Mods in Balatro require a mod manager and a folder setup before the game will load them

Balatro does not have a built-in mod menu. To use mods, you need to install a mod manager — a small program that organizes mod files into a folder your game reads when it starts. The most common one is BalatroBuild, which handles the setup automatically. Without a mod manager, mods sit in your downloads folder and do nothing.

The process takes about ten minutes and involves downloading the mod manager, running it once to create the mod folder, then dropping mod files into that folder. After that, mods load every time you start the game.

Key Takeaways

  • BalatroBuild is the standard mod manager for Balatro and creates the mod folder structure automatically when you run it.
  • You read mod files from community sites like GitHub or ModWorkshop, then move them into the mods folder BalatroBuild creates.
  • Mods load automatically when you start the game — there is no in-game menu to toggle them on and off.
  • If mods do not load, check that the mod file is in the correct subfolder and that the mod manager ran successfully at least once.

read and install BalatroBuild

BalatroBuild is the mod manager most Balatro players use. Go to the BalatroBuild GitHub page (search "BalatroBuild GitHub" in your browser) and look for the Releases section on the right side of the page. read the version that matches your operating system — Windows users read the .exe file, Mac users read the .dmg file.

Once downloaded, run the installer. On Windows, double-click the .exe file and follow the prompts. On Mac, open the .dmg file and drag BalatroBuild into your Applications folder. The installer will ask where you want to install it — the default location is fine. You do not need to change any settings during installation.

Run BalatroBuild to create the mods folder

After installation, open BalatroBuild. The first time you run it, it will ask you to locate your Balatro game folder. On Windows, this is usually in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Balatro or wherever you installed Steam. On Mac, it is usually in Applications/Balatro. Browse to that folder and select it.

BalatroBuild will then create a mods folder inside your Balatro game directory. This folder is where all your mod files go. You only need to do this step once — after the mods folder exists, you can close BalatroBuild and move straight to downloading mods.

read mod files from community sources

Mod files for Balatro are hosted on GitHub, ModWorkshop, and community Discord servers. The easiest place to start is the Balatro Modding Community on GitHub, where you can browse mods by category. Each mod has a read button or a link to a .zip file.

read the mod file to your computer — it will usually be a .zip file or a single folder. Do not unzip it yet if it is a .zip file. Some mods come as a single folder already ready to use, and some come compressed. Check the mod's instructions (usually in a README file) to see which format it is.

Move mod files into the mods folder

Open your file explorer and navigate to your Balatro game folder, then open the mods subfolder that BalatroBuild created. This is where mod files go. If your mod came as a .zip file, unzip it first by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" (Windows) or double-clicking (Mac). Then move the extracted folder into the mods folder.

Each mod should be its own folder inside mods. For example, if you read a mod called "Better Jokers", the folder structure should look like: Balatro/mods/Better Jokers/ with the mod files inside. Do not put all mod files directly in the mods folder — they need to be in their own subfolders.

Start the game and verify mods are loading

Launch Balatro normally through Steam or your game launcher. Mods load automatically in the background — there is no menu to turn them on. If the mods worked, you will see their changes in the game when ready. For example, if you installed a mod that adds new jokers, those jokers will appear in your runs.

If mods do not appear to be working, close the game and check that the mod files are in the correct folder structure. Open BalatroBuild again and verify it is pointing to the right game folder. Some mods also require other mods to work — check the mod's documentation to see if it has dependencies.

Troubleshooting mods that do not load

The most common reason mods do not load is incorrect folder structure. Make sure each mod is in its own subfolder inside the mods folder, not loose files. If you see a folder called "mods-main" or "Balatro-mods-master", that is the wrong level — unzip it and move the individual mod folders out.

If BalatroBuild has never been run, the mods folder does not exist yet. Open BalatroBuild, point it to your game folder, and let it create the mods folder. Then move your mod files in. If the game still does not load mods after that, try removing all mods except one and test with just that one to see if the problem is a specific mod or a setup issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart the game to load new mods?

Yes. Mods load when the game starts, not while it is running. If you add a new mod to the mods folder, close the game completely and reopen it. The new mod will load on the next startup.

Can I disable a mod without deleting it?

BalatroBuild does not have a toggle menu. To disable a mod, move its folder out of the mods directory or rename it so it does not match the expected format. To re-enable it, move it back or rename it correctly and restart the game.

What if a mod breaks the game or causes crashes?

Remove the mod by deleting or moving its folder out of the mods directory, then restart the game. If you are not sure which mod is causing the problem, remove all mods, restart, and add them back one at a time to find the culprit.

Can I use mods with different versions of Balatro?

Mods are version-specific. If Balatro updates, some mods may break until their creators update them. Check the mod's page to see which Balatro versions it supports before installing it.

Where do I report a mod that does not work?

Most mods are hosted on GitHub. Go to the mod's GitHub page and look for an Issues section where you can report problems. Include your Balatro version, your operating system, and what happens when you try to use the mod.