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Valheim: mods with BepInEx

Installing the mod loader with one button, where to put mods and how to share them with players.

Installing the loader

Go to "Mods and settings" → "Mod loader" → "Install BepInEx". The panel does everything itself, including the startup parameters. Restart the server.

Don't delete the launch script the loader adds to the server root: the loader is hooked in through it. If you deleted it, just click "Install BepInEx" again.

Where to put mods

Mods (.dll files, often in a folder) go into BepInEx/plugins. Download them from Thunderstore (thunderstore.io → Valheim). Keep each mod in its own folder so it's easier to remove.

Mod configs appear in BepInEx/config after the first start.

Mods for players

Almost all Valheim mods are needed both on the server and by the players, in the same versions. The easiest way:

  1. Players install r2modman or the Thunderstore Mod Manager.
  2. You create a profile with the mods you need → "Settings → Export profile as code" → send the code to your friends.
  3. Your friends import the profile by code, and everyone has the same set.

The server doesn't start after adding a mod

A hint appears above the console. Common causes:

  • missing dependencies: a library mod is missing (usually Jötunn or Jotunn). Its name is in the error line.
  • The mod hasn't been updated for the current Valheim version: remove it or wait for an update.

Find the culprit like this: move half of the mods from plugins to a temporary folder and start the server. If it works, the culprit is in the half you moved.