RimWorld – How to Install Mods (Step-by-step)

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RimWorld has been around for a long time, and with every DLC, we see that there is still more to come.

However, the community has had a lot of time to play around with the game files and bring to the community content they never thought possible.

Recommended Read: 20 Best Mods for RimWorld

You can easily get mods for RimWorld for any version of the game if you know where to get them and how to install them.

In this guide, we will teach you how to install mods for RimWorld and start having fun again with the game.


Table of Contents


How to Install Mods in RimWorld

Most RimWorld mods can be found on the Steam Workshop, so if you have RimWorld on Steam, you can just subscribe to the mod and it will install itself.

However, if you got RimWorld on a different platform, or want to manually install the mods, here is how to do it:

  1. Get the ZIP file for the mod. If you get the mod from Nexus, then it should always be a ZIP archive. Otherwise, look through the Steam Workshop description for a ZIP file source.
  2. Head to the install directory of RimWorld (For Steam users, usually: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RimWorld).
  3. Open the Mods folder inside the RimWorld folder. In this location, extract the ZIP file, and now you should have a folder inside the Mods folder with the name of the mod.
  4. Start up RimWorld and click on the Mods button in the main menu. Enable your mod.

If you are not sure where you have installed RimWorld, you can also do a search on your computer for the location. There should be two RimWorld folders on your computer.

One will hold the save files, and one is the installation folder. You will know you are in the right folder if there is also a Mods folder in there.


Where to Find Mods for RimWorld

Usually, there are two places where you can find mods in RimWorld:

  • Steam Workshop
  • Nexus Mods

In the past, you could have downloaded the ZIP files for a Steam mod using a special website. However, that is not possible anymore.

Unfortunately, Valve doesn’t approve of sites downloading mod content of Steam, so you will most likely not find a site where you can download the ZIP files for mods.

You should usually read the description of the mod on Steam to see if they also have a Nexus or Github page where you can manually download and install the mod.

Don’t try to use random sites that say you can download mod files from Steam since they might be viruses or just shady.


That’s everything you need to know about how to install mods in RimWorld!

Have any input or suggestions for this guide? Let us know in the comment section below.

Adrian Oprea

Based in London, United Kingdom, Adrian Oprea is a Guides Writer. As a professional single-player RPG player, Adrian has often been stigmatized. He has decided to pour his frustration into writing guides!

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