A mod (short for modification) is an alteration of the game and the objective of modding. Modifications can range from small tweaks to total conversions.
How to install
Mods can be downloaded and installed manually from User Modifications sub-forum (game registration needed) or Stellaris' Steam Workshop. If one uses the GoG version, you need an alternate method of downloading a mod if you want a Workshop mod, like steamworkshopdownloader.io
The mod installation folder is:
- Windows:
- .mod text files location:
~\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\mod\ - Workshop mod data location:
~\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\workshop\content\281990
- .mod text files location:
- Linux:
~/.paradoxinteractive/Stellaris/mod/or~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/mod/ - Mac:
~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/mod/
Never install mods in the Steam directory (ex: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Stellaris\mod), as mod would not be properly loaded.
Check in the mod description the Stellaris version compatible with the version of the mod. depending on updates, some mods from earlier versions are compatible with the current.
- In case of manual installation, the steps are usually the following (refer to specific mod instructions, if any):
- Remove any existing installation of the mod (mod folder and .mod file). This is very important, as the game loads all files present in mod folder, so old mod files that are no longer present or were renamed in a new version of the mod would conflict.
- Clear your gfx cache, by deleting the folder ~\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\<mod_name>\gfx, if any.
- Extract the downloaded archive, so that the mod folder contains the .mod file and directory of the mod.
- Launch Stellaris and select the mod in the Mod tab. Note that the mod may have a different name in the launcher than the name of the .mod file.
- Play!
- In case you download a workshop mod through an alternate method:
- The .mod file should always target a folder with the mod's workshop ID. For example, the mod "Banned! (2.7)" has the ID "2100817684". Therefore, its data files folder should be called "2100817684", while the .mod text file should be "2100817684.mod"
- Some methods of downloading don't give you the .mod file. In that case, copy and paste the descriptor.mod file in the mod data folder into the .mod files' location, rename it to its workshop ID, open it and paste this beneath its "supported_version" id: path="C:/Users/USERNAME/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/workshop/content/281990/WORKSHOP ID".
- This should tell the .mod file to target and link with its respective mod's data, allowing the launcher to recognize it and activate it.