The basic setup: what you need before you start

Cyberpunk 2077 mods go into a specific folder on your computer, and the game reads them from there when it launches. You do not need special software to install most mods — you are moving files into the right place and sometimes editing a configuration file. The process takes five to ten minutes per mod once you know where things go.

First, find your Cyberpunk installation folder. On Windows, this is usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cyberpunk 2077 if you own it through Steam, or C:\Program Files\GOG Galaxy\Games\Cyberpunk 2077 if you bought it from GOG. On PlayStation or Xbox, you cannot install mods at all — this guide is for PC only.

Inside that folder, you need a mods folder. If it does not exist, create one: right-click in the Cyberpunk 2077 folder, select "New Folder", and name it mods (lowercase). This is where every mod file will go.

Key Takeaways

  • Cyberpunk mods live in a mods folder inside your game directory, which you may need to create yourself.
  • Most mods are .zip files that you extract directly into the mods folder — do not nest them in extra subfolders.
  • Some mods require you to edit a file called modlist.txt or mod.reds to load, so read the mod's readme file before extracting.
  • Mod conflicts happen when two mods change the same game files, and the safest way to test is to install one mod, launch the game, and check for crashes before adding another.
  • Backing up your game folder before installing mods means you can restore it in minutes if something breaks.

Downloading mods from Nexus Mods safely

Nexus Mods is the largest repository for Cyberpunk mods and the one with the most user reviews and safety checks. Go to nexusmods.com, search for Cyberpunk 2077, and filter by the category you want — weapons, clothing, gameplay changes, graphics, and so on.

Before you read, read the mod description and the comments section. Look for users reporting crashes, incompatibilities with other mods, or issues with specific game versions. If the mod was last updated more than a year ago and the game has had major patches since then, there is a real chance it will not work.

Click the read button. Nexus will ask you to choose between "Slow read" (free, no account needed) and "Fast read" (requires a free Nexus account). Either way, the file is the same. Save it to your Downloads folder or anywhere you can find it — you will extract it in the next step.

Extracting and placing mod files in the right folder

Most Cyberpunk mods come as .zip files. Right-click the downloaded .zip file and select "Extract All" (Windows) or double-click it (Mac). A new folder will appear with the mod's contents.

Open that folder. Inside, you will usually see a folder with the mod's name, or sometimes folders named bin, r6, red4ext, or archive. Do not extract these folders into subfolders inside your mods folder — they need to go directly into mods so the game can find them. If the .zip contains a single folder with everything inside, move that folder into mods. If it contains multiple top-level folders, move all of them into mods.

The correct structure looks like this:

Cyberpunk 2077 → mods → [mod folder name] → bin, r6, archive, or other mod files

Not like this:

Cyberpunk 2077 → mods → [mod folder name] → [another folder] → bin, r6, archive

Checking the mod's readme for special setup steps

Before you launch the game, open the mod folder you just moved and look for a file named README.txt, README.md, or INSTALL.txt. Open it with Notepad or any text editor and read it completely.

Some mods require you to edit a file called modlist.txt in your game's root folder (the main Cyberpunk 2077 folder, not the mods subfolder). This file lists which mods to load. If the readme says to add a line, open modlist.txt, add the mod's name exactly as written, save it, and close it. Other mods need you to edit mod.reds or run a separate installer — the readme will tell you which.

If the readme mentions a dependency — another mod that must be installed first — read and install that mod before the one you are working on. Mods that add new weapons often depend on mods that add new animations, for example.

Testing one mod at a time to find conflicts

Install your first mod, then launch Cyberpunk 2077 normally. Let it load all the way to the main menu. If it crashes during startup or while loading a save, the mod is not compatible with your game version or conflicts with something else.

If the game launches and plays without crashing, the mod is working. Now install a second mod and test again. This slow approach sounds tedious, but it saves hours of troubleshooting later. If you install ten mods at once and the game crashes, you will not know which one caused it.

If a crash happens after you add a new mod, remove that mod's folder from the mods directory and test again. If the game runs, you have found the problem. If it still crashes, the issue is with a different mod or a conflict between two mods you installed earlier.

Backing up your game folder before major changes

Before you install your first mod, copy your entire Cyberpunk 2077 folder to another location on your hard drive — an external drive, a backup folder, or cloud storage. This takes a few minutes and uses about 150 GB of space, but it means you can restore your game to a working state in minutes if something breaks badly.

If you install many mods and the game becomes unstable, you can delete your modded version and copy the backup back into place. Then you can reinstall mods more carefully, testing as you go.

After you have a stable setup with mods you like, you do not need to keep updating the backup — just keep it as a safety net in case a game patch breaks something or a mod update causes problems.

Uninstalling mods and cleaning up

To remove a mod, delete its folder from your mods directory. If the mod's readme mentioned editing modlist.txt or mod.reds, open those files and delete the lines that reference the mod you are removing.

Some mods leave behind small cache files even after you delete them. These usually do not cause problems, but if you want a completely clean game, delete the bin and cache folders inside your main Cyberpunk 2077 directory. The game will recreate them the next time you launch.

If you uninstall a mod and the game still crashes or behaves strangely, verify the game files through Steam or GOG. Right-click the game in your library, select "Properties" or "Manage", find "Verify" or "Repair", and let it run. This replaces any corrupted or missing files without deleting your mods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use mods on a save file I already started?

Yes, but some mods work better on new saves. Mods that change weapons, clothing, or UI usually work fine on existing saves. Mods that change quest content or add new areas may cause problems if you have already completed those quests. Read the mod description to see what it changes, and test it on your current save before committing.

What does it mean when a mod says it needs "Red4ext"?

Red4ext is a framework that some mods depend on — it lets mods do things the base game does not normally allow. If a mod requires it, read Red4ext from github.com/WopsS/Red4ext, extract it into your main Cyberpunk 2077 folder (not the mods subfolder), and then install the mod that needs it. The readme will tell you if this is necessary.

Why does my game crash right after I install a mod?

The most common causes are a mod designed for a different game version, a conflict with another mod, or files in the wrong folder structure. Delete the mod you just added, verify your game files, and try again. If it still crashes, the mod may not be compatible with your current game version.

Can I use mods from different websites together?

Yes, as long as they do not change the same game files. A weapon mod and a clothing mod will usually work together fine. Two mods that both change how the same weapon looks or behaves will conflict. Read each mod's description to see what it modifies, and test them one at a time to find conflicts.

Do mods disable achievements or trophies?

On PC, mods do not disable achievements — you can earn them with mods installed. On PlayStation and Xbox, achievements are disabled if you use mods, but you cannot install mods on console versions anyway. If you care about achievements, play on PC.