The basic process: where mods live and how to get them

Stardew Valley mods come from Nexus Mods, the largest repository, or from GitHub for mods maintained by individual developers. You download the mod files to your computer, then place them in your Stardew Valley game folder where a mod manager can read them. The most common mod manager is SMAPI (Stardew Modding API), which loads mods when you start the game.

The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes the first time because you need to set up SMAPI. After that, adding new mods takes just a few minutes. You do not need to edit code or use the command line — everything happens through folders and file downloads.

Your operating system matters slightly. Windows, Mac, and Linux all support Stardew Valley mods, but the folder paths differ. The steps below cover Windows; Mac and Linux users will find their paths listed on the SMAPI download page.

Key Takeaways

  • SMAPI is the mod manager you need to install first, downloaded from smapi.io, before any individual mods will work.
  • Most mods come from Nexus Mods or GitHub; you download them as .zip files and extract them into your Mods folder inside your Stardew Valley directory.
  • Your Stardew Valley folder location depends on where you bought the game — Steam, GOG, or standalone — and you may need to show hidden folders to find it.
  • SMAPI runs automatically when you launch the game and loads all mods in your Mods folder, so you do not need to do anything else to activate them.
  • Mods can conflict with each other or break when the game updates, so check mod pages for compatibility notes before downloading.

Finding your Stardew Valley game folder

Before you download anything, you need to know where Stardew Valley lives on your computer. The location depends on where you bought the game.

On Windows through Steam: Open Steam, right-click Stardew Valley in your library, select Properties, then Local Files, then Browse. This opens your game folder directly. If you bought it elsewhere, the path is usually C:\Program Files\Stardew Valley or C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardew Valley.

On Windows through GOG: The default path is C:\Program Files\GOG Galaxy\Games\Stardew Valley, but you can check by opening GOG Galaxy, right-clicking Stardew Valley, and selecting Manage Installation.

Once you find the folder, leave it open in a new window — you will need it in a few minutes.

Installing SMAPI, the mod manager

Go to smapi.io and download the version for your operating system. You will see a large green button labeled with your OS. Download the .zip file.

Extract the .zip file to a temporary location on your desktop. Inside, you will see a folder called SMAPI and a file called install.bat (on Windows) or install.sh (on Mac/Linux). Double-click the installer file for your system. A window will open and ask you to locate your Stardew Valley folder — point it to the folder you found in the previous step.

The installer creates a new file called StardewModdingAPI.exe in your Stardew Valley folder. From now on, you will launch the game through this file instead of through Steam. You can create a shortcut to it on your desktop for convenience.

Run SMAPI once to make sure it works. A console window will open, show some text, then launch the game. If the game starts, SMAPI is working. Close the game and move on.

Downloading mods from Nexus Mods

Go to nexusmods.com, search for Stardew Valley, and browse the mods available. Read the description and check the Requirements section — most mods need SMAPI, which you just installed, but some need other mods as dependencies.

Click the mod you want. On the mod page, look for a button that says Download or Files. Click it and select the main file (not optional files or older versions unless you have a reason). The file downloads as a .zip.

Do not open the .zip file yet. Instead, go to your Stardew Valley folder, find the Mods folder inside it (SMAPI created this), and drag the .zip file into it. Then right-click the .zip file and select Extract All or Extract Here. Windows will create a folder with the mod's name.

Delete the .zip file after extraction — you only need the folder. The next time you launch the game through SMAPI, the mod will load automatically.

Downloading mods from GitHub

Some mod creators host their work on GitHub instead of Nexus Mods. Go to the mod's GitHub page and look for a green button labeled Code or <> Code. Click it and select Download ZIP.

Extract the .zip file the same way as Nexus mods: drag it into your Mods folder, then right-click and extract. GitHub mods often come in a folder with extra files like README.md or LICENSE — this is normal. The mod manager will find the actual mod file inside.

If the extracted folder has a confusing name like StardewValleyMod-main, you can rename it to something shorter. SMAPI only cares that the mod's main file (usually called manifest.json) is somewhere inside the folder.

Checking for conflicts and compatibility

Before you download a bunch of mods, check whether they work together. Read the mod page's description and look for a Compatibility or Conflicts section. Some mods change the same game systems and cannot run at the same time.

After you install mods, launch the game through SMAPI. The console window will show warnings if mods conflict or if something is broken. If you see red text that says a mod failed to load, go back to the mod page and check whether it needs an update or a dependency you missed.

Stardew Valley updates occasionally, and old mods may break. Check the mod page's Last Updated date. If it has not been updated in over a year and the game has had a major update since then, the mod might not work. The mod page usually says whether it is compatible with the current game version.

Removing or updating mods

To remove a mod, go to your Mods folder and delete the mod's folder. The next time you launch the game, SMAPI will not load it.

To update a mod, check the mod page for a newer version. Download the new .zip file, extract it into your Mods folder (it will overwrite the old version), and delete the old .zip file. Some mod creators release updates that fix bugs or add features, so checking occasionally is worth it.

If you want to temporarily disable a mod without deleting it, you can rename its folder to add .disabled at the end — for example, BetterSprinklers.disabled. SMAPI will skip it on the next launch. Rename it back to enable it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to uninstall the game before installing SMAPI?

No. SMAPI installs into your existing game folder and does not change the game files themselves. You can uninstall SMAPI later by deleting the files it created, and your game will work normally again.

Can I use mods on the Nintendo Switch or mobile versions?

No. Mods only work on the PC version of Stardew Valley. The console and mobile versions do not support mod managers or custom files.

What happens if a mod breaks my save file?

Most mods do not touch your save file, but some do. Before installing a new mod, make a backup copy of your save file. On Windows, it is usually in C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\StardewValley\Saves. If something goes wrong, you can restore the backup.

Why is my mod not loading even though it is in the Mods folder?

Check the SMAPI console window for error messages. Common reasons include a missing dependency, an incompatible game version, or a typo in the mod folder name. The console will tell you which one. If the error message is unclear, search the mod page's comments — someone else probably had the same problem.

Can I use mods on a multiplayer farm?

Yes, but all players need the same mods installed. If one player has a mod that changes how crops work and another does not, the game will desync. Check the mod page to see whether it is multiplayer-safe before installing.