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How to Install Valheim Mods

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

📋 Browse Valheim Mods🏆 Top 25

🛠️ Prerequisites

🛠️ BepInEx — BepInEx frameworkDownload ↗

📦 Install Methods

1. r2modman / Thunderstore Mod Manager (easiest)

  1. Download r2modman from thunderstore.io (the standalone app, not the Overwolf launcher) and open it, then select Valheim as the game.
  2. Let r2modman create a fresh modded profile for you — this keeps your mods isolated from the game folder.
  3. In the profile, open 'Install Mods' and search for 'BepInExPack Valheim'. r2modman installs the BepInEx framework for you and keeps it updated automatically.
  4. Browse the Thunderstore catalog and install the mods you want. r2modman pulls each mod's required dependencies (like Jotunn) automatically, so you don't have to track them by hand.
  5. Always launch the game with the 'Start Modded' button in r2modman — launching from Steam bypasses the profile and no mods will load.
  6. If a Valheim update breaks your mods, open the profile's Game Version setting and select the older game version your mods were built for.
  7. To run a modded dedicated server, use the 'Start Server' option in r2modman so the server boots the same profile your clients are using.

2. Vortex (Nexus Mods)

  1. Install Vortex from nexusmods.com and let it detect your Steam Valheim install, or point it at steamapps/common/Valheim manually.
  2. In the Games tab, click 'Manage' on Valheim to add it to Vortex.
  3. Keep in mind that most Valheim mods are published on Thunderstore, not Nexus, so the Nexus catalog is smaller — check Thunderstore first for the mod you want.
  4. Download 'BepInExPack Valheim' from the Valheim Nexus page and install and deploy it through Vortex so the framework lands in the game folder.
  5. Download mod .zip files from the Valheim Nexus page and use Vortex's 'Install from file' button, then enable them in the Mods tab.
  6. Click Deploy and launch the game through Vortex. Verify that a winhttp.dll file and a BepInEx folder now sit directly in the Valheim directory.
  7. Don't mix Vortex and r2modman on the same install — both deploy into the game, and two frameworks will double-load and crash. Pick one manager.

3. Manual install (BepInEx by hand)

  1. Download 'BepInExPack Valheim' from Thunderstore (or the Valheim Nexus page) — this is the framework package.
  2. Extract the archive directly into the Valheim game folder (SteamLibrary/steamapps/common/Valheim), so winhttp.dll and the BepInEx folder sit next to valheim.exe.
  3. Launch the game once from Steam and then close it. This makes BepInEx generate its folder layout and default configs on first run.
  4. Open the BepInEx/plugins folder that was just created.
  5. Download each mod from Thunderstore. Most packages already contain a BepInEx/plugins path — extract so each mod's .dll lands inside BepInEx/plugins.
  6. Install dependency mods the same way (Jotunn, HookGenPatcher, BepInEx.ConfigurationManager) before any mod that lists them as required.
  7. Relaunch the game and check BepInEx/LogOutput.log to confirm every plugin loaded or to see which one failed and why.

📦 Mod Managers

Most Valheim 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

BepInExGuide →

❓ Install FAQ

Do I need a mod manager for Valheim?

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 Valheim mods free?

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