Astro Colony Multiplayer Desync: Fixing Stuck Conveyors and Ghosts

Desync in Astro Colony multiplayer, where conveyors look stuck, storage numbers differ between players or bots act on things that are not there, is mostly fixed by being on the current version: the developer spent August to October 2026 rebuilding multiplayer sync. Update the game and the server, then use the sync button in the Multiplayer pause menu whenever something looks wrong. If you still host from a player's game, moving to a dedicated server removes the most common source of trouble: the host's PC and connection.

Why Astro Colony desyncs

Astro Colony is an automation game. Thousands of resources move along conveyors, through junctions and into machines every minute, and in multiplayer every one of those moves has to match between the server and every player. Any gap, from a slow connection to a cosmic event destroying a conveyor mid push, can leave one player seeing a different factory from everyone else.

The developer has been open that multiplayer was the reason for many negative reviews, and has made it the focus of the updates since 1.0 (June 2026):

If your group last tried co-op before September 2026, a lot of what you remember has changed.

Step 1: Everyone on the same, current version

Mismatched versions cause the worst desync. Before anything else:

• Every player updates through Steam and fully restarts the game.
• Nobody stays on the experimental or test branch unless everyone, server included, is on it.
• The dedicated server is updated too. Run SteamCMD with +app_update 2662210 validate, or restart it if it updates itself on start.

Step 2: Use the in-game sync button

Since September 2026 there is a sync option in the Multiplayer pause menu. Pressing it resyncs all existing planets and their states between the server and your game. Both the host side and clients can use it.

Use it when:

• A conveyor looks stuck for you but works for others.
• Warehouse or storage numbers do not match what another player sees.
• A bot or miner seems to be working on something that is not there.
• You just rejoined after a crash or a connection drop.

It is quick, so it is worth pressing before assuming something is broken.

Step 3: Avoid the known triggers

Some situations caused more desync than others in the past. Most are fixed on current versions, but they are still the first places to look:

• Junctions with a device pushing straight into them. Fixed in October 2026 so junctions no longer block, but older designs may be worth a look.
• Meteor and comet strikes destroying conveyors. Previously caused resources to desync. Fixed in October 2026.
• Joining mid action. Current versions pause cosmic events, vehicles and other gameplay systems while a new player joins. Let the join finish before building.
• Game speed. Multiplayer runs at normal speed only, a limit the developer added to avoid desync. Fast forward is a single player feature.

Step 4: Move off player hosting

When a player hosts, their game is the server. Every desync risk is multiplied by their PC's load (they are also rendering the game) and their home upload speed. When they alt tab, their PC stutters, or their connection drops for a second, everyone feels it.

A dedicated server runs only the simulation, on a machine that is not also playing. Astro Colony ships a dedicated server, with a Windows build and, since April 2024, a Linux build on Steam. The Astro Colony server setup guide covers installing it, and you can move your existing save onto it so the colony carries on.

Step 5: Give the server room

Big late game colonies with long conveyor networks across several planets are heavy to simulate. A server that is short of memory or CPU falls behind, and falling behind looks like desync to the players. As a rough guide, 4 GB covers a new map with a few friends, 8 GB a full group or several linked colonies, and 12 GB huge networks across many planets. Our guide to game server lag explains how to spot a server that is struggling.

Step 6: When a save will not sync

Occasionally one save refuses to sync even after updating. Things to try, in order:

1. Restart the server and have everyone rejoin one at a time.
2. Press the sync button after each player joins.
3. Load the previous autosave (the server keeps several, set with the autosave count).
4. Report it on the developer's Discord with the save. The developer has fixed specific unsyncable saves this way before.

Always back up the save folder before experimenting. See how to back up a game server for the general routine.

A dedicated server without the setup

An Astro Colony server from GamezServers runs the dedicated server for you, so nobody's PC is the host. Auto Update keeps it on the current build when it starts, which matters a lot while multiplayer fixes are landing every few weeks. Autosave interval and count are panel settings, so you always have recent saves to roll back to, and one click backups cover the rest. Plans go from 4 GB to 12 GB, and you can move up whenever the colony grows.

FAQ

How do I fix desync in Astro Colony multiplayer?

Update the game and server, then use the sync button in the Multiplayer pause menu. It resyncs all planets and their states.

Why do my conveyors look stuck for only one player?

That player's game is out of sync with the server. Pressing sync in the Multiplayer pause menu usually fixes it.

Can I speed up time in Astro Colony multiplayer?

No. Multiplayer is limited to normal speed to prevent desync.

Is a dedicated server better than player hosting in Astro Colony?

For long sessions and bigger colonies, yes. The server only simulates the game and does not depend on one player's PC and connection.