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Installing Mods on Your Valheim Server

Step-by-step guide to installing BepInEx and mods on your Valheim dedicated server for custom gameplay.

Noah
4 min read
Mar 15, 2024

Installing Mods on Your Valheim Server

Valheim supports modding through the BepInEx framework, allowing you to add custom features, quality-of-life improvements, and gameplay changes to your server.

Prerequisites

  • An active Valheim server from SpillHosting
  • Access to the control panel and FTP/SFTP
  • An FTP client like FileZilla or WinSCP

Understanding Valheim Modding

Valheim uses BepInEx as its primary modding framework. Most mods require:

  1. BepInEx installed on the server
  2. The same mods installed on each client (player's PC)

Important: Both the server and all connecting players must have the same mods installed, or players will be unable to join.

Step 1: Install BepInEx

Through the Control Panel

  1. Stop your server
  2. Go to the Startup tab
  3. Look for the Modding Framework option
  4. Select BepInEx from the dropdown
  5. Save and start the server once to generate the mod folders
  6. Stop the server again before adding mods

Manual Installation

  1. Download the latest BepInEx for Valheim
  2. Connect to your server via SFTP
  3. Upload the BepInEx files to your server's root directory
  4. Start the server to generate the config files
  5. Stop the server before proceeding

Step 2: Install Mods

  1. Download mods from Thunderstore or Nexus Mods
  2. Connect to your server via SFTP
  3. Navigate to /BepInEx/plugins/
  4. Upload the mod's .dll file(s) to the plugins folder
  5. If the mod includes a config file, place it in /BepInEx/config/

Step 3: Configure Mods

Most mods generate a config file on first run:

  1. Start the server with the mods installed
  2. Stop the server after it fully initializes
  3. Navigate to /BepInEx/config/ via SFTP
  4. Edit the .cfg files for each mod as needed
  5. Save and restart the server
ModDescription
ValheimPlusComprehensive tweaks for gameplay, building, and more
Plant EverythingAllows planting any vegetation
Equipment & Quick SlotsExtra inventory slots for equipment
Epic LootAdds a loot rarity system with enchantments
Server DevcommandsBetter admin commands for server management

Client-Side Installation

Players connecting to your modded server need:

  1. Install a mod manager like r2modman or Thunderstore Mod Manager
  2. Install the same mods and versions as the server
  3. Launch Valheim through the mod manager

Troubleshooting

Server Won't Start After Adding Mods

  • Check the console logs for specific error messages
  • Remove recently added mods one at a time to find the culprit
  • Ensure mod versions are compatible with your Valheim version

Players Can't Connect

  • Verify all players have the exact same mods and versions
  • Some mods are server-side only — check the mod description
  • Ensure BepInEx version matches between server and clients

Mod Not Working

  • Check that the .dll file is in the correct folder (/BepInEx/plugins/)
  • Verify the mod is compatible with the current Valheim version
  • Review the mod's config file for any required settings

Need help with mod installation? Our support team is available 24/7 to assist you.