Add mods to your Valheim server by installing a mod framework (BepInEx or Valheim Plus), then uploading plugins. Valheim’s modding community is encouraged by Iron Gate and uses BepInEx as the standard mod loader.
Choose Your Mod Framework
You need a mod framework installed before you can add plugins. There are two options:
- BepInEx: Supports the latest version of Valheim with BepInEx plugins. Use this for a vanilla base with mod support.
- Valheim Plus: Includes its own gameplay configuration options and a bundled version of BepInEx. May not always support the latest Valheim version.
Follow the installation guide for your chosen framework before continuing.
Where to Find Mods
Community-made Valheim mods are hosted on two sites:
- Thunderstore: Install on your client manually, with the Thunderstore Mod Manager, or with r2modman
- Nexus Mods: Install on your client manually or with Vortex
Install BepInEx Plugins on Your Server
The plugin installation process is the same whether you’re using standalone BepInEx or Valheim Plus.
- Download the plugin’s
.dllfile from Thunderstore or Nexus - Connect to your server using the File Manager or SFTP
- Navigate to the
/BepInEx/pluginsfolder - Upload the
.dllfile - Restart your server to load the plugin
Frequently Asked Questions
Use standalone BepInEx if you want the latest Valheim version support and a vanilla base with plugins. Use Valheim Plus if you want its built-in gameplay tweaks plus plugin support.
Download mods from Thunderstore (valheim.thunderstore.io) or Nexus (nexusmods.com/valheim/mods).
Most plugins are .dll files uploaded to /BepInEx/plugins. Some come as .zip archives containing a folder with multiple files, which should be uploaded as a complete folder to /BepInEx/plugins.