Tested technical baseline
SkyFactory 4 is available as a launchable server configuration with forge on Minecraft 1.12.2.
Ready-to-launch Minecraft server
SkyFactory 4 as Your Own Server
In SkyFactory 4, everything begins with a tree above the void. We set up version 4.2.4 with 6 GB RAM as a paid server and make sure the world is really generated by the pack. For the roughly 200 mods, the free plan is too small.
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- 6 GB RAM recommended
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Boot tested · Last tested: .
How the Sky World Is Created
The empty world is not a world type of its own. The pack writes the entry generator-settings={"Topography-Preset":"Sky Factory 4"} into server.properties, and the Topography mod uses it to build the starting tree in the void on the first world start. config/topography/Topography.txt contains further presets, including "SkyFactory Tutorial", "Cave Dimension" and "Sky Crash Factory Landing".
There was a stumbling block here: until September 24, 2026, our installation created a normal world before the pack, and Topography then found solid terrain instead of void. Since September 25, the initial installation deletes this pre-created world. On the test server afterwards, only a single chunk out of 1,314 around the spawn was not empty. We have not yet entered this world with a game client.
Many people expect Prestige mode. In the bundled config/prestige.cfg, however, it is switched off for new worlds (Prestige Enabled Default=false), and according to the pack, some mods such as Ore Excavation are locked behind Prestige. If you want to play with Prestige, check this file before your group gets started.
Falling into the void doesn't cost you your life right away. Forgiving Void puts you back at the top of the world and deducts 19 points of damage in the process; according to config/forgivingvoid.cfg, however, the mod does not prevent death. Difficulty is set to "Easy", and flying is allowed.
Inside the modpack
Image source: © mcfreehost, own capture · Pack: Darkosto
Start your server now
Game, loader and tested preset are preselected and remain adjustable.
SkyFactory 4: view an example
Our own captures from a demonstration environment. The version and setup shown may differ from your server.
- The starting tree alone above the void.
- Bonsai pots on a platform prepared in Creative mode.
- Resources from the bonsai pots in the output chest.
SkyFactory 4 4.2.4 · Minecraft 1.12.2 · Forge · 2026-09-24
SkyFactory 4 · Minecraft 1.12.2 · 2026-09-12
SkyFactory 4 · Minecraft 1.12.2 · 2026-09-12
Memory for Trees, Sieves and Machines
The sky world itself is small; the memory goes into the mods: SkyFactory 4 already used just over 3 GB without any players. Every sieve setup, every tree farm and every machine running in loaded chunks adds a bit more. 6 GB leaves almost half of that free.
What the Test Server Showed
Forge 1.12.2 with Java 8
SkyFactory 4.2.4 runs on Minecraft 1.12.2 with Forge 14.23.5.2860. 202 mod files were in the mods folder after installation.
About Two Minutes per Restart
Two restarts on September 24 took 113 and 121 seconds until "Done".
Just Over 3 GB at Idle
With no players, the server held around 3.2 GB of 6 GB in use after a restart, and only 370 MB on disk.
No Free Pack
A baseline demand of just over 3 GB exceeds the free plan. That is why SkyFactory 4 is only available with us on a paid server.
A successful installation, startup or join test applies only to the tested version and does not demonstrate stable operation under every player load.
Modpack quality status
Available and boot-tested- Minecraft version
- 1.12.2
- Loader version
- Forge 14.23.5.2860
- Memory (RAM) · Recommended
- 6 GB
- Last tested
- 11. Oct 2026
Known issues
None known
Frequently asked questions
Does the button use the matching configuration?
Yes. The wizard preselects the matching loader; modpack pages also load only the verified featured pack.
Can I change version and RAM later?
Yes. Always check compatibility and create a backup before changing versions.
Can I play SkyFactory 4 for free?
Not on mcfreehost. The free server with 2 GB is smaller than the pack's idle demand. SkyFactory 4 runs with us on a paid server with 6 GB, and you can see its price in the configurator.
I see normal terrain instead of a tree in the void. What now?
Then the world was generated before the pack, for example on a server created before September 25, 2026. Stop the server, create a backup, delete the world folder and restart. Topography will then generate the world using the preset from server.properties.
What do my fellow players need?
Minecraft Java Edition and SkyFactory 4 in version 4.2.4, for example via the CurseForge app, which also downloads the old Minecraft version 1.12.2 by itself. Joining from console or mobile is not possible.
Why does the log show hundreds of errors?
At startup, SkyFactory 4 wrote 470 ERROR lines on our side, mainly recipe errors from BiblioCraft and Applied Energistics 2 as well as messages about slabs. The server still ran and accepted logins.