Why a vanilla client gets rejected
If you try to join your own modded Satisfactory server with an unmodified game client, the game shows:
"Connecting to a modded server with a standard game client is not possible."
This is not a bug and not a server problem: Satisfactory checks during the connection handshake whether the client and the server have the exact same mods installed. If even a single mod is running on your server that your client does not know about, the game refuses the connection – to protect you from inconsistent game states in the first place.
The fix: install exactly the same mods on your PC as on your server – using the Satisfactory Mod Manager (SMM).
Installing client mods with the Satisfactory Mod Manager (SMM)
- Download the SMM from https://ficsit.app and install it.
- In the SMM, select your Steam or Epic installation of Satisfactory.
- Create a new mod profile.
- Install the same mods in this profile that are running on your server.
- Launch Satisfactory through the SMM – the main menu will now show a "Mods" entry.
You do not need to get the SML (Satisfactory Mod Loader) separately: it is installed automatically together with your mods.
Server mods as your reference
You can see exactly which mods run on your server in the server panel's plugins/mods section. That list is the authoritative reference for your client profile in the SMM – install exactly those mods client-side, no more and no less (with one exception, see below).
Most common problem – greyed-out start button in the SMM
If the start button in the SMM is greyed out, it is almost always one of these three causes:
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Satisfactory is still running in the background | Fully quit the game, then start it again from the SMM |
| Wrong or no game installation selected | Select the correct installation in the SMM – not the "Dedicated Server" entry |
| Xbox Game Pass / Microsoft Store version | Cannot be modded with the SMM at all – only the Steam and Epic versions work |
The last point surprises a lot of players: the Game Pass / Microsoft Store version of Satisfactory currently cannot be modded with the Satisfactory Mod Manager. If you want to mod your game, you need the Steam or the Epic Games version.
Client-only mods are not a bug
Some mods run exclusively on the client – for example BetterGrass or FasterDismantle. They deliberately do not show up in your server's mod list, because they have no function there. That is not a bug or a missing server mod – it is intentional on the part of the mod authors.
Summary
A modded Satisfactory server requires the same mods on your client too. Install them with the Satisfactory Mod Manager (SMM) from https://ficsit.app, use the mod list in the server panel as your reference, and if the start button is greyed out, check that you have selected the correct game installation (Steam or Epic, not Game Pass). Client-only mods like BetterGrass are rightfully missing from the server.
FAQ
Why can't I join my own server?
Because your game client does not have the same mods installed as your server. Satisfactory refuses the connection as soon as client and server mods differ – install the missing mods via the Satisfactory Mod Manager (SMM), using the mod list in the server panel as your reference.
Why is the start button in the SMM greyed out?
Usually because Satisfactory is still running in the background, the wrong installation (e.g. "Dedicated Server") is selected in the SMM, or you are using the Xbox Game Pass / Microsoft Store version – which cannot be modded with the SMM.
Does modding work with the Game Pass version of Satisfactory?
No. The Satisfactory Mod Manager currently only supports the Steam and Epic Games versions. You cannot mod the Xbox Game Pass / Microsoft Store version with it.
Why are some mods (e.g. BetterGrass) missing from the server?
Because they are pure client mods that only change something locally on your PC (e.g. graphical details). They have no function on the server, so they are intentionally missing there.