Install a Farming Simulator 25 server

Step-by-step installation

1. 1

   Get an FS25 license dedicated to the server (Steam, Epic or GIANTS eShop), separate from players' copies.

2. 2

   Install the game on the server machine (Windows).

3. 3

   Run FarmingSimulator2025.exe once to activate the license, then exit.

4. 4

   Edit dedicatedServer.xml (install folder): fill in username and passphrase in initial_admin.

5. 5

   Check the XML with the "FS25 server XML checker" tool.

6. 6

   Run dedicatedServer.exe as administrator and note the web addresses shown in the console.

7. 7

   Open the web interface, log in, set name, password, map and slots, add mods, then Save and Start.

8. 8

   Open port 10823 for TCP and UDP (game); keep 8080/8443 (web) private.

9. 9

   Join in game via Multiplayer > Join game, then schedule startup, backups and restarts.

Requirements

• OS: Windows (64-bit Windows Server 2019/2022 cited by IONOS). Linux: not officially supported (WINE/Docker unsupported).
• Rule of thumb (IONOS): 4 cores at 3 GHz, 8 GB RAM (16 GB for large sessions), 40 GB disk plus mods and backups, 10 Mbit/s upload.
• One FS25 license per server, plus a license for each DLC used on the server.

Local install and Windows Server

The default install folder (eShop installer) is C:\Program Files (x86)\Farming Simulator 25; dedicatedServer.xml and dedicatedServer.exe are there. dedicatedServerConfig.xml is in Documents\My Games\FarmingSimulator2025\dedicated_server. Closing the dedicatedServer.exe window also stops the web interface and the server. Local test: on the machine, open the displayed address (http://127.0.0.1:8080), then join the game in-game.

cd /d "C:\Program Files (x86)\Farming Simulator 25"
REM Exécuter en administrateur / run as administrator
dedicatedServer.exe

Ports to open

The ports below are those shown by the console and hosting guides; changing them in the XML files is not documented by GIANTS, so keep the defaults. On a home router, forward (NAT) 10823 to the server's local IP; at OVH, Hetzner, Scaleway, IONOS also open them in the firewall / security group. Test from an outside network (mobile hotspot).

• 10823/TCP and 10823/UDP — game port (default per IONOS, ZAP-Hosting); RedSwitches also mentions UDP 10823-10825.
• 8080/TCP — web interface HTTP; 8443/TCP — web interface HTTPS. Keep them private (VPN or IP allow-list).

Windows firewall (netsh)

Commands for an administrator prompt (the "FS25 server scripts" tool generates them). The server is not supported on Linux (ufw), so no commands are provided.

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="FS25 game TCP" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=10823
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="FS25 game UDP" dir=in action=allow protocol=UDP localport=10823
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="FS25 web" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=8080,8443 remoteip=LocalSubnet

Automatic start (scheduled task)

dedicatedServer.exe needs administrator rights; create a task running with highest privileges at logon or startup. No official Windows service is documented.

schtasks /create /tn "FS25 Server" /tr "\"C:\Program Files (x86)\Farming Simulator 25\dedicatedServer.exe\"" /sc onstart /ru SYSTEM /rl HIGHEST

Updates, backups and restarts

Update via the installer (Steam, Epic or GIANTS), restart the server and check the logs (log.txt) for incompatible mods; test a join before opening to players. Back up the dedicated_server folder and your mods; restart uses taskkill then relaunches dedicatedServer.exe (schedule this .bat).

@echo off
cd /d "C:\Program Files (x86)\Farming Simulator 25"
taskkill /IM dedicatedServer.exe /F
timeout /t 10 /nobreak >nul
start "" dedicatedServer.exe

List your server

Players find the server in-game (Multiplayer > Join game) with the right filters, or by its name; protect it with a password if needed. Also add your server on game-rank.com/jeux/farming-simulator-25 so the community can discover it.

Troubleshooting

• Server does not start: run dedicatedServer.exe as administrator; check the license is activated (game launched once).
• Sharing violation on dedicatedServerConfig.xml: the file is open in an editor or locked; close it and restart.
• Cannot reach the web interface: empty initial_admin, wrong port (8080 HTTP / 8443 HTTPS) or local firewall.
• Server not reachable from outside: 10823 not open for TCP and UDP, missing NAT or another application on that port.
• Mods rejected or cannot join: different mod versions between server and clients, or DLC without a server license.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy the game a second time for the server?

Yes, according to hosting guides: the dedicated server requires its own FS25 license, separate from a client's, and a license per DLC used. Check current terms with GIANTS.

Which port must I open for players?

10823 for TCP and UDP (game port). Ports 8080 (HTTP) and 8443 (HTTPS) serve the admin web interface and should not be public.

Can the server run on Linux?

Not officially: only Windows is recommended. Community WINE/Docker setups exist but are unsupported and may break after an update.

Where are name, password and slots set?

In the admin web interface (game name, login password, map, starting capital, language, number of players, mods), which updates dedicatedServerConfig.xml.