Valheim Mods & BepInEx Guide

Modding Your Valheim Server

Valheim has a thriving modding scene powered by BepInEx (the mod loader) and Thunderstore (the mod repository). This guide covers everything from installing your first mod to managing a fully modded server.

Understanding Mod Types

Before installing anything, it's important to understand the different types of Valheim mods:

Server-Side Mods

These run only on the server. Players don't need to install anything.

Client-Required Mods

Both the server and all players must have these installed.

Client-Only Mods

Players install these locally. They don't touch the server.

Installing BepInEx

BepInEx is the mod framework that allows Valheim to load mods. It must be installed on your server before any mods will work.

Automatic Installation (Recommended)

1. Go to your server's Settings tab in the HostedGG dashboard
2. Find the Mod Framework or BepInEx toggle
3. Enable it
4. Restart your server

BepInEx will be automatically downloaded and configured.

Manual Installation

If you prefer manual setup:

1. Download the latest BepInExPack Valheim from Thunderstore
2. Open your server's File Manager
3. Extract the contents to the server root directory
4. Your file structure should look like:

/
├── BepInEx/
│   ├── config/
│   ├── plugins/        ← Mods go here
│   └── patchers/
├── doorstop_config.ini
├── winhttp.dll
└── valheim_server.exe

5. Restart the server

Installing Mods

From Thunderstore

Thunderstore is the primary mod repository for Valheim.

1. Find the mod you want on Thunderstore
2. Download the mod .zip file
3. Open your HostedGG File Manager
4. Navigate to BepInEx/plugins/
5. Upload the mod's .dll file (extract from the zip)
6. Restart your server

Mod Configuration

Most mods create config files on first run. Find them in:

BepInEx/config/

Edit these files through the File Manager to customize mod behavior, then restart the server.

Popular Server Mods

Here are the most popular mods for Valheim dedicated servers:

Essential Mods

Gameplay Mods

Quality of Life

Troubleshooting Mods

"Incompatible Version" Error

This usually means a mod version mismatch between server and client. Ensure everyone has:

• The same BepInEx version
• The same version of every client-required mod

Mods Not Loading

1. Check that winhttp.dll exists in the server root
2. Verify doorstop_config.ini has enabled=true
3. Check the BepInEx log at BepInEx/LogOutput.log for errors

Server Crashing After Adding a Mod

1. Remove the last mod you added
2. Restart the server
3. Check BepInEx logs for the specific error
4. Verify the mod is compatible with your Valheim version

Performance Issues With Mods

Some mods are known to impact performance. See our Performance Optimization Guide for tips on running a stable modded server.

Using a Mod Manager (Client-Side)

For players connecting to your server, recommend r2modman or Thunderstore Mod Manager:

1. Download r2modman
2. Select Valheim as the game
3. Install the same mods that are on the server
4. Launch Valheim through r2modman

This ensures all players have matching mod versions.

Next Steps

• Set up Valheim Plus with our config guide
• Optimize your modded server performance
• Troubleshoot common server issues

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