---
title: How to Make a Space Engineers Server Private
description: "Learn how to make your Space Engineers server private by changing its online mode. This guide explains the differences between Public, Private, and Friends modes, and shows you how to update the setting through your server's configuration file using the Nodecraft control panel."
source: "https://nodecraft.com/support/games/space-engineers/how-to-make-a-space-engineers-server-private"
image: "https://dynamic-assets.nodecraft.com/signedurl/w7vokBAexMnVlnMZ1Q/image.jpg?modifications=W3sibmFtZSI6InRleHQiLCJ0ZXh0IjoiSG93IHRvIE1ha2UgYSBTcGFjZSBFbmdpbmVlcnMgU2VydmVyIFByaXZhdGUifV0&s=e46b53a6882d1009b37e1db58dd53fa6613693037e969d9b2290a56aa838546e"
published: "2026-08-12T16:29:24.275Z"
updated: "2026-08-12T16:29:24.275Z"
---

# How to Make a Space Engineers Server Private

Learn how to make your Space Engineers server private by changing its online mode. This guide explains the differences between Public, Private, and Friends modes, and shows you how to update the setting through your server's configuration file using the Nodecraft control panel.

In this guide we are going to cover how you can make your Space Engineers private. Making your server private is a great option if you only want to have certain people who have the information to join. There are few different online modes that you can set on the server.

## Making Your Server Private

1. Open your [Dashboard](https://app.nodecraft.com/dashboard)
2. Locate your Space Engineers server and click on the **Panel **button.
3. Once on your panel, stop your server and open your **File Manager.**

  ![The left navigation menu of the Nodecraft control panel highlights the File Manager option under the Server Files section, where server files can be viewed and edited.](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/321x600/5b822db90b/space-engineers-file-manager-navigation.png/m/)
4. Once on the file manager, locate the SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg under the shortcuts section and double click it to open the file.

  ![The File Manager displays a shortcut to the SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg configuration file in the left sidebar, allowing quick access to the server's main configuration file.](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/463x293/2cd641632d/space-engineers-spaceengineers-dedicated-config-shortcut.png/m/)
5. Once the file is open locate the **OnlineMode **section which should be near the top of the file.

  ![The SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg file is open in the built-in editor with the <OnlineMode> setting highlighted within the server's XML configuration.](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/880x369/4a6fad2c8e/space-engineers-online-mode-config-setting.png/m/)
6. By default, the server will be set to **PUBLIC**. There are 3 different modes you can set it to.

  1. **PUBLIC **will be the mode which allows anyone to see and join the server.
  2. **PRIVATE **will only allow players to directly connect using the servers IP:PORT.
  3. **FRIENDS **will use steam's internal friend system so only those on your friends list will be able to see and join the server.
7. Once you have set your desired mode, click on **Save Changes**.

  ![The configuration editor displays the Save Changes button in the upper-right corner, allowing modified server settings to be written to the configuration file.](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/2195x373/d7353dda53/space-engineers-save-changes-button.png/m/)
8. Start your server.

## Conclusion

You have now set up your server to no longer be a public server but a private server using only the IP:port to join or only those who are on your steam friends list. If you are just wanting a server for friends/family, changing the server to a private mode is a great way to ensure only those you intend can join.