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

When you load a mod in Baldur's Gate 3, the game automatically turns off achievements and ironman mode. This is Larian Studios' built-in protection: the developers assume that if you're changing the game's code, you shouldn't be able to earn achievements meant for the unmodified version. However, you can override this restriction through the mod manager or by editing a configuration file, which lets you earn achievements while running mods.

Whether you should re-enable achievements is a separate question. Some mods are small cosmetic changes that don't affect gameplay difficulty or fairness. Others fundamentally alter how the game works—giving you extra spells, removing enemy resistances, or skipping entire encounters. Re-enabling achievements with those mods defeats the point of the achievement system, which exists to mark genuine accomplishment under standard rules.

Key Takeaways

  • Baldur's Gate 3 disables achievements automatically whenever any mod is active, regardless of what the mod does.
  • You can re-enable achievements through BG3 Mod Manager by unchecking "Disable Achievements" in the mod settings, or by editing the modsettings.lsx file directly.
  • Re-enabling achievements with gameplay-altering mods (difficulty changes, extra abilities, enemy nerfs) makes achievements meaningless, since they no longer represent unmodified-game performance.
  • Cosmetic-only mods like character appearance changes or UI tweaks have no impact on achievement validity if you choose to re-enable them.
  • Some achievements are locked behind specific story choices or difficulty settings, and mods that bypass those requirements will still not unlock achievements even with the setting changed.

How the achievement lock works in Baldur's Gate 3

Larian Studios built an achievement-blocking system into the game engine itself. When the game detects that any mod is loaded—even a disabled one in your mod folder—it sets a flag that prevents achievement progress from registering. This happens before you even start a playthrough. The game doesn't evaluate whether the mod is harmless; it just sees "mod present" and locks achievements.

This system exists because achievements are meant to represent accomplishment under the game's original rules. If someone could load a mod that doubles your damage output and then claim they beat the game on Tactician difficulty, the achievement would be meaningless. Larian's approach is to make the restriction universal rather than try to judge which mods are "fair" and which aren't.

The achievement lock also affects ironman mode, which is Baldur's Gate 3's permadeath mode. Both features are tied to the same mod-detection system, so you can't use one without the other being disabled as well.

Re-enabling achievements through BG3 Mod Manager

If you use BG3 Mod Manager (the most common mod launcher for the game), you can override the achievement lock through the settings menu. Open the mod manager, go to Settings, and look for an option labeled "Disable Achievements" or "Achievements Disabled." Unchecking this box tells the game to allow achievements even though mods are loaded.

The setting applies to your entire playthrough, not individual mods. Once you uncheck it, achievements will register for any character you play with that mod setup active. If you later add a new mod or remove one, the setting persists—you don't have to change it again unless you want to.

Keep in mind that this is a workaround, not an official feature. Larian doesn't support or endorse re-enabling achievements with mods. If you do it, you're making a choice about what achievements mean to you personally.

Editing the configuration file manually

If you don't use BG3 Mod Manager or prefer to edit files directly, you can change the achievement setting by modifying modsettings.lsx in your Baldur's Gate 3 folder. This file stores all mod-related configuration data, including the achievements flag.

Navigate to your Baldur's Gate 3 installation folder (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3 on Windows), then go to PlayerProfiles\[Your Profile Name]\ and find modsettings.lsx. Open it with a text editor like Notepad. Search for a line containing "DisableAchievements" or "Achievements" and change the value from "true" to "false." Save the file and restart the game.

This method works even if you're not using a mod manager, but it requires you to repeat the edit if you reinstall the game or if an update resets your settings. Most players find the mod manager approach simpler.

Which mods make re-enabling achievements unfair

Some mods change how the game plays in ways that make achievements less meaningful. If you're using a mod that increases your damage output, removes enemy resistances, grants you spells you shouldn't have access to, or skips encounters entirely, re-enabling achievements with that mod defeats the purpose. You're no longer proving you can beat the game under its original rules.

Difficulty-altering mods are the clearest example. If a mod makes enemies weaker or gives you extra resources, and you then earn an achievement for beating the game on Tactician difficulty, that achievement doesn't represent the same accomplishment as someone who did it without the mod. The achievement system assumes a level playing field.

Mods that change story outcomes or unlock content you haven't earned also fall into this category. If a mod lets you access an ending without meeting the story requirements, re-enabling achievements won't let you unlock achievements tied to those requirements—the game still knows you didn't actually meet them. But it does make other achievements feel hollow by comparison.

Cosmetic mods and achievement validity

Not all mods change how the game plays. Cosmetic mods alter appearance, UI layout, or audio without affecting gameplay mechanics. A mod that changes your character's hair texture, adds new armor appearances, or reorganizes the inventory screen doesn't make achievements less valid. If you're using only cosmetic mods, re-enabling achievements is a reasonable choice.

The line between cosmetic and gameplay-altering can be blurry. A mod that changes enemy appearance is cosmetic. A mod that changes enemy behavior is not. A mod that adds a new hairstyle is cosmetic. A mod that adds a new spell is not. If you're unsure whether a mod affects gameplay, check its description on Nexus Mods or the mod manager—most mod authors clearly state whether their mod changes mechanics or only appearance.

Even with cosmetic mods, you're still making a choice to override Larian's default setting. Some players prefer to keep achievements locked regardless, as a personal standard. That's a valid approach too.

Achievements that mods can't unlock for you

Some achievements in Baldur's Gate 3 are locked behind specific conditions that mods can't bypass. Achievements tied to story choices, for example, require you to actually make those choices during a playthrough. A mod can't retroactively unlock an achievement for a choice you didn't make.

Difficulty-based achievements (like beating the game on Tactician) are also protected. Even if you re-enable achievements with mods, the game still tracks what difficulty you're actually playing on. If you're on a lower difficulty, the Tactician achievement won't unlock, regardless of your mod settings.

This means re-enabling achievements doesn't let you cheat your way to a full achievement list. You still have to play through the game and make the choices or reach the conditions the achievements require. The mod setting only removes the blanket lock that prevents any achievements from registering.

What happens to achievements if you disable mods later

If you earn achievements with mods enabled and then disable all your mods, those achievements stay in your Steam profile. Steam doesn't revoke achievements based on how you earned them. However, you won't be able to earn new achievements with mods active unless you re-enable the setting again.

This means you could theoretically use mods to earn some achievements, then disable mods to earn others under the original rules. Your profile would show all of them. Whether that feels like cheating is up to you—Steam doesn't distinguish between achievements earned with mods and achievements earned without them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will re-enabling achievements get me banned from multiplayer?

No. Baldur's Gate 3's multiplayer doesn't use achievements as an anti-cheat measure, and Larian doesn't ban players for modding single-player games. Re-enabling achievements is a local setting that doesn't affect other players or trigger any account penalties.

Can I re-enable achievements for just one mod and keep them disabled for others?

No. The achievement setting is global—it applies to your entire mod setup. You either have achievements enabled whenever any mod is active, or disabled whenever any mod is active. You can't toggle it per-mod.

Do cosmetic mods still count as mods for the achievement lock?

Yes. Even a purely cosmetic mod will trigger the achievement lock. The game doesn't distinguish between mod types; it just sees that a mod is loaded and disables achievements. You have to manually re-enable them if you want achievements to register.

What if I use a mod that adds new achievements?

Mods can add new achievements to the game, but those are separate from Steam achievements. They won't appear in your Steam profile or count toward your achievement percentage. They're tracked only within the mod itself, and different players using the same mod may see different achievement lists depending on which version they're running.

Can I earn achievements on ironman mode with mods if I re-enable them?

Ironman mode is also locked when mods are active, and re-enabling achievements doesn't automatically unlock ironman. You have to separately enable ironman mode through the same settings menu or configuration file. Once both are enabled, you can earn achievements on an ironman playthrough with mods active.