Mods disable achievements in Baldur's Gate 3 by default, but you can re-enable them

Using mods in Baldur's Gate 3 blocks achievements from unlocking unless you change a setting in the game's configuration file. Larian Studios built the game to assume that mods change how the game plays, so achievements stay locked as a safety measure. The good news is that turning achievements back on takes one file edit and is entirely reversible — you can toggle it on and off between playthroughs without reinstalling anything.

Whether you should re-enable achievements depends on what mods you are running. A mod that changes the color of your character's armor will not affect whether you deserve an achievement. A mod that removes all enemies from combat encounters will. Most players re-enable achievements when using cosmetic or quality-of-life mods, and leave them off when using mods that change difficulty or game balance.

Key Takeaways

  • Achievements are disabled whenever any mod is active, even if the mod does not change gameplay.
  • You can re-enable achievements by editing the player.lsx file in your Baldur's Gate 3 folder and changing one line from 0 to 1.
  • Re-enabling achievements does not validate whether your playthrough "counts" — that is your own decision based on which mods you use.
  • Turning achievements back on or off takes seconds and does not require restarting the game or reinstalling mods.

How to find and edit the player.lsx file

The file you need to change is located in your Baldur's Gate 3 user folder, not in the game's installation directory. On Windows, navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3. On Mac, the path is ~/Library/Application Support/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3. Open the folder and look for a file named player.lsx.

Open player.lsx with any text editor — Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac both work fine. Search for the line that contains DisableModdedAchievements. You will find a value next to it that reads either 0 or 1. If it is 1, achievements are currently disabled. Change it to 0 to turn achievements back on. Save the file and close it. The next time you launch Baldur's Gate 3, the change takes effect.

If you cannot find the AppData folder on Windows, open File Explorer and press Ctrl+L to access the address bar. Type the path directly: %localappdata%\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3. This shortcut bypasses the hidden folder navigation. On Mac, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, and paste the path into the dialog box.

What happens when you re-enable achievements with mods active

Once you change the setting, achievements will unlock during gameplay if you meet their conditions — even with mods running. The game does not check whether your mods are "fair" or "balanced." It simply removes the block that prevents the achievement from triggering. You might unlock an achievement for defeating a boss on Tactician difficulty while using a mod that gives you extra spells, and the game will count it as valid.

This is why re-enabling achievements is a personal choice rather than a technical one. Baldur's Gate 3 does not have an official list of "approved" mods for achievement hunting. Some players only re-enable achievements when using mods that affect appearance, UI, or minor convenience features. Others re-enable them for any playthrough, regardless of mods. Neither approach is wrong — it depends on what you consider a legitimate achievement.

Mods that typically do not affect achievement legitimacy

Cosmetic mods change how things look without changing how they work. Examples include mods that alter character appearance, clothing textures, or spell visual effects. UI mods that reorganize menus or add information to the screen also fall into this category. These mods do not make the game easier or harder, so many players feel comfortable unlocking achievements while using them.

Quality-of-life mods remove tedium without changing challenge. A mod that lets you respec your character without visiting a specific NPC, or one that increases the size of your inventory, or one that speeds up animations — these change convenience, not difficulty. Again, whether you count achievements with these mods active is up to you. The game will not judge you either way.

Mods that typically disable achievements for most players

Balance-changing mods alter how difficult the game is or how powerful your character becomes. A mod that increases your damage output, reduces enemy health, adds new powerful items, or changes spell mechanics affects the challenge of the game. Most players turn achievements off when using these mods, because the achievement no longer represents the same accomplishment.

Content mods that add new quests, companions, or story elements are a gray area. They do not make the game easier, but they do change what you are playing. Some players re-enable achievements anyway because the new content is optional — you can ignore it and play the base game normally. Others disable achievements out of principle, because the game is no longer exactly as Larian designed it.

Reverting to the default setting

If you want to turn achievements back off, open player.lsx again and change the DisableModdedAchievements value from 0 back to 1. Save the file. The next time you launch the game, achievements will be blocked again. You can switch back and forth as many times as you want without any consequences.

If you delete your mods entirely, achievements will unlock automatically on your next playthrough — you do not need to change the file. The game only blocks achievements when it detects that mods are active. Once mods are gone, the block lifts on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will re-enabling achievements get my save file flagged or banned?

No. Baldur's Gate 3 does not track achievement legitimacy or penalize players for how they unlock them. There is no online validation system that checks whether your mods were "fair." You can re-enable achievements, unlock them, and nothing happens to your account or save file.

Do I need to restart the game after editing player.lsx?

Yes, you need to fully close and relaunch Baldur's Gate 3 for the change to take effect. Simply loading a save file while the game is already running will not apply the edit. Close the game completely, make the change, and then start it again.

What if I cannot find the player.lsx file?

Make sure you are looking in the user folder, not the game installation folder. On Windows, the path starts with C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData. If AppData is hidden, use the %localappdata% shortcut in File Explorer's address bar. If you still cannot find it, launch the game with mods active once — this creates the file if it does not exist.

Can I use mods and still unlock achievements without editing the file?

No. Baldur's Gate 3 blocks all achievements whenever any mod is active, regardless of what the mod does. The only way to unlock achievements with mods running is to edit player.lsx and change the DisableModdedAchievements value to 0.

Do cosmetic mods count as "cheating" if I unlock achievements with them?

That is entirely up to you. There is no official rule from Larian Studios about which mods are acceptable for achievement hunting. Many players feel that cosmetic and quality-of-life mods do not diminish the accomplishment, while others prefer to unlock achievements only on completely unmodded playthroughs. Choose the standard that feels right to you.