Balatro mods go into a specific folder on your computer, and you activate them through the game's settings menu

Balatro stores mods in a folder called mods inside your game directory. The exact path depends on your operating system and where you installed the game. Once you place mod files in that folder, Balatro reads them automatically when you start the game. You then turn individual mods on or off in the game's settings without restarting.

Most mods for Balatro are distributed as single files or small folders that you download from community sites like GitHub or mod repositories. The installation process itself takes a few minutes — the longer part is usually finding the right mod folder on your computer the first time.

Key Takeaways

  • Balatro mods live in a mods folder inside your game directory, which you may need to create if it does not exist.
  • The path to your game directory differs by operating system: Windows uses %APPDATA%\Balatro, Mac uses ~/Library/Application Support/Balatro, and Linux uses ~/.local/share/balatro.
  • You download mod files from community sources, place them in the mods folder, and toggle them on in the game's settings menu.
  • Balatro does not require you to restart the game to enable or disable mods — changes take effect immediately in the settings.

Finding your Balatro game folder on Windows

On Windows, Balatro stores its files in your user's AppData folder, which is hidden by default. Open File Explorer and paste this path into the address bar: %APPDATA%\Balatro. Windows will navigate directly to the Balatro folder.

Inside that folder, look for a folder named mods. If it does not exist, create it yourself by right-clicking in the empty space, selecting New, then Folder, and naming it mods. This is where you will place all your mod files.

Finding your Balatro game folder on Mac

On Mac, Balatro stores its files in your Library folder, which is also hidden by default. Open Finder, press Command + Shift + G to open the Go to Folder dialog, and paste this path: ~/Library/Application Support/Balatro. Finder will open that location.

Look for the mods folder inside. If it does not exist, create it by right-clicking in the empty space, selecting New Folder, and naming it mods. You can now place mod files there.

Finding your Balatro game folder on Linux

On Linux, Balatro stores its files in your home directory under a hidden folder. Open your file manager and navigate to ~/.local/share/balatro, or open a terminal and run cd ~/.local/share/balatro to navigate there directly.

Check for a mods folder. If it does not exist, create it by running mkdir mods in the terminal, or by using your file manager's new folder option. This folder is where your mods will go.

Downloading and placing mod files

Most Balatro mods are shared on GitHub or community mod sites. Download the mod file — it will usually be a single .lua file or a folder containing multiple files. Read the mod's instructions to see if it needs to be placed directly in the mods folder or inside its own subfolder.

Once downloaded, move or copy the mod file or folder into your mods folder. If the mod comes as a compressed file (like a .zip), extract it first, then move the contents into the mods folder. Do not leave it compressed — Balatro will not read it.

If a mod requires other mods to work (called dependencies), the mod's documentation will tell you which ones. Download and install those first in the same mods folder.

Enabling mods in the game settings

Start Balatro and go to the Settings menu from the main screen. Look for a Mods or Mod Manager option — the exact name depends on your version of Balatro. Open it and you will see a list of all mods in your mods folder.

Each mod will have a toggle or checkbox next to its name. Click or tap to turn mods on. You do not need to restart the game — the change takes effect immediately. You can also disable mods the same way without restarting.

If a mod does not appear in the list, check that the file is in the correct mods folder and that it is not still compressed. If the mod requires other mods, make sure those are installed and enabled first.

Troubleshooting mods that do not work

If a mod is in your mods folder but does not show up in the settings menu, the most common cause is that the file is corrupted or in the wrong format. Re-download the mod and make sure you extracted any compressed files. Some mods also require a specific version of Balatro — check the mod's documentation to see if your version is supported.

If the game crashes when you enable a mod, disable it immediately and check the mod's documentation for known issues. Some mods conflict with each other, so try enabling only one mod at a time to find which one is causing the problem. You can also check the game's log file for error messages — on Windows this is usually in the same AppData folder, and on Mac and Linux it is in the same directory as your mods folder.

If you installed a mod that changes game balance or adds new cards, those changes only appear in new runs, not in runs you have already started. Start a fresh run to see the mod's effects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart Balatro after installing a mod?

No. You can place mod files in your mods folder while the game is running, and they will appear in the settings menu the next time you open the settings. Toggling mods on and off in settings takes effect immediately without restarting.

What happens if I delete a mod from the mods folder?

The mod will disappear from your settings menu the next time you open it. If the mod was enabled, it will no longer affect your game. Deleting a mod does not affect your save files or runs in progress.

Can I use multiple mods at the same time?

Yes, you can enable as many mods as you want at once. However, some mods may conflict with each other or cause performance issues if too many are active. Start with a few and add more if they work well together. The mod's documentation usually mentions any known conflicts.

Where do I find mods to download?

The Balatro community shares mods on GitHub, Discord servers, and dedicated mod sites. Search for "Balatro mods" along with what you are looking for — for example, "Balatro card mods" or "Balatro difficulty mods" — to find repositories and collections.

Will mods affect my achievements or save files?

That depends on the mod and your game version. Some mods disable achievements while active, while others do not. Check the mod's documentation before enabling it if achievements matter to you. Mods do not delete or corrupt your save files, but runs played with mods active may not count toward certain statistics.