Factorio Mods Guide — How to Install, the Best Mods, and Where to Download Them

The short version: Factorio mods install in two clicks through the game itself — the official Mod Portal (mods.factorio.com) is built into the main menu, and Steam Workshop support means subscribing is even easier. The best-known content is the "overhaul" tier: Krastorio 2, Space Exploration, and Bob's & Angel's — each of which can double or triple the game. Mods disable achievements while active, and the only safe download source is the official Mod Portal (and Steam Workshop).

This guide covers installation, the mod scene, and how to pick mods that fit how you play.

Where Factorio Mods Come From (and What's Safe)

There are exactly two legitimate sources for Factorio mods:

1. The official Mod Portal (mods.factorio.com) — Wube's own mod repository, accessible in-game from the main menu → Mods. Every mod is free, version-verified, and usually open-source.
2. Steam Workshop — Factorio supports Workshop subscriptions, which install automatically when you launch the game. Same mods, slightly different storefront.

How to Install Mods (Step by Step)

Via the in-game Mod Portal (recommended)

1. Launch Factorio, click Mods on the main menu.
2. Click Browse mods — this opens the Mod Portal search inside the game.
3. Search the mod name, click it, and hit Install.
4. Return to the mods list and hit Apply — Factorio downloads and installs everything, then restarts if needed.
5. The mod is active on your next save/world load. For existing saves, make sure the mod is compatible (most are; overhauls usually require a new game).

Via Steam Workshop

1. Open Factorio's Steam Workshop page (Steam → library → Factorio → Workshop).
2. Click Subscribe on any mod.
3. Launch Factorio — it automatically downloads subscribed mods and lists them under Mods.

Manual install (advanced)

If you ever need to install a mod file manually (e.g., you're offline or testing):

1. Download the .zip from the Mod Portal.
2. Open your Factorio mod folder: %APPDATA%\Factorio\mods (Windows), ~/Library/Application Support/factorio/mods (macOS), or ~/.factorio/mods (Linux).
3. Extract the zip so the folder name matches the mod's internal name and version (e.g. krastorio2_1.3.18).
4. Launch the game — the mod appears in the list.

The Mod Landscape (What's Out There)

Factorio mods fall into rough tiers:

Quality-of-life (QoL) — safe for everyone

These don't change the game's balance much; they remove friction:

• Even Distribution — evens out item stacks across chests with one click.
• Rate Calculator — select machines, see production/consumption math instantly.
• Max Rate Calculator — the popular fork for ratio planning.
• Squeak Through — lets you walk between buildings without getting stuck.
• Far Reach — removes the construction-reach limit.
• Vehicle Snap — snaps vehicles to grids for cleaner builds.
• Bottleneck Lite — shows machine status (working/idle/no input) as colored dots.
• Todo List — in-game task checklist.
• Blueprint Flip — flips blueprints (the 2.0 update added native flipping, so this is less needed now).

Quality-of-life that changes balance slightly

• Long Reach — extends reach distances (superset of Far Reach).
• Personal Logistics tweaks, Text Plates (write on the ground), Companion Drones (a bot that follows and builds with you — great for solo players).

Overhaul mods — the big ones

These are full game-remakes that add hundreds of hours:

• Krastorio 2 (K2) — The community's favorite "beginner overhaul." Adds new resources, machines, and a coherent endgame without insane complexity. Widely recommended as the first overhaul mod — it respects the vanilla feel while expanding it ~2x.
• Space Exploration (SE) — The legendary 500+ hour epic. You build interplanetary factories, manage spaceships, and face a genuinely alien endgame. If K2 is the beginner overhaul, SE is the PhD. Extremely well-made, extremely long.
• Bob's & Angel's (BA / Pyanodon's tier) — The "masochist" tier. Bob's adds dozens of new ores and intermediates; Angel's adds petrochem on top; Pyanodon's is a multi-thousand-hour monster that community lore treats as a life decision. Only for players who finished everything else and want pain.
• Factorio: Space Age (official DLC) — Not a mod, but worth mentioning: the official expansion overlaps with Space Exploration territory, and the community often discusses "SE vs Space Age" — Space Age is more approachable, SE is deeper.

Multiplayer & community

• Clusterio — runs a cluster of Factorio servers as one world (megabase multiplayer infrastructure).
• Various "mini" mods for shared production stats.

Mods and Achievements — the Fine Print

• Any active mod disables achievements on the saves it touches. Install a mod mid-game, and that save can't earn Steam achievements anymore.
• Achievements re-enable if you remove all mods and load a clean save — but the save that had mods stays flagged.
• Some QoL mods are "safe" in the sense that they don't change balance, but the achievement flag is binary: mod = no achievements for that run.

How to Choose Mods for Your Playstyle

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install mods in Factorio?

Open the game, go to Mods → Browse mods, search, install, apply. Or subscribe on Steam Workshop. That's it — Factorio handles downloading and version checks automatically.

What are the best Factorio mods?

For QoL: Even Distribution, Rate Calculator, Squeak Through. For content: Krastorio 2 (beginner overhaul), Space Exploration (deep epic), Bob's & Angel's (hardcore). The official Space Age DLC is also effectively a premium "mod."

Is it safe to download Factorio mods?

Yes — if you use the official Mod Portal or Steam Workshop. Third-party download sites are unsafe and unnecessary; Factorio mods are all free and officially hosted.

What is the Factorio Mod Portal?

mods.factorio.com — Wube's official mod repository, browsable and installable in-game. It's the definitive source for all Factorio mods.

Do Factorio mods disable achievements?

Yes — any active mod disables achievements for saves it's installed on. Remove the mod and load a clean save to earn achievements again.

Can I use mods in multiplayer?

Yes — all players need the same mods installed (the game warns and syncs when the host has mods). Heavy overhauls in multiplayer are popular (e.g., K2 co-op).

Related Guides

• Factorio Beginner's Guide — Your First Factory
• Factorio Space Age Guide — The Expansion Explained
• Factorio Cheats & Console Commands — Full List
• Factorio Platform Guide — Switch 2, Xbox, PS5 & Mobile