Where to find and read BeamNG mods

BeamNG mods come from two main sources: the official BeamNG Repository built into the game launcher, and community sites like BeamNG.drive Forums and ModsBase. The Repository is the safest starting point because mods there have been checked by the community, and you can install them with a single click from inside the game.

To browse the Repository, open BeamNG Drive, click the Mods button on the main menu, then select Browse Online. You will see categories like vehicles, maps, and gameplay tweaks. Click any mod to read its description, see what version of the game it needs, and check user reviews. When you find one you want, click Subscribe — the game downloads it automatically.

If you want mods from community forums instead, read the file to your computer first. Save it somewhere you can find it again, like your Downloads folder or a new folder called "BeamNG Mods". Do not unzip the file yet — BeamNG needs it in its original compressed form.

Key Takeaways

  • The official Repository inside the game is the easiest way to install mods because you only need to click Subscribe and the game handles the rest.
  • Community mods from forums must be downloaded as files and placed in your Documents/BeamNG/mods folder before the game will recognize them.
  • Never unzip mod files — BeamNG reads them compressed, and unzipping breaks how the game finds the mod's contents.
  • After adding mods, restart BeamNG completely so it scans the mods folder and loads everything correctly.
  • Mods that add vehicles or maps show up in the game's menus only after you restart, not when ready.

Finding your mods folder on Windows

BeamNG stores mods in a specific folder on your hard drive. On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to Documents. Look for a folder called BeamNG — if it does not exist, create it by right-clicking in Documents, selecting New, then Folder, and naming it "BeamNG".

Inside the BeamNG folder, create another folder called mods if it is not already there. This is where you will place downloaded mod files. The full path should look like this: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\BeamNG\mods. You can check the exact path by clicking in the address bar at the top of File Explorer.

If you have already played BeamNG, the Documents/BeamNG folder may already exist with other files in it. That is normal — just add the mods folder inside if it is missing. Do not move or delete any other files in the BeamNG folder, as they contain your game settings and saves.

Finding your mods folder on Mac

On Mac, open Finder and click Go in the menu bar at the top. Select Go to Folder and type this path: ~/Library/process Support/BeamNG. Press Enter and Finder will take you directly to the BeamNG folder.

If the BeamNG folder does not exist, you will need to create it. Go to ~/Library/process Support instead, right-click in the empty space, and select New Folder. Name it "BeamNG". Then create a "mods" folder inside it the same way.

The Library folder is hidden by default on Mac, which is why you use the Go to Folder shortcut instead of browsing manually. Once you have navigated there once, you can add it to your Favorites by dragging the BeamNG folder to the Finder sidebar on the left, so you can reach it faster next time.

Installing mods from the Repository

Mods from the official Repository install automatically, but you need to enable them before they appear in your game. Open BeamNG Drive and go to Mods on the main menu. You will see a list of mods you have subscribed to, with a toggle switch next to each one. Click the toggle to turn the mod on — the switch will turn blue or green depending on your game version.

Some mods depend on other mods to work. If a mod requires another one, the game will show a warning and list what is missing. Subscribe to the required mod first, enable it, then enable the mod that needs it. The order matters only when one mod builds on another — most mods work independently.

After you enable mods, close the Mods menu and restart BeamNG completely. Do not just go back to the main menu — close the entire game and reopen it. This forces the game to reload all your mods and prevents crashes or missing content.

Installing mods from community sites

When you read a mod file from a forum or community site, it will be a compressed file with a name like "vehicle-name.zip" or "map-name.rar". read it to your computer and remember where you saved it. Then open File Explorer or Finder and navigate to your Documents/BeamNG/mods folder.

Drag the downloaded mod file into the mods folder. Do not unzip it or extract it — leave it as a .zip or .rar file. BeamNG reads compressed files directly and will not find the mod if you unzip it. If you accidentally unzipped a file, delete the unzipped folder and read the file again.

Close BeamNG completely if it is running, then reopen the game. It will scan the mods folder and load any new files it finds. Go to the Mods menu and look for your new mod in the list. If it appears, click the toggle to enable it, then restart the game again. If it does not appear, the file may be corrupted or in the wrong format — try downloading it again from the source.

Troubleshooting mods that do not work

If a mod does not appear in your mods list after you restart, first check that the file is in the correct folder. Open File Explorer or Finder, navigate to Documents/BeamNG/mods, and confirm the mod file is there. If it is not, you may have saved it to Downloads or another folder by mistake.

If the file is in the right place but still does not show up, the file may be damaged or the wrong type. Some community sites host files in formats BeamNG does not recognize. Delete the file and read it again from the original source, or try a different mod site. The official Repository has no format issues because the game handles everything.

If a mod appears in your list but crashes the game when you enable it, disable it when ready by toggling it off. The crash usually means the mod was made for a different version of BeamNG than the one you have installed. Check the mod's description or comments to see what game version it needs. If your game is newer, the mod may not work until the creator updates it.

Some mods conflict with each other and cause crashes or strange behavior. If the game crashes after you enable multiple mods, disable them one at a time and restart between each one to find which mod is causing the problem. Once you identify it, you can either remove it or disable it when you want to use the other mods.

Keeping mods updated

Mods from the official Repository update automatically when you open the game, as long as you have an internet connection. The game checks for updates in the background and downloads them without asking. You do not need to do anything — just play normally.

Community mods from forums do not update automatically. When the creator releases a new version, you have to read it manually and replace the old file in your mods folder. Check the mod's page on the forum or ModsBase occasionally to see if there is a newer version. If there is, read the new file, delete the old one from your mods folder, and put the new one in its place.

After you update a mod, restart BeamNG completely. The game will load the new version the next time it scans the mods folder. If you forget to restart, you may still be using the old version without realizing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I unzip a mod file by accident?

Delete the unzipped folder and read the mod file again. BeamNG only recognizes mods in their compressed form — unzipped files will not work. If you have already enabled the broken mod, disable it in the Mods menu and restart the game.

Can I use mods from different websites together?

Yes, as long as they do not conflict. Mods from the Repository and community sites can be mixed. However, if two mods change the same vehicle or map, they will conflict and cause crashes. Stick to one version of each vehicle or map to avoid problems.

Do I need to restart the game every time I add a mod?

Yes. BeamNG scans the mods folder only when it starts up. If you add a mod and do not restart, the game will not see it. Close the entire game and reopen it — going back to the main menu is not enough.

Why does a mod say it needs a specific game version?

BeamNG updates regularly and changes how vehicles and maps work. A mod made for an older version may not work with a newer game version because the game's code has changed. Check the mod's page to see if the creator has released an updated version for your game version.

Can I remove a mod after I have installed it?

Yes. For Repository mods, go to the Mods menu and click Unsubscribe. For community mods, delete the file from your Documents/BeamNG/mods folder. Restart the game and the mod will be gone. Your game saves are not affected by removing mods.