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How to Install Stardew Valley Mods

Everything you need to mod Stardew Valley — prerequisites, mod manager, and load order. Free downloads, no account.

📋 Browse Stardew Valley Mods🏆 Top 25

🛠️ Prerequisites

🛠️ SMAPI — Stardew Modding APIDownload ↗
🛠️ Content Patcher — Content Patcher (framework)Download ↗

📦 Install Methods

1. Vortex (easiest — Nexus Mods app)

  1. Download the SMAPI installer from smapi.io and run it. Let it auto-detect your Steam or GOG Stardew Valley install and finish the install.
  2. In Vortex, add Stardew Valley as a managed game so Vortex knows where the game folder is.
  3. On a mod's Nexus Mods page, click the 'Mod Manager Download' button — Vortex picks the file up automatically.
  4. In Vortex's Mods tab, Enable the mod, then complete the Deploy step so Vortex puts it into the game's Mods folder.
  5. Launch the game through StardewModdingAPI.exe (Vortex does not launch SMAPI for you).
  6. Watch the SMAPI console window: your mod should appear in the loaded-mods list with no red error lines.

2. Manual install (most common)

  1. Download the SMAPI installer from smapi.io, run it, and install it into your Stardew Valley folder (Steam: steamapps\common\Stardew Valley; the installer auto-detects Steam and GOG installs).
  2. Open the game's Mods folder (SMAPI creates it on first launch if it doesn't exist).
  3. On Nexus Mods, open the mod's Files tab and download the archive — not the 'Mod Manager Download' button.
  4. Extract the archive with 7-Zip or the built-in extractor. Each mod is a folder containing manifest.json plus the mod's content.
  5. Copy that folder into the Mods folder. If the zip contained a wrapper folder, copy the inner folder (the one holding manifest.json), not the wrapper.
  6. Launch StardewModdingAPI.exe. The console lists the mods it found and shows yellow warnings when something needs attention.
  7. If the console says a required mod is missing, install that dependency (often Content Patcher) the same way and relaunch.

3. Content Patcher content packs (visual and data mods)

  1. Install SMAPI first (smapi.io installer), then download Content Patcher from Nexus Mods and drop its folder into Mods.
  2. Check the content pack's Nexus page for which framework it needs — most Stardew content packs require Content Patcher.
  3. Download the content pack from its Files tab and extract the archive.
  4. Copy the pack's folder into Mods so it sits directly inside Mods, with manifest.json and content.json at the top level of the folder.
  5. Launch the game via StardewModdingAPI.exe. Content Patcher logs each pack it loads — confirm yours shows up in the console.
  6. If the pack loads but nothing changes in-game, read the Content Patcher messages in the console; they name the conflict or missing requirement.

📦 Mod Managers

Most Stardew Valley mods install through Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 — they handle file placement and load order automatically. Manual install means dropping files into your game's mod/data folder.

🛠️ Tool & Loader Guides

SMAPI (Stardew Modding API)Guide →

❓ Install FAQ

Do I need a mod manager for Stardew Valley?

A mod manager is recommended but not always required.

What order do I install mods?

Foundations and script extenders first, then patches/overhauls, then visual mods last. Use LOOT or your mod manager's sort.

Are Stardew Valley mods free?

Yes — every mod listed on discovermods is free. We link to official download pages.