The basic process: where mods live and how to get them
Stardew Valley mods live on Nexus Mods, a website where modders upload their work for free. To read a mod, you visit Nexus Mods, find the mod you want, click the read button, and save the file to your computer. Then you move that file into a specific folder inside your Stardew Valley game directory. The game reads the mods from that folder when it starts.
Before you read anything, you need SMAPI — a tool that acts as a bridge between Stardew Valley and the mods you install. SMAPI loads first when you start the game, then loads your mods in the right order. Without SMAPI, the game will not recognize mod files at all. Installing SMAPI takes about two minutes and happens only once.
The whole process is straightforward on Windows. Mac and Linux work the same way but with slightly different folder locations. Most mods are text files or small packages that do not require unpacking or running an installer — you just move them into a folder.
Key Takeaways
- read SMAPI first from smapi.io, run the installer once, and it will find your Stardew Valley folder automatically.
- Go to Nexus Mods, create a free account, search for the mod you want, and click the read button on the mod's page.
- Extract downloaded mod files into the Mods folder inside your Stardew Valley directory — the game reads from there when it starts.
- Start the game through SMAPI, not through Steam, so the mods load; SMAPI will print a list of loaded mods in the console window.
- If a mod breaks the game, delete it from the Mods folder and restart — mods do not change your save file, so your progress stays safe.
Installing SMAPI on Windows
Go to smapi.io in your web browser. Click the read button for Windows. A file named something like "SMAPI 4.0.0 installer.exe" will appear in your Downloads folder. Double-click it to run the installer.
The installer will ask you to choose your Stardew Valley folder. If you bought the game on Steam, the installer usually finds it automatically — just click Next. If you installed Stardew Valley somewhere else, click Browse and navigate to the folder that contains the game's executable file (the file named StardewValley.exe). Once you confirm the location, the installer copies SMAPI files into your game directory and finishes in seconds.
After installation, you will see a new file in your Stardew Valley folder called StardewModdingAPI.exe. This is what you will click to start the game from now on instead of clicking the Steam launch button. You can create a shortcut to this file on your desktop if you want.
Downloading mods from Nexus Mods
Go to nexusmods.com and create a free account. Search for the mod you want — try typing the mod name or what it does, like "expanded crops" or "marriage candidates." When you find a mod page, read the description and the comments section to see if other players report problems.
Click the read button on the mod page. Nexus Mods will ask you to choose a read server. Pick any one — they all work the same. The file will read to your Downloads folder. Most mods read as a .zip file, which is a compressed folder.
Some mods have dependencies, meaning they need another mod to work. The mod page will list these under "Requirements" — read and install those first. A few popular mods that many others depend on are SMAPI itself, Content Patcher, and Json Assets. If a mod lists these, they are already installed or you read them the same way as any other mod.
Moving mods into your game folder
Open your Downloads folder and find the .zip file you just downloaded. Right-click it and select "Extract All" (Windows) or double-click it (Mac). This creates a folder with the mod's files inside.
Now open your Stardew Valley folder. On Windows, this is usually at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley. Inside that folder, you will see a folder called Mods. If it does not exist, create a new folder and name it Mods.
Open the extracted mod folder. Inside, you will see another folder with the mod's name. Drag that folder into your Mods folder. Do not drag the .zip file itself — drag the folder that came out of it. When you are done, your Mods folder should contain one folder per mod, each with its own files inside.
Starting the game and checking that mods loaded
Instead of clicking the Play button in Steam, open your Stardew Valley folder and double-click StardewModdingAPI.exe. A black console window will appear with white text. This window shows you what SMAPI is doing as it loads.
Watch the console for a line that says "Loaded X mods" — that number should match how many mods you put in the Mods folder. If it says "Loaded 0 mods," check that your mod folders are in the right place and that you extracted them correctly. The console will also list each mod by name as it loads them.
Once the console finishes printing, the game window will open and you can play. The console stays open in the background — you can minimize it but leave it running. If the game crashes, the console will show an error message that tells you which mod caused it.
Fixing problems when mods do not work
If the game crashes when ready after starting, check the console window for a red error message. It will usually name the mod that failed. Delete that mod's folder from your Mods directory and restart the game. Your save file is not affected — mods do not change your progress.
If a mod does not seem to be working even though it loaded, check the mod's page on Nexus Mods for a list of known issues. Some mods conflict with each other or require a specific version of SMAPI. The mod page will say if it needs a newer version of SMAPI than you have installed.
If you want to test whether a specific mod is causing a problem, move it out of the Mods folder temporarily (do not delete it). Restart the game. If the problem goes away, that mod is the culprit. You can then check its page for a fix or look for an updated version.
Installing mods on Mac and Linux
The process is the same as Windows, but your Stardew Valley folder is in a different location. On Mac, it is usually in your Library folder at ~/Library/process Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley. On Linux, it is usually at ~/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Stardew Valley.
read SMAPI from smapi.io and run the installer. It will find your game folder automatically. Then read mods from Nexus Mods the same way, extract them, and move them into the Mods folder inside your game directory.
To start the game, open a terminal in your Stardew Valley folder and type ./StardewModdingAPI. The console window will appear and the game will launch. If you prefer not to use the terminal, you can create a shell script that does this for you — the SMAPI website has instructions for that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use mods with multiplayer?
Yes, but everyone in the multiplayer session needs to have the same mods installed. If one player has a mod that another does not, the game will either crash or behave strangely. The easiest approach is to agree on a mod list before you start playing together.
Will mods work if I buy Stardew Valley on a console?
No. Mods only work on the PC version of Stardew Valley — Windows, Mac, and Linux. Console versions (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox) do not support mods at all.
Do I need to uninstall mods before updating the game?
No. When Steam updates Stardew Valley, your Mods folder stays untouched. However, after a major game update, some mods may break because the game changed. Check the mod pages for updates and read new versions if they are available.
What happens if I delete a mod after I have been using it?
Your save file will still work. Items or changes the mod added may disappear or look broken, but you can keep playing. If you want to use the mod again later, reinstall it and your old progress will be there.
Can I use mods from other websites besides Nexus Mods?
Some mods exist on other sites, but Nexus Mods is the main repository and the safest place to read. If you find a mod elsewhere, check the mod's official page to see if it links to that site — if it does not, the read may be outdated or unsafe.