Valheim Server Mods: How to Install BepInEx and Thunderstore Mods

How do you install mods on a Valheim server?

Run the server on BepInEx and put the mods in the BepInEx/plugins folder – on Spot.gg you do this from the Addons tab, which also installs every required library for you. Players then install the same mods on their own PC, usually through r2modman or Thunderstore Mod Manager.

The whole process in four steps:

1. Launch your Valheim server on the BepInEx engine (or pick a ready-made modpack).
2. In the server panel open "Addons" → "Available to install", find a mod and click "Install".
3. Restart the server so the mod loads.
4. Every player installs the same mods in the same versions and joins.

Haven't set up the server itself yet? Start with how to make a Valheim dedicated server – this guide is all about mods.

What is BepInEx and why do you need it?

BepInEx is the mod loader for Valheim: it starts with the game and loads mod files (.dll) from BepInEx/plugins. Vanilla Valheim has no mod support at all, so without BepInEx no mod works – not on the server, not on a player's PC.

On Thunderstore it's published as BepInExPack_Valheim by denikson, and nearly every mod lists it as a dependency. On Spot.gg you don't install it yourself: the BepInEx engine already includes it, and the panel skips it when installing mods so you never end up with two copies.

A Valheim server on Spot.gg can run one of two engines:

Both start at 4 GB RAM (from $5.99/month).

Do all players need the mods, or just the server?

For most Valheim mods, yes – both the server and every player need them, especially anything that adds items, building pieces, creatures or locations. Only some mods work on one side alone.

Mod authors tag this on Thunderstore with the "Server-side" and "Client-side" categories. A mod with both tags goes on both sides. If the author didn't tag it at all, assume everyone needs it.

Two things worth knowing:

• Client-only mods stay off the server. Spot.gg hides them from the list of available mods and won't let you install them – on a server they do nothing at best and break things at worst.
• Many mods check versions when a player connects. Mods built on config sync (for example the ServerSync library used by Jewelcrafting) can kick a player whose mod version differs and push the server's settings to everyone. That keeps the rules identical for all players, but it also means version numbers have to match exactly.

How do you install Thunderstore mods on Spot.gg?

Open "Addons" → "Available to install", search for the mod, open it and click "Install" – the panel installs all required dependencies automatically, then you just restart. The Valheim mod catalog in the panel comes from Thunderstore, the main mod repository for the game.

That matters, because almost every bigger Valheim mod depends on other mods. When you click "Install", the panel:

1. reads the dependency list of the mod version you picked,
2. installs those dependencies before the mod itself – in the exact version the author requires, or the newest one in the catalog if that exact version isn't there,
3. does the same for dependencies of dependencies (the whole tree),
4. installs the mod and tells you how many dependencies it added.

Real examples from our catalog:

If a dependency isn't available in the catalog yet, the panel won't half-install the mod – it tells you which dependency is missing instead.

Mods are installed in the same layout r2modman uses: each one in its own BepInEx/plugins/Author-Name folder. The "Installed" list under "Addons" shows catalog mods with their name and icon, and you can remove any of them with one click. BepInEx also loads mods from renamed folders, so there's no "disable" switch for Valheim – remove a mod you don't want and reinstall it later if needed.

What are the best Valheim mods for a server?

The most installed Valheim mods add new weapons, monsters and magic, improve building and farming, or make co-op smoother. Everything below is in the Spot.gg catalog – browse the full Valheim mods catalog for more.

New content and combat

• Warfare – a huge set of new weapons and shields that fill the gaps in vanilla.
• Monstrum – new monsters and mini-bosses to fight and tame, for biomes up to the Mistlands. Requires Warfare.
• Wizardry – magic and new gear from the same author as Warfare and Monstrum.
• Magic Supremacy – a deeper magic system; requires Artisan Mastery, which adds crafting professions.
• Jewelcrafting – a risk-and-reward gem socket system for your gear.

World and atmosphere

• Seasonality – dynamic seasons that change the world's textures and colors over time.
• More World Locations AIO – around 190 new points of interest: dungeons, traders, ports and more.
• Spawn That – an admin tool for customizing monster spawns through config files.

Quality of life and co-op

• PlantEverything – plant berry bushes, mushrooms, new tree types and decorative flora.
• MultiUserChest – several players can use the same chest at once.
• TeleportEverything – teleport tamed animals, carts and boats.
• NetworkPerformanceSystem – network improvements for servers with more players.

Libraries such as Jotunn or Zen ModLib add nothing on their own – other mods need them. On Spot.gg you never have to hunt them down, because the panel installs them together with the mod that requires them.

How do players get the same mods as the server?

Use r2modman or Thunderstore Mod Manager: one person builds a profile with the server's mods, exports it as a code, and everyone else imports that code. Copying files by hand works too, but it's easy to end up with mismatched versions.

Step by step in r2modman:

1. Install r2modman (or Thunderstore Mod Manager), select Valheim and create a new profile.
2. Add the same mods that are on the server. The manager pulls in BepInEx and dependencies itself.
3. Match the versions. The server's "History" tab logs every mod you install together with its version number. If the manager grabbed a newer version, switch it to the one the server has.
4. Export the profile as a code and send it to your friends.
5. They import the profile from the code and launch the game with "Start modded".

Already have a working profile? You can move it the other way too: copy the contents of the profile's BepInEx/plugins folder (r2modman opens it via "Browse profile folder") to BepInEx/plugins on the server, using the "Files" tab or SFTP. The folder layout is identical, so the panel recognizes the catalog mods.

Keep in mind that BepInEx mods only work on PC. Xbox players can't install mods, so they can't join a server whose mods are required on the client – even with crossplay turned on in "Configuration".

How do you add a mod that isn't in the catalog?

Upload the mod's .dll file (or its folder) to BepInEx/plugins in the "Files" tab or over SFTP, then restart the server. That's how you install mods from outside our catalog – from Nexus Mods, older versions, or mods you made yourself.

With manual installs, dependencies are on you: check what the mod requires (very often Jotunn) and install that too. Manually uploaded .dll files also appear in the "Installed" list.

Where do you change mod settings?

Mod settings live in .cfg files in BepInEx/config – edit them in the "Files" tab and restart the server to apply. Most mods create their config file on first launch, so restart once after installing a mod before you look for its config.

Mods with config sync (usually a "Lock Configuration" option) enforce the server's settings on every player, so the file on the server is the one that counts.

Why won't my modded Valheim server start, or why can't players join?

Almost always it's a version mismatch – of the game, BepInEx or a mod between player and server – or a mod that hasn't been updated after a Valheim patch yet. After big game updates some mods break until their authors release new versions.

Not sure which mod is the problem? Click "Ask the assistant" – the AI assistant reads the server logs and points you to the fix.

How much RAM does a modded Valheim server need?

BepInEx servers start at 4 GB, and ready-made modpacks at 6 GB. A handful of mods fits comfortably in 4 GB. Big packs with dozens of mods, new biomes and locations run better on 6–8 GB.

You can change RAM at any time. The first 24 hours are free with no card, so you can test your mod list before paying. More details on the Valheim server hosting page.

Are there ready-made Valheim modpacks?

Yes – when you activate a Valheim server you can choose a Thunderstore "Modpack" instead of an engine and get the whole mod set installed right away. The catalog includes packs such as RtDMMO, Expand World, Valhalla Community ModPack and ComfyValheimPack.

Players then install the same pack in r2modman (search for it by name on Thunderstore) and join. You can also switch to a pack later by reinstalling the server with "Ready to play".

FAQ

Do all players need the same mods on a Valheim server?

For most mods, yes. Anything that adds items, building pieces, creatures or locations has to be on the server and on every player's PC, in the same version. The exceptions are client-only mods (like UI tweaks) and a few server-only mods.

How do I install BepInEx on a Valheim dedicated server?

On Spot.gg you don't install it manually – choose the BepInEx engine when you activate or reinstall the server. It already includes BepInExPack_Valheim, and your mods go into BepInEx/plugins.

Can I add mods to a server running the Vanilla engine?

The Vanilla engine doesn't load mods, so you need to reinstall the server on BepInEx. Reinstalling wipes the server files, so first download the save folder with your world in the "Files" tab (or make a backup) and upload it again after the reinstall.

Does the panel install mod dependencies automatically?

Yes. When you install a mod from the catalog, the panel first installs every required dependency (such as Jotunn, YamlDotNet or another mod the author requires) and then the mod itself. Restart the server afterwards and you're done.

Can Xbox players join a modded Valheim server?

Not if the mods are required on the client. BepInEx mods only run on PC, and console players have no way to install them.

How much does a modded Valheim server cost?

On Spot.gg a modded Valheim server starts at $5.99 per month (4 GB RAM), and a ready-made modpack at $7.55 (6 GB RAM). The first 24 hours are free, no card required.