There’s a lot to do within the vanilla valley, however the sky is the restrict when you learn to set up Stardew Valley mods. With a lot group help, it is a straightforward sport for first-time modders to dive into, however modding can nonetheless be an intimidating activity.
The modding scene for ConcernedApe’s farming sim is well one among my favorites, and with a superb primer on the fundamentals perhaps it may be one among yours, too. That will help you get there, I will stroll you thru the right way to set up Stardew Valley mods with a breakdown of SMAPI (a required framework for loading mods), in style obtain assets, and getting began with a mod supervisor.
The best way to set up Stardew Valley mods

This information is organized into three elements. We’ll begin by downloading primary Stardew Valley mod instruments, then go on to putting in SMAPI and the Stardrop mod supervisor. Gamers aware of the primary steps can use the navigation on the left to skip forward, or carry on scrollin’ to start out from sq. one.
Obtain fundamentals like SMAPI and Stardrop first
You may want a number of primary instruments to put in Stardew Valley mods and get them operating easily. I strongly suggest downloading Stardrop and Content material Patcher, however the Stardew Modding API (SMAPI) is the one absolute should.
To observe together with the information, obtain SMAPI, Stardrop, and Content material Patcher. Extract all three to a central folder for simple entry.
|
Instrument |
Utility |
Required |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mod loader |
✅ |
Common framework for launching Stardew Valley with mods |
|
|
Mod supervisor |
⚠️ |
Retains information organized with choices for updates or a number of profiles to allow or disable sure mods |
|
|
Mod instrument |
⚠️ |
Dynamic mod loader, permits mods to load with out changing sport information. Technically not required, however strongly beneficial |
|
|
Mod instrument |
❌ |
Related goal to Content material Patcher, however much less frequent |
The place to search out Stardew Valley mods
You may obtain particular person mods from in style hubs listed beneath, however get the fundamentals above up and operating earlier than amassing any unwieldy collections.
The place to search out the Stardew Valley mod folder
Your Stardew Valley mod folder must be inside your sport listing. You may need to have the precise folder listing helpful to verify SMAPI and Stardrop type mods into the right listing.
|
OS / Retailer |
Listing |
|---|---|
|
Home windows (Steam) |
C:Program Recordsdata (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew ValleyMods |
|
Home windows (GOG) |
C:Program Recordsdata (x86)GOG GalaxyGamesStardew ValleyMods |
|
Linux (Steam) |
~/.native/share/Steam/steamapps/frequent/Stardew Valley/Mods |
|
Linux (GOG) |
~/GOGGames/StardewValley/sport/Mods |
After launching Stardew Valley a minimum of as soon as and putting in SMAPI, you’ll be able to set up mods by putting them instantly into the folder. All mods have to be inside their very own folder inside the mods folder, so your path seems to be like this: /Stardew Valley/Mods/Mod Title
You do not want a mod supervisor, however I like to recommend utilizing Stardrop as a substitute of unzipping and organizing them within the folder your self. Stardrop retains downloads tidy and straightforward to troubleshoot.
The best way to set up SMAPI (Stardew modding API)
SMAPI is the mod loading framework making all this doable—your most essential piece of the method. After downloading the loader and launching Stardew Valley vanilla a minimum of as soon as, extract SMAPI’s contents into any listing and double click on the right bat file to put in.
This course of ought to go away you with a brand new mod folder and the StardewModdingAPI.exe inside the sport’s essential listing.
Here is a full step-by-step on the right way to set up SMAPI for Home windows or Linux customers:
Obtain and extract SMAPI
- If modding a contemporary set up, launch Stardew Valley unmodded a minimum of as soon as
- Obtain and extract SMAPI; the placement would not matter
- Run the Set up on Home windows.bat file (or Linux)
- Comply with the console directions to put in SMAPI within the sport listing
- Subsequent steps rely in your storefront, both Steam or GOG
Steam customers
- Proper click on Stardew Valley from the Steam library
- Underneath Normal, search for the Launch Choices textual content field and enter:
|
“C:Program Recordsdata (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew ValleyStardewModdingAPI.exe” %command% |
GOG customers
- Proper click on Stardew Valley from the GOG library
- Choose Handle Set up, then Configure
- On the Options tab, allow Customized Executables/Arguments
- Click on Add One other Executable
- Choose StardewModdingAPI.exe from the sport listing
- Verify the Default Executable choice underneath the modding API
The best way to set up Stardrop mod supervisor
Extract the Stardrop folder wherever in your desktop—I take advantage of my Paperwork folder for safekeeping—and double click on Stardrop.exe to launch the mod supervisor for the primary time. That is the instrument that may set up, take away, allow, or disable mods for you. It makes the method one million instances simpler.
Opening Stardrop for the primary time
When loading Stardrop for the primary time, the exe asks if you need to “affiliate the NXM protocol with Stardrop” to routinely set up downloads from Nexus Mods. I all the time do that, nevertheless it’s non-compulsory.
- Sure – Routinely obtain and set up a mod after clicking a Nexus hyperlink
- No – Manually add information into Stardrop your self
Configuring Stardrop directories
Navigate to View > Settings and verify all three file paths for SMAPI, the Stardew Valley Mod folder, and a brand new Stardrop Put in Mods folder. The brand new addition is the place Stardrop will dump your mods.
|
Path |
Instance Folder Path Setup |
|---|---|
|
SMAPI |
C:Program Recordsdata (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew Valley |
|
Mod Folder |
C:Program Recordsdata (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew ValleyMods |
|
Stardrop Put in Mods |
C:Program Recordsdata (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStardew ValleyModsStardrop Put in Mods |
Putting in mods by means of Stardrop
For those who do not use the Nexus Mods protocol, you’ll be able to drag and drop zipped mods instantly into Stardrop’s interface or click on File > Add Mods and choose the compressed file. Stardrop will unpack it and deal with the remaining.
Together with your mods loaded in Stardrop, click on the field beside your new additions to allow them. If you wish to disable a mod, uncheck the identical field. Click on Save Configs while you make any adjustments and restart the sport.
The best way to set up Content material Patcher and Various Textures
You may routinely set up Content material Patcher by means of Stardrop, or go to Nexus Mods for a separate obtain. Content material Patcher would not do something as a standalone mod, however tons of modders use it to load customized belongings with out altering the bottom sport information.
Various Textures is just like Content material Patcher they usually’re suitable with one another, however usually works by means of in-game objects just like the Paint Bucket or Scissors whereas offering a number of choices for personalisation. That is not an choice with Content material Patcher.
|
Characteristic |
Content material Patcher |
Various Textures |
|---|---|---|
|
Replaces unique sport file |
❌ |
❌ |
|
Restrict per asset ID |
Just one might be lively at a time |
Limitless |
|
Enabled by way of in-game merchandise |
❌ |
✅ |
Ought to I take advantage of Content material Patcher, Various Textures, or each?
You should utilize Content material Patcher and Various Texture mods collectively, however I might prioritize putting in Content material Patcher over the whole lot else since so many modders use it.
When downloading mods, search for abbreviations like (CP) for Content material Patcher or (AT) for Various Textures and choose the right model(s) relying on the way you need to use the retexture.
CP mods are usually good for static components you do not plan on altering so much, however take into accout you’ll be able to solely have one CP mod at a time for a similar asset. AT mods can overwrite CP adjustments or one another utilizing objects and different in-game menus on the fly, so you’ll be able to have a number of AT information.




