How Search Works on the Factorio Mod Portal

Updated

The Mod Portal search matches your query against four fields: the mod title, its internal name, its summary, and the username of the mod owner. To search for an exact phrase, wrap it in double quotes (for example, "space exploration"). You can then narrow the results using the category and tag checkboxes in the left sidebar, or exclude categories and tags with the ban button.

What Each Search Field Covers

Field What it contains Why it matters
Mod title The display name shown on the mod page Best for finding a mod you already know by name
Internal name The identifier used inside the game and in mod files Useful when a mod's display name differs from what you remember, or when matching error messages and logs
Summary The short description on the mod listing Catches mods whose description mentions a feature even if the title doesn't
Owner username The account name of the mod author Lets you pull up everything published by a specific creator

Because the query runs against all four fields at once, a single word can return results for several different reasons. Searching train may surface mods titled with "train," mods whose summary mentions trains, and mods uploaded by a user with "train" in their name.

Refining Results with the Sidebar

The left sidebar provides two kinds of filters:

  • Categories describe the mod's overall purpose — Content, Overhaul, Tweaks, Utilities, Scenarios, Mod packs, Localizations, Internal, and No category.
  • Tags describe specific features or themes — Planets, Transportation, Logistics, Trains, Combat, Armor, Character, Enemies, Environment, Mining, and more.

Check a box to limit results to that category or tag. Use the ban button to exclude one instead — handy when a popular tag floods your results with mods you don't want. To clear everything, click the active tab at the top of the page, which resets your filters.

An Expansion filter (Space Age) is also available if you want mods built around the expansion.

A Practical Search Example

Suppose you want logistics mods compatible with Space Age, but you don't want total conversions:

  1. Type a term such as belt into the search box.
  2. Check Logistics under Tags.
  3. Check Space Age under Expansion.
  4. If overhaul mods appear, use the ban button on the Overhaul category.
  5. Review the remaining results, then click the active tab to reset when you're done.

The expected result is a short list of belt-related logistics mods tagged for the expansion, without full conversion packs mixed in.

Caching: Why New Mods Don't Appear Immediately

The portal caches its search and listing pages heavily. New mods and updates can take several hours to appear in search results. If you just published a mod and can't find it, this delay is the likely cause rather than a problem with your upload or search terms.

Related Pages on the Portal

The same navigation includes Highlighted mods, Recently updated, Most downloaded, and Trending views, plus a Factorio version filter. These are useful when you want to browse rather than search for something specific — for example, checking Recently updated to see what changed this week before deciding which mods to add to an existing save.