Change Gravity on a Space Engineers Server

Updated 4 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide explains how to change the gravity settings on a Space Engineers dedicated server, covering both the global world gravity and per-grid (ship/station) gravity. You’ll learn where the settings live, how to edit them safely, and how to troubleshoot common issues like gravity not applying or reverting after a restart.

What You’ll Need

Access to the server’s file system (via FTP, a hosting control panel, or local file explorer if you run the server yourself).
Text editor such as Notepad++ or VS Code (avoid plain Notepad on Windows for files with special characters).
Server admin permissions in-game (to use admin commands like /save and /stop).
For per-grid gravity: the Gravity Generator block must be present on the grid, and you need to know its block ID (or be able to find it in the save files).

Step-by-Step

Changing Global (World) Gravity

Stop the server. Always stop the server before editing files to avoid corruption. Use your hosting panel’s stop button or the /stop admin command in-game.
Locate the save folder. Navigate to the server’s Save directory. The path is typically .../SpaceEngineers/Saves/ on a Windows server or /home/.../.local/share/spaceengineers/Saves/ on Linux. Inside, you’ll see a folder named after your world (e.g., MyWorld).
Find the sandbox.sbc file. Inside the world folder, open sandbox.sbc with your text editor.
Locate the <Gravity> tag. Search for <Gravity> (usually near the top, inside <Settings>). It will look like <Gravity>1.0</Gravity>.
Change the value. Replace the number with your desired gravity in m/sÂ². For Earth-like, use 1.0. For Moon-like, use 0.25. For zero-G, set it to 0. You can use decimals (e.g., 0.5 for half gravity).
Save the file. Save sandbox.sbc and close the editor.
Restart the server. Start the server again. The new gravity will apply to all new loads and to existing grids when they are reloaded.

Changing Gravity for a Specific Grid (Ship/Station)

To change gravity on a specific grid, you need to modify its Gravity Generator block settings. This is done in the save file, not in-game (unless you use a mod).

Stop the server. Again, stop the server first.
Open the grid’s file. In the world folder, you’ll see files like Sandbox_0_0_0.sbc (or similar numbered files). These contain the grid data. Open the one that contains your grid (you may need to search for the grid’s name).
Find the Gravity Generator block. Search for GravityGenerator within the file. Each generator block has a <SubtypeName> (e.g., LargeBlockGravityGenerator) and a <CustomData> or <BlockPair> section. Look for the <Gravity> field inside the block’s properties. It may be under <BlockDefinition> or <Component>.
Change the <Gravity> value. Set it to the desired strength (e.g., 1.0 for Earth-like). If the field doesn’t exist, you can add it: <Gravity>1.0</Gravity>.
Save and restart. Save the file and restart the server. The grid’s gravity generator will now use the new value.

Using In-Game Admin Tools (Alternative for Global Gravity)

Enable admin mode. In-game, press Alt+F10 to open the Admin Screen. Make sure you have admin rights.
Go to the World Settings tab. Click on the World Settings tab (the globe icon).
Find the Gravity slider. Under Environment, you’ll see a Gravity slider. Adjust it to your desired value.
Apply changes. Click OK. This changes the world gravity immediately, but it only affects newly loaded grids or those that are unloaded/reloaded. It does not change the value in the save file permanently unless you save the world (via /save or the admin menu’s save button).

Common Mistakes

Editing the wrong file. Make sure you’re editing sandbox.sbc for world gravity, not the Sandbox_*.sbc files (those are for grids).
Using a comma instead of a period. Some locales use commas as decimal separators. The game expects a period (e.g., 0.5 not 0,5).
Not stopping the server. Editing files while the server is running can cause the server to overwrite your changes or corrupt the save.
Forgetting to save the world after in-game changes. If you use the admin slider, you must save the world (via /save or the admin menu) before shutdown, or the change will be lost.
Confusing global gravity with per-grid gravity. Changing the world gravity does not affect the gravity generators on ships/stations. Those are independent.

Tips

Backup your save files. Before making any changes, copy the entire world folder to a safe location. This allows you to revert if something goes wrong.
Use a mod for easier control. Mods like Admin Helper or Torch (for dedicated servers) allow you to change gravity in-game without editing files. This is less error-prone.
Test on a single-player world first. If you’re unsure about the file structure, practice on a local save before touching the server.
Keep gravity realistic. For a space game, 0.25 (Moon) or 0.1 (asteroid) feels more natural. 1.0 is Earth-like and may make ships feel heavy.
Check for mods that override gravity. Some mods (like realistic thrusters) may change how gravity works. If you have mods, check their documentation.

Troubleshooting

Gravity didn’t change after editing the file. Make sure the server was fully stopped and restarted. Also, verify the file was saved correctly (no encoding issues). Try opening the file in a hex editor to ensure it’s not corrupted.
Gravity reverts to default after a restart. This usually means the server is using a different save file than the one you edited. Check the server’s startup parameters (e.g., -world argument) to confirm the correct world path.
Gravity is not applied to existing grids. The world gravity only applies to grids that are loaded into the world. If a grid is in a static state (e.g., a station), it may not respond to gravity changes until it’s moved or reloaded. Try restarting the server or using the /reload admin command.
Game crashes after editing the file. This is likely due to a syntax error. Restore the backup and try again, making sure to keep the XML structure intact (e.g., don’t delete closing tags).
Gravity generator on a ship is not working. Check that the generator is powered and enabled. Also, ensure the field radius covers the area you want. The generator’s gravity is independent of world gravity; it only affects the area within its field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change gravity without stopping the server?

Yes, you can use the in-game admin menu (Alt+F10) to adjust world gravity, but the change is temporary unless you save the world. For permanent changes, editing the file with the server stopped is safer.

What is the default gravity in Space Engineers?

The default world gravity is 1.0 (Earth-like), but many servers set it lower for a more space-like feel. You can set it to any value, including 0 for zero-G.

How do I set gravity to 0 for a specific grid?

In the grid’s file, find the Gravity Generator block and set its <Gravity> value to 0. Alternatively, you can turn off the generator in-game (press ‘T’ to open the control panel and disable it).

Will changing gravity affect my ship’s thrusters?

Yes, gravity affects the ship’s mass and how much thrust is needed to lift off. Lower gravity means less thrust is required to hover or take off.

Is there a way to change gravity per planet?

No, Space Engineers does not have per-planet gravity by default. Gravity is either world-wide or per-grid via generators. Some mods may add planet-specific gravity, but that’s not vanilla behavior.

Can I change gravity on a server that uses a plugin like Torch?

Yes, Torch has an admin command to set gravity: /gravity [value]. This is often easier than editing files. Check your Torch documentation for exact syntax.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.