---
title: "Changing the difficulty settings on a Factorio server"
description: "Information on how to change the difficulty settings on your Factorio Server"
url: https://help.chiphead.tech/en/articles/234-changing-the-difficulty-settings-on-a-factorio-server
collection: "Factorio"
updated: 2026-06-13
language: en
---

# Changing the difficulty settings on a Factorio server

Information on how to change the difficulty settings on your Factorio Server

## Summary

Factorio gives server administrators full control over difficulty settings, allowing them to fine-tune the experience for players. Adjusting these settings changes aspects like enemy aggression, resource costs, and research speed — letting you shape the challenge from a relaxed “peaceful” mode to a harsh “death world” environment.

## How to Change the Difficulty Settings on a Factorio Server

1.  Log in to the ChipHead Control Panel.
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/a3KtNXs8qF0AJEX5fBpaqfbXITI8y8F7STopvmzJgwzXW1IGq14nJDGaSPhm1VRmhOSWtp00x9M.webp)
    
2.  Stop your server.
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/attachments/20260613000252_3976.webp)
    
3.  Navigate to the **Game Config** tab and open “Map Settings”
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/2VssBF98F2EOmBMbhfbmiUi4YYafPECtuXRiMVc2YKPaD52Wb5NWboqzEF1J4ouBL2IbYClxMMN.png)
    
4.  Locate the `"difficulty_settings"` section.
    
5.  Adjust the following values as desired:
    

Setting

Description

<table data-id="67fcf506-035b-4f3b-b00e-5d1282dd6e7a" style="min-width: 50px;"><colgroup><col style="min-width: 25px;"><col style="min-width: 25px;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="26a46245-6c87-4f03-aafe-066695210e67">Recipe Difficulty</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="b93b3b91-10d4-450e-bb6b-4ca25d800d84">Enter <code>0</code> for normal recipes or <code>1</code> for expensive recipes.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="c92d03b8-98d2-452a-bf77-988b7f65a44f">Technology Difficulty</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="eaa4df9a-3074-4071-bb3d-224d4da2f6ef">Enter <code>0</code> for normal research or <code>1</code> for expensive research.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="a8c1b2c4-cdad-4618-8b29-1426b3369d4a">Technology Price Multiplier</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="21c92119-c1ef-4a8f-8e71-9906f775cc00">Multiplies the research cost by the given value.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="889314c0-1c86-4b03-ab31-de9ae824dafd">Research Queue Setting</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="19b4eb3f-0a5a-4514-9b0c-77b70fe34e89">Choose <code>"after-victory"</code>, <code>"always"</code>, or <code>"never"</code> to control when the research queue is available.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

6.  Click “Save” once finished editing.
    
7.  Start your server.
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/attachments/20260613000423_2017.webp)
    

## Other Difficulty Settings

Note  
1 real-time second equals 60 in-game ticks.

Setting

Description

<table data-id="a049203e-050e-443c-b85f-8133923734f4" style="min-width: 50px;"><colgroup><col style="min-width: 25px;"><col style="min-width: 25px;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="7c5e863a-d23c-4817-ba38-cfb48856cadb">Pollution</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="1e2b9eb7-8fef-49b1-be5d-65c0ae349157">Attracts enemies to your factory based on emissions.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="79573ced-c8d6-4a85-8707-5892602689a3">Enemy Evolution</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="017473e4-bd80-4e8f-a6df-f7b09b49983a">Determines the strength and spawn rate of enemies.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="fe6aedca-a40b-479f-b01b-f6e9761d5f24">Enemy Expansion</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p data-id="69847d59-0067-4ffe-b710-32491ac8e4dd">Controls how often enemies create new bases over time.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

With these settings, you can customize your Factorio server’s challenge level to perfectly match your group’s playstyle whether you prefer a calm, creative build or a fight for survival.