How to Install Mods in Assetto Corsa
Assetto Corsa mods install into a single folder on your computer, and the game reads them automatically when you launch it. You read a mod file (usually a .zip), extract it to your Assetto Corsa mods folder, and restart the game. Most mods work when ready; a few require you to enable them in the game's settings first. The process is the same whether you are adding a car, a track, or a visual enhancement.
The key difference from some other games is that Assetto Corsa does not use a mod manager by default. You place files directly into folders, which means you need to know where those folders are and what goes where. This guide walks you through finding the right location, downloading safely, and troubleshooting the most common problems.
Key Takeaways
- Mods go into your Documents folder under Assetto Corsa, not into the game's installation directory, so the game finds them even after updates.
- Most mods come as .zip files that you extract once; leaving them zipped prevents the game from reading them.
- Car mods and track mods go into separate folders, and the game will not load a mod if it is in the wrong folder type.
- If a mod does not appear in the game after you install it, restart Assetto Corsa completely — the game only reads the mods folder when it starts up.
- Mods from reputable sources like Assetto Corsa Mods and Race Department have been tested by other players and are safer to read than random files from unknown sites.
Locating Your Assetto Corsa Mods Folder
Assetto Corsa stores mods in your Documents folder, not in the game's Program Files directory. This matters because it means your mods survive game updates and reinstalls. On Windows, the path is Documents\Assetto Corsa\mods. On Mac, it is ~/Documents/Assetto Corsa/mods.
If you have never installed a mod before, the mods folder may not exist yet. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), navigate to Documents, and look for an Assetto Corsa folder. If you see it, open it and check for a mods subfolder inside. If the mods folder is not there, create it yourself: right-click in the Assetto Corsa folder, select New Folder, and name it mods (lowercase, no spaces).
Once you have located or created the mods folder, keep this window open — you will need it in the next step. Do not close it yet.
Downloading and Extracting Mod Files
Mods come as compressed .zip files. When you read one, your browser saves it to your Downloads folder by default. Before you move it, you must extract it (unzip it) so the game can read the files inside. Do not leave the .zip file in your mods folder — the game ignores zipped files.
Right-click the .zip file in your Downloads folder and select Extract All (Windows) or double-click it (Mac). A new folder with the mod's name will appear in the same location. This folder contains the actual mod files. Now you are ready to move it to the mods folder.
Open two File Explorer or Finder windows side by side: one showing your Downloads folder with the extracted mod folder, and one showing Documents\Assetto Corsa\mods. Drag the extracted mod folder from Downloads into the mods folder. You can now delete the original .zip file from Downloads — you no longer need it.
Understanding Where Different Mod Types Go
Assetto Corsa has separate subfolders for different mod types, and putting a mod in the wrong folder means the game will not find it. Inside your mods folder, you may see folders named cars, tracks, shaders, and content. Car mods go in the cars folder. Track mods go in the tracks folder. Visual mods like weather or shader packs go in their own folders.
When you extract a mod, check what it contains before moving it. If the extracted folder has a folder named "cars" inside it, move the entire extracted folder into your mods folder — do not move just the cars subfolder. The game expects a specific structure, and moving only part of a mod breaks it. If you are unsure, move the entire extracted folder into mods and see if the game finds it.
Some mods come with a readme file (usually named README.txt or README.md) that tells you exactly where to place it. Open this file before installing if one exists. It may also list dependencies — other mods you need to install first for this one to work.
Restarting the Game and Checking Your Mods
After you place a mod folder in the mods directory, close Assetto Corsa completely if it is running. The game only reads the mods folder when it starts up, so if the game was already open, it will not see your new mod. Close it entirely, then launch it again.
Once the game loads, check whether your mod appears. For car mods, go to the car selection screen and look for the new car in the list. For track mods, check the track selection screen. For visual mods, look in the settings or graphics menu depending on what the mod does. If you see your mod, the installation worked.
If the mod does not appear, the most common cause is that you did not fully restart the game. Close it completely (not just minimizing it) and open it again. If it still does not appear after a full restart, move to the troubleshooting section below.
Troubleshooting Mods That Do Not Appear
If a mod is in the correct folder but the game does not show it, check the mod's folder structure. Open the extracted mod folder and look inside. If you see another folder with the same name nested inside (for example, a folder named "cars" inside a folder also named "cars"), you have an extra layer. Move the inner folder up one level and delete the outer one. The game expects the mod files to be one level deep in the mods folder, not nested further.
Another common issue is a typo in the folder name. Some mods are picky about capitalization or spacing. If the readme file specifies an exact folder name, rename your folder to match it exactly. Right-click the folder, select Rename, and type the name as shown in the readme.
If the mod still does not appear, check whether the mod requires a specific version of Assetto Corsa. Some older mods do not work with newer versions of the game. Check the mod's read page or readme to see if it lists a compatible version. If your game is newer than the mod supports, you may need to find an updated version of the mod or use a different one.
Removing or Disabling Mods
If a mod causes problems or you straightforward want to stop using it, you have two options. The easiest is to delete the mod folder entirely: navigate to Documents\Assetto Corsa\mods, right-click the mod folder, and select Delete. Restart the game, and the mod will no longer appear.
If you want to keep the mod but disable it temporarily, move the folder out of the mods directory to a backup location on your computer (like a folder on your Desktop named "Disabled Mods"). Restart the game, and it will no longer load that mod. You can move it back into the mods folder later if you want to use it again.
If you have installed many mods and one is causing crashes or performance problems, disable them one at a time until the problem stops. This tells you which mod is causing the issue. Once you identify it, you can delete it, look for an updated version, or straightforward leave it disabled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use mods from other racing games in Assetto Corsa?
No. Mods are built specifically for each game's engine and file format. A mod made for iRacing or rFactor will not work in Assetto Corsa, and trying to install one will not break anything — the game straightforward will not recognize it. Always read mods from sources that specifically list Assetto Corsa compatibility.
What happens if I install two mods that conflict with each other?
Assetto Corsa usually loads both without crashing, but one may override the other or cause unexpected behavior. If you notice a mod is not working as described, check whether another mod you installed recently might be interfering. Disable the newer mod and restart the game to test. If the problem goes away, you have found the conflict.
Do I need to uninstall a mod before installing a new version?
Yes. Delete the old mod folder completely, then extract and install the new version. Leaving both versions in the mods folder can cause the game to load the wrong one or load both at once, creating unpredictable behavior.
Will mods affect my online multiplayer races?
Most online servers in Assetto Corsa disable mods for competitive races. The server will not let you join a race if your car or track mod differs from what the server is running. Single-player and private servers may allow mods depending on their settings. Check the server rules before joining.
What should I do if a mod crashes the game?
Disable the mod by moving its folder out of the mods directory, then restart the game. If the crash stops, the mod is the problem. Check the mod's read page to see if there is a newer version that fixes the issue, or look for an alternative mod that does the same thing. Never reinstall a mod that crashes without checking for updates first.