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How to Add Mods to Your Vintage Story Server
Learn how to safely find, upload, and install Vintage Story mods: stop your server, upload .zip files to Server/ServerMods, then restart to load them.
Welcome to a new era of survival! Adding mods to your Vintage Story server is a fantastic way to introduce new mechanics, items, creatures, and challenges for you and your friends. Whether you are a veteran server administrator or setting up your very first modded world, customizing your game is a quick and straightforward process.
This guide will walk you through exactly where to find mods and how to safely install them onto your server.
Installing Your Mods Step-by-Step
Before making any modifications, it is always a good idea to back up your current world save just in case a mod conflicts with your existing data. Once you are ready, follow these steps:
Locate and download your desired mods. The official and safest place to browse is the Vintage Story Mod Database at this link: Vintage Story Mod Page.
Download the mod as a .zip file directly to your computer.
Alternatively, if you use the One-Click Install button inside your game client, simply locate that downloaded .zip file on your personal computer.
Log in to your server panel and go to Actions > Shutdown to completely stop your server. You should never modify server files while the game is running.
Navigate to your File Manager.
Open the Server/ folder, and then locate and open the ServerMods/ folder. If you don't see the folder, you can create it manually by clicking on Create Directory.
Upload your downloaded mod .zip file directly into this directory. Because most Vintage Story mods have very small file sizes, uploading them directly through the web File Manager is usually sufficient. You just need to drag and drop the .zip file on the upload bubble.
Go to Actions > Restart to boot your server back up. The server will automatically unpack and load the mods during startup!
Troubleshooting & Tips
If your mods are not loading or your server is crashing on startup, keep these critical tips in mind:
The Golden Rule of Folders:Never upload your custom mods into the Server/Mods folder unless a mod author explicitly instructs you to do so. That specific folder is strictly reserved by the game developers for built-in, base game content. Always use the Server/ServerMods/ folder for your downloads!
Do Not Unzip the Files: Vintage Story is designed to read mods directly from their compressed archives. Leave the files exactly as they are when you download them; do not extract the .zip contents before uploading.
Client-Side Requirements: For the vast majority of mods, any player attempting to join your server must also have the exact same mod .zip files installed locally on their own computer. Ensure your friends know which mods to download!
Conclusion
Modding Vintage Story breathes entirely new life into your multiplayer experience. By dropping your .zip files into the correct ServerMods directory, you guarantee a stable, endlessly customizable world for your entire community to enjoy.
If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to contact our support team for assistance!
