SyncCrate
Starbound guide · Updated
Same Starbound mods for the whole crew.
Modded Starbound only lets friends in when their mods match the host's. SyncCrate copies the host's mods, and characters or the whole universe if you want, to other PCs, and after the first time only what changed.
FreeOpen sourceNo cloudWin · macOS · Linux
// 01 Why
Why modded Starbound keeps kicking friends
When a friend joins a Starbound game, the host compares their game assets with its own. A player missing a content mod, or with a different version, is refused or gets errors and missing items, because the two games don't agree on what exists.
The universe has the same problem the other way round. Planets, ships and colonies are saved on the host's PC, and characters are saved on each player's, so moving a group's game to a new host means copying both without breaking either.
SyncCrate syncs the mods, characters and universe folders directly between PCs. Files are compared by content, only the differences are copied, and you see the list before anything changes.
// 02 What syncs
What SyncCrate syncs for Starbound
| Folder | Path in the game folder | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Mods | mods/Mods in the game's mods folder, as .pak files or unpacked folders. | All files |
| Characters | storage/player/Characters and their ships. When the same character changed on both PCs you choose which version to keep. | .player .metadata .shipworld |
| Universe | storage/universe/The worlds and systems your game has visited, so someone else can host the same universe. | .world .system .dat |
// Where it looks
- Steam
steamapps/common/Starboundin every Steam library, on every drive- Anywhere else
- Point SyncCrate at the folder yourself, once
Built in for Starbound
- Script warnings.
.luafiles run code on your PC, so they're flagged for you to review before they sync. - Turn mods on and off. Disabled mods move to a
_Disabledfolder the game doesn't load. - Game-running warning. SyncCrate warns you before syncing while Starbound is still open.
- Undo and history. Undo the last sync in one click, and put back any single file a sync replaced or deleted.
// 03 How it works
Sync Starbound in three steps
Install and add the game
Install SyncCrate on every PC and add Starbound in the Game Browser. Its folder is found automatically.
One PC hosts
The PC with the setup everyone should have clicks Start Hosting. The others pick it under Scan for Hosts on the same network, or paste its join code from anywhere.
Compare and sync
Check the list of new, changed and conflicting files, then Sync Now. Only the files that differ are copied, PC to PC.
TipClose Starbound on the receiving PC before syncing, especially when syncing characters or the universe. SyncCrate warns you if the game is still running.
// 04 Common problems
When Starbound mods don't match
Refused because of mismatched assets
A friend whose mods differ from the host's is refused or joins to errors and missing items.
Everyone syncs the host's
modsfolder before joining, so the assets match.Moving the host
The universe lives on the host's PC, so the group can't play there without them.
Sync the
universefolder and the mods to whoever hosts next.A character on a new PC
Characters are saved per install, and starting over on a new PC means losing your ship and gear.
Characters (
storage/player) sync with their ships, so they arrive on the other PC ready to fly.Lua in mods
Many Starbound mods include Lua scripts.
.luafiles are flagged before they sync, and nothing changes until you approve the list. Only sync with people you trust.
// 05 Starbound
Good to know
- Steam Workshop mods aren't synced. Steam keeps them outside the game folder, so friends subscribe to the same Workshop items. SyncCrate syncs the game's own
modsfolder. - Back up before swapping universes. Replacing a universe with the host's changes planets you've visited. Turn on Back up before sync, or use Undo last sync right after.
- Dedicated server? A server needs the same mods. If it runs on a PC with SyncCrate and a desktop, point SyncCrate at its folder and sync it like any other PC.
// FAQ
Starbound questions
Do all players need the same mods in Starbound?
For mods that add content, yes, and the game checks when a player joins. Some purely cosmetic or interface mods can differ, but syncing the host's set avoids guessing.
Where are Starbound mods and characters stored?
In the game's install folder: mods in mods, characters in storage/player and the universe in storage/universe. SyncCrate finds Steam installs in every library.
How do I move my Starbound characters to a new PC?
Install SyncCrate on both, host on the old PC, join from the new one and Compare & Sync the characters folder. Sync the mods too if the characters use modded items.
Does it sync Workshop mods?
No. Steam keeps Workshop mods in its own folder. Everyone subscribes to the same ones, and SyncCrate handles the mods folder.
// Related game guides
All games · SyncCrate supports 100 games.
// Free · Open source · Windows, macOS, Linux
Same Starbound setup on every PC.
Install SyncCrate on each PC, one of you hosts, everyone else joins. No accounts, no cloud, nothing uploaded anywhere.