Modding:Player Guide/Getting Started
Now that you know the basics of moddings, here's how to get started!
Getting started
Install SMAPI
First you'll need to install the mod loader, SMAPI. Click the right link for more info:
Find mods
Next you need to choose the mods you want. See the most popular mods or these recommendations for a first playthrough. You can also search for mods here:
site | description |
---|---|
Nexus Mods | Most mods are released here. (Registering an account is free, just don't choose a package when you register.) |
Chucklefish mods | Some mods are released here (most are also on Nexus). |
ModDrop | Pretty new. Not many mods yet, but you can install those it has very quickly through their (Windows-only) client. |
Stardew Valley forums | Some mods are posted directly in the forums. Some hidden gems are only here, but finding them can be a challenge. |
Before you download a mod...
- Does it work with the latest version of the game? (SMAPI will automatically disable most incompatible SMAPI mods, but you're on your own with XNB mods. Try checking the mod description or comments.)
- Don't download from stardewvalleymods.net. (Mods here are usually outdated, since the site republishes mods without permission for ad revenue.)
Find your game folder
Next you'll need to open your game folder (the one containing Stardew Valley's .exe
file). Here's where to find it:
Platform | Path |
---|---|
Windows | GOG: C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Stardew Valley Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley
|
Linux | GOG: ~/GOGGames/StardewValley/game Steam: ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley
|
Mac | GOG: /Applications/Stardew Valley.app/Contents/MacOS Steam: ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley/Contents/MacOS On Mac, the Content folder is stored separately:GOG: /Applications/Stardew Valley.app/Resources/Content Steam: ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley/Contents/Resources/Content
|
Not there? Here are some other ways to find it:
more options |
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|
Install mods
To install a mod, just unzip it into the Mods
folder in your game folder. Make sure each mod has its own subfolder. For example, if you have a PineapplesEverywhere
mod, you should have a file structure like this:
Stardew Valley/ Mods/ PineapplesEverywhere/ PineapplesEverywhere.dll manifest.json
Configure mods
Some mods have a config.json
file in their mod folder. It might be created the first time you launch the game with that mod. This file lets you customise the mod settings.
To edit the config.json
file, just open it in a text editor. Make sure the game isn't running when you edit it, or your changes might not take effect. See a basic guide to JSON; basically make sure your values are surrounded by quotes (like "value"
). You can use this JSON validator to make sure the format is correct.
Manage mods
- To update a mod, download the latest version and copy the new files into the existing folder. That should replace the older files, but keep any config or data files it generated for you.
- To remove a mod, just remove it from the
Mods
folder.
XNB mods
XNB mods replace files in your game's Content
folder with custom versions. If a mod has some .xnb
files and no manifest.json
, it's an XNB mod. This is an older type of mod that's no longer recommended, but see Modding:Using XNB mods if you're still interested.