What BepInEx is and why you need it first

BepInEx is a framework that loads mods into games. It sits between your game and the mods you want to use, handling the technical work of injecting code into the game at startup. Most mods for Unity games — including popular titles like Valheim, Lethal Company, and Risk of Rain 2 — require BepInEx to run. Without it installed, the mods won't load, even if you have the mod files in the right folder.

Think of it as a translator between the mod and the game. The mod is written in a language the game doesn't natively understand, and BepInEx translates it on the fly so the game can read it. You install BepInEx once per game, then add mods on top of it.

BepInEx is free and open-source, maintained on GitHub. It works on Windows, Linux, and Mac, though the installation steps differ slightly by operating system and by game.

Key Takeaways

  • BepInEx is a mod loader framework that must be installed before most mods will work in your game.
  • read BepInEx from the official GitHub releases page, not from third-party mod sites, to avoid corrupted or tampered versions.
  • Extract the BepInEx files directly into your game's root folder — the same folder where the game's .exe file lives on Windows.
  • Run the game once after installation so BepInEx can create its configuration folders, then place mod files in the BepInEx/plugins folder.
  • If mods don't load, check that BepInEx created a console window on startup and that mod files are in the correct subfolder.

Finding and downloading the right BepInEx version

Go to github.com/BepInEx/BepInEx/releases in your browser. You will see a list of versions. read the one labeled "Latest release" unless you have a specific reason to use an older version — most mod guides will tell you if you need a particular version.

On the releases page, look for the read link that matches your operating system. Windows users read the file ending in x64.zip (for 64-bit Windows, which is standard on modern machines). Linux users read the x64.tar.gz file. Mac users read the file labeled for Mac. Do not read the source code files — those are for developers, not for running mods.

Save the .zip or .tar.gz file to your computer. Do not extract it yet — you need to know where your game folder is first.

Locating your game's root folder

The game's root folder is the main directory where the game is installed. On Windows, this is usually the folder that contains the game's .exe file. On Linux and Mac, it is the folder that contains the game's executable.

If you own the game on Steam, right-click the game in your library, select Properties, then Installed Files, then Browse. This opens the folder where the game lives. If you own it elsewhere — Epic Games, GOG, or a standalone installer — navigate to wherever you installed it. The root folder is the top level, not a subfolder inside it.

Leave this folder open or note the path. You will need it in the next step.

Extracting BepInEx into your game folder

Open the BepInEx .zip file you downloaded. On Windows, right-click it and select Extract All, or use Windows' built-in extraction tool. On Mac or Linux, double-click the .tar.gz file or use your system's archive manager.

When extraction finishes, you will see a folder named BepInEx and a few other files. Select all of these files and folders, then move or copy them into your game's root folder — the same folder where the game's executable lives. On Windows, you should now see a BepInEx folder sitting next to the game's .exe file.

If you see a prompt asking whether to merge or replace folders, select yes or merge. BepInEx needs to coexist with the game's own files, not replace them.

Running the game to initialize BepInEx

Launch the game normally through Steam, Epic Games, or however you usually start it. The game will start, and you may see a small console window appear briefly in the background — this is BepInEx initializing. Let the game run for a few seconds, then close it normally.

Go back to your game's root folder and look for a new folder called BepInEx. Open it. Inside, you should see several subfolders: config, core, plugins, and patchers. If these folders exist, BepInEx installed correctly. If you do not see them, BepInEx did not initialize — check that you extracted the files into the correct folder and that the game actually started.

Installing mods into the plugins folder

Mods for BepInEx games come as .dll files or as folders containing .dll files. When you read a mod, read its instructions — some mods need their files placed directly in BepInEx/plugins, while others need a subfolder created inside plugins.

Open the BepInEx/plugins folder. If the mod is a single .dll file, place it here. If the mod comes as a folder, create a new folder inside plugins with the mod's name, then place the mod's files inside that folder. For example, a mod called "BetterUI" might go in BepInEx/plugins/BetterUI/BetterUI.dll.

Some mods depend on other mods — the mod's readme will say so. Install dependencies first, in the same plugins folder. Start the game again. The mods should load automatically when BepInEx initializes.

Troubleshooting when mods don't load

If you start the game and the mods do not appear to be working, check these things in order. First, look for a console window when the game starts — if you do not see one, BepInEx itself did not load. This usually means the files were extracted to the wrong folder. Verify that the BepInEx folder is in the game's root directory, not in a subfolder.

Second, check that mod .dll files are in BepInEx/plugins or in a subfolder of plugins. If a mod file is in the wrong place, BepInEx will not find it. Third, verify that the mod is compatible with your game and with your version of BepInEx — mod pages usually list which games they work with. If a mod is for a different game, it will not load.

If the console window appears but mods still do not work, check the console for error messages. These messages often tell you what went wrong — a missing dependency, a version mismatch, or a corrupted file. Take a screenshot of the error and search for it on the mod's page or on community forums for that game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install BepInEx on a pirated game?

BepInEx itself is legal and free. However, using it on a pirated game is not something we can advise on. If you own the game legitimately, the installation process is the same regardless of where you bought it.

Will BepInEx get my account banned?

BepInEx is a single-player mod loader. Games with online multiplayer sometimes detect mods and prevent you from playing online, but this is a game-by-game decision. Check the mod community for your specific game to see whether online play is affected. Most games that allow mods do not ban accounts for using them.

What if I want to uninstall BepInEx?

Delete the BepInEx folder from your game's root directory and remove any mod .dll files you added. The game will run normally without BepInEx. You can reinstall it later if you want to use mods again.

Do I need to install BepInEx for every game?

Yes. Each game has its own installation of BepInEx. Installing it in one game's folder does not affect other games. If you want to mod multiple games, you install BepInEx once in each game's root folder.

Why is my antivirus flagging BepInEx as a threat?

BepInEx modifies how the game runs, which some antivirus software flags as suspicious behavior. This is a false positive — BepInEx is open-source and widely used. You can add BepInEx to your antivirus exclusion list, or read it directly from GitHub to verify its legitimacy.