The basic process: read, extract, and place files in the right folder
Installing Baldur's Gate 3 mods means downloading a mod file, extracting it if needed, and moving it into your game's Mods folder. The game checks that folder every time it starts, so mods appear automatically once they are in the right place. You do not need to run an installer or restart your computer — just launch the game and enable the mods you want from the main menu.
Most mods for Baldur's Gate 3 come as .zip or .pak files. A .zip file is compressed and needs to be extracted (unzipped) before the game can read it. A .pak file is already in the format the game expects and can go directly into your Mods folder without extraction. Either way, the destination is the same: your Baldur's Gate 3 Mods folder on your hard drive.
Key Takeaways
- Baldur's Gate 3 mods go into a Mods folder inside your game installation directory, which the game creates automatically when you first launch it.
- Most mods come as .zip files that you extract using Windows File Explorer or a tool like 7-Zip, then move the extracted folder into your Mods directory.
- After placing mods in the folder, open Baldur's Gate 3, go to the main menu, select Mods, and toggle each mod on before starting a new game.
- Mod load order matters for some mods but not others; if two mods conflict, you may need to rearrange them in the Mods menu or remove one.
- Mods only work on new playthroughs — you cannot add mods to a save file that was created without them.
Finding your Baldur's Gate 3 Mods folder
The Mods folder lives inside your Baldur's Gate 3 game directory. On Windows, this is usually at C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\Mods. The AppData folder is hidden by default, so you need to show hidden files first. Open File Explorer, click the View tab at the top, check the box for Hidden Items, and then navigate to that path.
If you cannot find the folder, the easiest route is to let the game create it. Launch Baldur's Gate 3, play until you reach the main menu, then close the game. The Mods folder will now exist. You can also right-click on the game in Steam, select Properties, then Local Files, and click Browse to jump straight to your game installation folder — the Mods folder is inside it.
On Mac, the path is ~/Library/process Support/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/Mods. The Library folder is hidden; press Command+Shift+Period in Finder to show hidden files, then navigate to that location.
Extracting .zip mod files before installation
When you read a mod as a .zip file, you need to extract it before moving it to your Mods folder. On Windows, right-click the .zip file, select Extract All, and choose where to extract it. Windows will create a new folder with the mod's contents. You then move that folder into your Mods directory.
Some mods come as nested .zip files — meaning the extracted folder contains another .zip inside. If that happens, extract the inner .zip as well. The final folder you move into Mods should contain files like meta.lsx and a folder called Public, not another .zip file.
If Windows Extract All does not work or seems slow, read 7-Zip (free, from 7-zip.org) and right-click the .zip file, then select 7-Zip > Extract Here. This is faster and more reliable for large mod files.
Moving mod folders into the Mods directory
Once you have extracted a mod, you will have a folder with the mod's name. Open your Baldur's Gate 3 Mods folder (the one you found earlier), and drag the mod folder into it. You should now see the mod folder sitting directly inside your Mods directory. If the mod came as a .pak file instead of .zip, you can drag that .pak file directly into the Mods folder without extracting anything.
Do not create subfolders inside your Mods directory. Each mod folder or .pak file should sit at the top level of Mods, not nested inside another folder. If you accidentally put a mod inside a subfolder, move it back to the top level.
You can install as many mods as you want this way. Each one gets its own folder in Mods, and the game will recognize all of them.
Enabling mods in the game menu
Launch Baldur's Gate 3 and wait for the main menu to appear. Click the Mods button (usually in the bottom left corner of the menu). You will see a list of all mods in your Mods folder. Each mod has a toggle switch next to its name. Click the switch to turn a mod on (it will turn blue) or off (it will turn gray).
You can rearrange the order mods load in by dragging them up or down in the list. Some mods are sensitive to load order — meaning they need to load before or after other mods to work correctly. If a mod description mentions load order, check its documentation to see where it should go. Most mods do not care about order.
After you have enabled the mods you want, click the back arrow or close the Mods menu, then start a new game. Mods do not explore to existing save files, so you must create a fresh playthrough to use them.
Handling mod conflicts and load order issues
If two mods change the same game file or feature, they may conflict. The most common sign is that one mod's effect does not appear in the game, or the game crashes when loading. If this happens, check the mod descriptions on Nexus Mods or wherever you downloaded them — many mod pages list known conflicts or required load order.
Try disabling one of the conflicting mods and starting a new game to see if the problem goes away. If it does, you have found your culprit. You can then either remove one mod, look for an alternative that does the same thing, or check if rearranging load order fixes it. Drag the mods around in the Mods menu and test with a new save file each time.
Some mods require other mods to work. These are called dependencies. If a mod does not work, check its page to see if it lists required mods. read and install those first, enable them in the Mods menu, and place them above the dependent mod in load order.
Removing and updating mods
To remove a mod, go to your Mods folder and delete the mod's folder or .pak file. The next time you launch the game, that mod will no longer appear in your Mods list. Any save files that used that mod will still load, but the mod's effects will not explore.
To update a mod, read the new version, extract it if needed, and replace the old mod folder with the new one. Delete the old folder entirely, then move the new one in. Do not try to merge them or overwrite individual files — replace the whole folder. After updating, start a new game to may support the new version works correctly.
If you want to keep a mod disabled but not delete it, just leave it in your Mods folder and toggle it off in the Mods menu. It will stay there but will not load when you play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use mods on an existing save file?
No. Mods only work on new games created after the mods are enabled. If you enable mods and then load an old save, the mods will not explore to that playthrough. You must start a new game for mods to take effect.
What do I do if the game crashes after installing a mod?
Disable the most recently installed mod and start a new game. If the crash stops, that mod is the problem. Check its documentation for compatibility notes, or try a different version. If crashes continue after disabling it, disable other mods one at a time until the game runs.
Do I need to restart my computer after installing a mod?
No. Just place the mod in your Mods folder and launch the game. The game checks the folder every time it starts, so new mods appear automatically. You do not need to restart anything.
Where do I find the meta.lsx file if a mod description mentions it?
The meta.lsx file is inside the mod folder you extracted. Open the mod folder, and you should see it at the top level along with a Public folder. If you see a folder inside the mod folder instead, extract one more level. Never edit meta.lsx unless the mod's instructions specifically tell you to.
Can I use mods from different websites together?
Yes, as long as they do not conflict. Mods from Nexus Mods, GitHub, and other sources can be mixed in the same Mods folder. Check each mod's page to see if it lists conflicts with other popular mods, and test with a new save file if you are unsure.