No Man's Sky - How to get Atlas Passes


No Man's Sky Atlas Passes

Have you ever come across a supply container on a planet in No Man's Sky, but you couldn't open it? Chances are that you need an Atlas Pass of some form to crack open the container and reveal whatever is inside. This is a common issue in the opening hours of No Man's Sky, as players know they need Atlas Passes but have no zero clue how to acquire one.

Atlas Passes can also access extra resources in No Man's Sky, opening locked doors aboard Space Stations and down at Manufacturing Facilities. They can be tricky to get, though, requiring some rare materials to craft. This guide will explain how to get Atlas Passes and what they're used for in No Man's Sky.

With the recent Interceptor update in No Man's Sky, a plethora of new content is available in-game. Check out some of our guides to help you navigate this new content - here's where to find Dissonant Systems, Radiant Shards, and Atlantideum.

Getting Atlas Passes in No Man's Sky

To get the Atlas Pass in No Man's Sky, you must first collect Salvaged Data; 15 or so will do. You can now purchase the Atlas V1, V2, and V3 blueprints at the Exosuit Research console at the back of the Anomaly. However, you'll only need to craft the Atlas Pass V3, as it unlocks all previous locks covered by V2 and V1 anyway. For the V3, you will need the following:

  • Emeril (200) (found in green star systems)
  • Microprocessor (1) (purchased at Space Stations)

You will need to keep the Atlas Pass on you to use it. You only need to carry the V3 Pass, as it will unlock V2 and V1 locks as well.

Unlocking the Atlas Pass V3 blueprint

To unlock the blueprints for the Atlas Pass V3, you will first need to do so for V1 and V2. Each will cost Salvaged Data to unlock, which can be found in Buried Technology Modules found on planets. Head to the Anomaly and into the back room containing the upgrade stations. Interact with the Exosuit Merchant and purchase the blueprints for Atlas Passes 1,2, and 3. You can then craft V3 in your Exosuit menu.

Unlocking a locked door aboard a Space Station using the Atlas Pass in No Man's Sky
click to enlarge

What are Atlas Passes used for?

Atlas Passes open the red barrels often found near buildings at planet level. V2 will open locked doors in Manufacturing Facilities, and V3 will unlock all those things, as well as the locked door next to the Galactic Terminal in Space Stations (back left when facing into the station).

Each of these will grant free resources, from Antimatter to Condensed Carbon. They're an excellent way to keep your stocks of Warp Cells high and to get extra core elements like Oxygen. Just approach a lock with the Atlas Pass V3 in your inventory and hold interact.

That's all you need to know about the Atlas Pass in No Man's Sky. If you're looking for more on the game, be sure to check out everything we know about how to find Cadmium and Faecium. Once you're done with that, look at how to get Deuterium.

For more articles like this, take a look at our No Man's Sky and Guides page.