApiEnabled>false</RemoteApiEnabled>
  <RemoteApiPort>8080</RemoteApiPort>
  <Administrators>
    <string>76561197960287930</string>
  </Administrators>
  <Banned />
  <Mods />
  <LoadWorld>/path/to/world</LoadWorld>
  <Scenario>Star System</Scenario>
  <PremadeCheckpointPath></PremadeCheckpointPath>
  <WorldName>My World</WorldName>
  <AsteroidAmount>0</AsteroidAmount>
  <SessionSettings>
    <GameMode>Survival</GameMode>
    <InventorySizeMultiplier>3</InventorySizeMultiplier>
    <AssemblerSpeedMultiplier>3</AssemblerSpeedMultiplier>
    <AssemblerEfficiencyMultiplier>3</AssemblerEfficiencyMultiplier>
    <RefinerySpeedMultiplier>3</RefinerySpeedMultiplier>
    <OnlineMode>PUBLIC</OnlineMode>
    <MaxPlayers>16</MaxPlayers>
    <MaxFloatingObjects>56</MaxFloatingObjects>
    <EnableCopyPaste>true</EnableCopyPaste>
    <AutoHealing>true</AutoHealing>
    <EnableSpiders>true</EnableSpiders>
    <EnableWolfs>true</EnableWolfs>
    <EnableEncounters>true</EnableEncounters>
    <CargoShipsEnabled>true</CargoShipsEnabled>
    <EnableDrones>true</EnableDrones>
    <EnableSunRotation>true</EnableSunRotation>
    <ThrusterDamage>true</ThrusterDamage>
    <DestructibleBlocks>true</DestructibleBlocks>
    <EnableIngameScripts>true</EnableIngameScripts>
    <EnableScripterRole>true</EnableScripterRole>
    <ViewDistance>20000</ViewDistance>
    <SyncDistance>3000</SyncDistance>
    <PermanentDeath>false</PermanentDeath>
    <AutoSaveInMinutes>5</AutoSaveInMinutes>
    <EnableJetpack>true</EnableJetpack>
    <SpawnWithTools>true</SpawnWithTools>
    <StartInRespawnScreen>false</StartInRespawnScreen>
  </SessionSettings>
</MyConfigDedicated>
```

> [!WARNING] `ServerPort`, `SteamPort` and `RemoteApiPort` have to carry your allocation
> Your plan is allocated a game port, a Steam port and a Remote API port, and all three are listed on the panel's **Network** tab. The 27016, 8766 and 8080 above are Keen's defaults and will usually not match. This bites hardest on the configurator route described below: a config generated on your own PC brings your PC's ports with it, so re-check those three lines against the **Network** tab after uploading and before the first start.

### Key Fields

| Field | Notes |
|-------|-------|
| ServerName | Server browser display name |
| MaxPlayers | Capped by slot purchase |
| OnlineMode | PUBLIC, FRIENDS, PRIVATE, OFFLINE |
| GameMode | Survival, Creative |
| Scenario | Star System, Earth-like, Mars, Moon, Empty World, etc. |
| InventorySizeMultiplier | 1 to 10 (3 is typical for casual servers) |
| AssemblerSpeedMultiplier | 1 to 100 |
| RefinerySpeedMultiplier | 1 to 100 |
| EnableCopyPaste | True to allow players to paste blueprints |
| AutoSaveInMinutes | 5 to 15 is sensible |
| Administrators | List of SteamID64 strings (grants in-game admin) |
| Mods | List of Workshop mod IDs (see [How to install Space Engineers Workshop mods](/knowledge-base/space-engineers/how-to-install-mods/)) |

Restart after editing.

## Generating a Config Locally (Recommended)

Hand-editing XML is error-prone. The most foolproof method uses the in-game configurator:

1. Install **Space Engineers Dedicated Server** locally on your PC (free via Steam Tools; search "Space Engineers Dedicated Server").

2. Run it locally and configure everything in the GUI: scenario, multipliers, mods, admins.

3. Save.

4. Upload the resulting `SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg` and the world save folder to your server.

5. Set `LoadWorld` in the config to point to the uploaded world folder.

> [!TIP] Let the configurator write the XML for you
> This gives you a valid config without wrestling with XML by hand, and the GUI exposes every setting with descriptions.

## World Management

Worlds live in `Saves/`. Each world folder contains:

- `Sandbox.sbc` (world settings)
- `Sandbox_config.sbc` (gameplay settings)
- Various `.sbs` files (the actual world state)
- `Backup/` (automatic in-world backups)

### Uploading an Existing World

To move a single-player world to the server:

1. Find your local saves at `%appdata%\SpaceEngineers\Saves\<SteamID>\`.

2. Upload the world folder via SFTP to `Saves/` on the server.

3. Set `LoadWorld` in the server config to the new path.

4. Restart.

### Wiping a World

To start fresh, stop the server and either:

- Delete the world folder, or
- Change the `WorldName` (and `LoadWorld`) to a new value

Restart to generate a new world from your scenario and settings.

## PCU and Block Limits

PCU (Performance Cost Unit) limits cap how much each player can build, which is the single most important lever for server stability:

```xml
<TotalPCU>200000</TotalPCU>
<PiratePCU>50000</PiratePCU>
<BlockLimitsEnabled>PER_PLAYER</BlockLimitsEnabled>
```

Set these in the config's session settings. See [Getting started with your Space Engineers server](/knowledge-base/space-engineers/getting-started-with-your-server/) for why subgrid-heavy builds are the main performance risk.

## Common Issues

- **Players cannot connect**: Confirm `OnlineMode` is `PUBLIC` and the port matches the panel's Network tab.
- **Config changes do not apply**: You edited while the server was running, or edited the wrong copy. Stop the server, edit `SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg`, then start.
- **World will not load**: `LoadWorld` points to a path that does not exist. Confirm the world folder is in `Saves/` and the path matches.
- **Multipliers feel wrong in-game**: Some settings live in the world's `Sandbox.sbc` rather than the dedicated config and can override it. Regenerating the config locally with the world loaded avoids mismatches.

## What to Read Next

- [How to install Space Engineers Workshop mods](/knowledge-base/space-engineers/how-to-install-mods/) for adding Workshop content (referenced in the `<Mods>` section)
- [Torch Server](/knowledge-base/space-engineers/how-to-install-torch/) for advanced administration
- [Getting started with your Space Engineers server](/knowledge-base/space-engineers/getting-started-with-your-server/) for performance tips and backups

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