Satisfactory Server Encryption Token Missing: How to Fix It

The Satisfactory server encryption token missing error ("Network Error: Encryption token missing") almost always means the player tried to connect with Join Game instead of the Server Manager. The official Satisfactory Wiki gives a one-line fix: add the server in the Server Manager and join from there. If that does not clear it, the cause is usually a port, the clock or the server itself, and this guide walks through each one.

What "Encryption token missing" means on a Satisfactory server

Since version 1.0, a Satisfactory dedicated server does more than move game packets. It runs an HTTPS API on TCP port 7777 and generates its own self-signed certificate. The game client is built to talk to dedicated servers through the Server Manager: that is where you add the server, claim it, set passwords, upload saves and join.

The official wiki's dedicated server page lists this error under "My players can't join my server" and the answer is short:

The wiki does not explain the internals of the token, so we will not guess. What matters in practice: the error is on the joining side, the server is often fine, and the fix starts with how your friends connect.

How to fix the Satisfactory server encryption token missing error

Have every player who gets the error do this once. After that the server stays in their list.

1. Open the Server Manager. From the Satisfactory main menu, pick Server Manager. Do not use Join Game.
2. Add the server. Click Add Server and type the server's address and port. The default port is 7777; if the server uses another one, type that exact number.
3. Wait for it to answer. The server should appear in the list with its name. If it never answers, jump to the checklist below: the problem is network, not the token.
4. Claim it (owner only, first time). A brand-new server must be claimed before it can start a game: set a server name and an administrator password.
5. Enter the player password if there is one. Player password protection is off by default; if the owner turned it on, players need it to connect.
6. Join from the Server Manager entry. Select the session and join from there. Next time, open the Server Manager again instead of using Join Game or an old invite.

That is the whole fix for most groups. If the owner has never claimed the server, nobody can start a session yet, which looks like a connection problem but is not one.

Still getting "Encryption token missing"? Check these causes

If the Server Manager route still fails, work down this table. Every row comes from the official wiki's dedicated server documentation.

The clock and the self-signed certificate

Because the server creates its own certificate, a wrong system clock can break the connection. The wiki's fix: correct the time and time zone on the player's PC first. If the server clock was the wrong one, correct it and then:

1. Stop the server.
2. Delete ServerSettings.PORT.sav (for example ServerSettings.7777.sav), which sits just above the server save folder.
3. Start the server again and claim it as a new server.

Stable vs Experimental

The server can run the Stable or the Experimental branch. With SteamCMD, -beta experimental installs Experimental and -beta public forces it back to Stable (the wiki warns that simply removing the flag may not switch it back). A server on one branch and players on the other is another thing to rule out before you blame the token.

Check that the Satisfactory server is really up

Before you change anything else, confirm the server process is listening. The official wiki gives a simple test from any PC:

curl -k https://SERVER_IP:7777

A healthy server answers with a JSON error, which is exactly what you want to see:

{"errorCode": "errors.com.epicgames.httpserver.route_handler_not_found", "errorMessage": ""}

You can also open https://SERVER_IP:7777/ in a browser. A certificate warning is normal (the certificate is self-signed); after accepting it you should see the same route_handler_not_found text. If you get "connection reset" or nothing at all, the server is down or the port is blocked, and no client-side fix will help.

Why this error shows up so often on home-hosted servers

Most "encryption token missing" threads come from people running the server on their own PC or an old machine at home. The official requirements explain why it gets fiddly:

• Three port rules on the router (7777 TCP, 7777 UDP, 8888 TCP), plus firewall rules on the PC itself.
• A static LAN IP, or the router will eventually forward to the wrong machine.
• No CGNAT: if your internet provider shares one public IP among many homes, port forwarding will not work at all.
• The server stops when the window closes. Started by hand, it does not restart after a crash.
• Hardware: the wiki lists 8 GB of RAM, with 16 GB recommended for larger saves or more than 4 players, and a CPU with strong single-core speed, because the game loop "heavily favors" one core.

Every one of those is a chance for the connection to fail before the token even matters. If you are unsure whether a dedicated server is worth it at all, our guide on what a dedicated server is explains the difference from hosting from inside the game.

Run your Satisfactory server with TheGameHosting

A hosted server removes most of the checklist above. With a Satisfactory server from TheGameHosting:

• No router or firewall work. The panel gives you the IP and port; your friends paste them into the Server Manager and join.
• Online 24/7 on our hardware, so the factory keeps running even when your PC is off.
• Fast single-core CPUs: AMD Ryzen 9950X / 7950X3D up to 5.7 GHz, which suits a server that leans on one core, with DDR5 RAM and Samsung NVMe storage.
• DDoS protection included, a 10 Gbps network and locations in Dallas (US) and Amsterdam (Netherlands); the Location Changer moves the server if your group is mostly on the other side of the ocean.
• Panel tools: Console, a File Manager to edit Engine.ini and Game.ini in the browser, full SFTP, Backups, Schedules for daily restarts, and the Startup tab for launch settings.

Satisfactory needs at least 12 GB on our plans ($9.99/month). For a large factory or more than 4 players, the 16 GB plan ($12.89/month) gives you room to grow. If you are between sizes, ask us on the live chat before you order. And if your group also plays V Rising, here are the V Rising server settings for solo or group play.

First join on a hosted server

1. Order a plan on the plans and pricing page. The server is ready about 60 seconds after payment.
2. Copy the IP and port from your server's page in the panel.
3. In Satisfactory, open Server Manager > Add Server and paste them.
4. Claim the server: name plus administrator password.
5. Create a new game, or upload your local save from the Manage Saves tab.
6. Send the IP and port to your friends and tell them to join from the Server Manager, never from Join Game.

Bonus: more than four players

The server is tuned for the default cap of four players. You can raise it with MaxPlayers in Game.ini (in FactoryGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ or WindowsServer/). The wiki warns that a higher cap can affect stability, performance and resource use, so raise it step by step.

[/Script/Engine.GameSession]
MaxPlayers=8

On TheGameHosting you edit that file from Files in the panel and restart from the Console. If players time out on slow connections, the same wiki page documents ConnectionTimeout and InitialConnectTimeout in Engine.ini (default 30 seconds).

Summary

"Encryption token missing" is fixed by joining through the Server Manager. When it keeps coming back, the cause is almost always the network around the server: ports 7777 TCP/UDP and 8888 TCP, a clock that is off, or a server that is not running. If you would rather spend your evenings building conveyor belts than forwarding ports, pick a plan on our game server pricing page, use the code FULL2026 for 15% off for life, and send your friends one IP and port that works.

FAQ

Hosting for these games

• Satisfactory hosting12 GB plan from $9.99/month
• V Rising hostingEdit JSON settings in the browser
• Palworld hostingFrom the 8 GB plan