Adding Workshop mods to your Garry's Mod server lets you run custom maps, gamemodes, weapons, and more. If this is your first time working with server files, don't worry — this guide walks you through each step.

Important notes before you start

• Always stop the server before changing files. Modifying files while the server is running can corrupt data or cause the server to crash.
• Collections vs individual mods: Garry's Mod Workshop content frequently depends on full collections or specific folder structures. You should download the complete collection (the entire folder set) for things to work properly.  Downloading single mods individually often won't work, so it's required to upload its addon files manually.
• Backup: Download or copy important files before changing anything so you can restore them if something goes wrong.

How to add Mods

• Shut down the server:

  Open your server's configuration panel at My Servers > Manage Server. Once here, click on the Actions option on the left panel to shut it down.

• Locate the desired mod:

  Open the game's workshop page in Steam to locate your collections or mods. Subscribe to it and remember its name.
   

• Collections vs individual mods:

  
  Collections

  
  - In the server panel, click on the Mods section on the left panel.
  - Select the Collections tab.
  - Type the collections name or copy the name from Steam.
  - Click on Install to download it into the server.

  

   

  Individual Mods

  
  - Once you subscribed to a mod, you need to locate it in your PC.
  - Go to the following directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\4000
     (You can identify the mod's folder by checking their number on the Steam link)
  
  
  - Grab the “.gma” file, which is the addons file for the mod.
  - Open the server files using the File Manager panel or connecting with SFTP. If you're not familiar with SFTP, find here our guide on how to easily connect.
  - Locate the addons folder at Server/garrysmod/addons
  - Upload your .gma mod file.
  
  
  
  
  - Repeat this process with any other desired mods.
   

• Restart the server:

  Click on the same Actions panel as before and select Restart to boot the server up.

  

  
   

If players are missing required addons they may fail to join or experience missing textures, errors, or broken content. We recommend downloading collections for easier management with multiple mods.

Now you can enjoy your modded server with your friends!

Troubleshooting

• Server won't start or crashes after upload:
  • Cause: you uploaded files while the server was running and some files became corrupted, or folder structure is wrong.
  • Fix: Stop the server, remove the recently uploaded files, restore from backup, then upload the collection again and restart.
• Missing files or errors about missing content in console:
  • Check that the “.gma” files are in Server/garrysmod/addons.
• Upload interrupted or corrupted files:
  • If your internet connection drops during upload, files can become incomplete. Re-upload the affected files or folders.
  • Always stop the server before uploading to avoid partial writes while files are in use.
• Mods conflict or behave incorrectly:
  • Some addons conflict with others. If you suspect a conflict, remove newly added addons one-by-one and restart to isolate the problem.
• Logs are your friend:
  • Check server console and Garry's Mod logs for exact error messages. These messages help you figure out missing files, Lua errors, or permission issues.

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our customer care agents through our live chat or email at [email protected]. Happy gaming!