DLC files for Civilization VI belong in your Documents folder under a specific Civilization VI subfolder, not in the game's installation directory

When you read DLC (downloadable content) for Civilization VI, Windows and Mac both expect those files to live in your user Documents folder, not wherever the game itself is installed. The game looks in this Documents location automatically when it starts, so putting files anywhere else means the game won't find them. This separation keeps your personal files separate from the game's core installation, which matters if you ever reinstall the game or move it.

The exact path depends on whether you use Windows or Mac, but the principle is the same: create a folder structure in Documents, then move your DLC files there. This takes about two minutes and prevents the frustration of downloading content that never appears in your game.

Key Takeaways

  • DLC files go in your Documents folder under Sid Meier's Civilization VI, not in the game's installation folder.
  • On Windows, the full path is Documents\Sid Meier's Civilization VI\DLC; on Mac, it is Documents/Sid Meier's Civilization VI/DLC.
  • You may need to create the DLC folder yourself if it does not already exist.
  • After moving files to the correct location, restart Civilization VI completely for the game to recognize the DLC.
  • DLC files typically have a .civ6pack extension and should never be unzipped or modified.

Finding Your Documents Folder on Windows

Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key and typing "File Explorer," then clicking the result. On the left side of the window, you will see a list of locations. Click "Documents" — this is your user Documents folder, and it is where Civilization VI expects to find DLC files.

If you do not see Documents in the left panel, click the folder icon at the top left and look for it in the main area. You can also type the path directly into the address bar: type %USERPROFILE%\Documents and press Enter, which takes you straight there.

Creating the Civilization VI Folder Structure on Windows

Once you are in your Documents folder, look for a folder named "Sid Meier's Civilization VI." If it already exists, open it. If it does not, right-click in the empty space of the Documents folder, select "New," then "Folder," and name it exactly Sid Meier's Civilization VI (with the spaces and punctuation).

Open that folder. Now look for a subfolder named "DLC." If it does not exist, create it the same way: right-click, select "New," then "Folder," and name it DLC. This DLC folder is where your downloaded content files go. Do not create any additional subfolders inside DLC — put the .civ6pack files directly in this folder.

Finding Your Documents Folder on Mac

Open Finder by clicking the Finder icon in your dock (it looks like a face). Click "Finder" in the menu bar at the top, then select "Preferences." In the window that opens, click the "Sidebar" tab and make sure "Documents" is checked. Close the preferences window.

Now click "Documents" in the Finder sidebar on the left. This is your user Documents folder. Alternatively, you can press Command+Shift+D, which opens Documents directly.

Creating the Civilization VI Folder Structure on Mac

In your Documents folder, look for a folder named "Sid Meier's Civilization VI." If it does not exist, right-click in the empty space, select "New Folder," and name it Sid Meier's Civilization VI. Open that folder.

Inside, look for a "DLC" folder. If it is not there, create it the same way: right-click, select "New Folder," and name it DLC. This is where your .civ6pack files belong. Keep them in this folder without creating subfolders or unzipping them.

Moving Your Downloaded DLC Files to the Correct Location

When you read DLC for Civilization VI, the file usually appears in your Downloads folder with a name ending in .civ6pack. Do not unzip or extract this file — leave it as is. Open File Explorer or Finder and navigate to your Downloads folder, then find the .civ6pack file.

Cut or copy this file (right-click and select "Cut" or "Copy"), then navigate to Documents > Sid Meier's Civilization VI > DLC and paste it there. If you cut the file, it moves automatically. If you copied it, you can delete the original from Downloads once you confirm it arrived in the DLC folder.

Repeat this process for each DLC file you have downloaded. You can have multiple .civ6pack files in the same DLC folder — the game loads them all.

Restarting the Game to Load Your DLC

After you move files to the DLC folder, close Civilization VI completely if it is running. Do not just minimize it — use File > Exit or close the window. Then reopen the game. When it starts, it scans the DLC folder and loads any .civ6pack files it finds.

Once the game is open, go to the main menu and look for your DLC in the game's DLC or content settings. Different DLC types appear in different places — some show up in the civilization selection screen, others in the scenario menu, and some add features to existing games. If you do not see your DLC after restarting, double-check that the file is in Documents > Sid Meier's Civilization VI > DLC and that the filename ends in .civ6pack.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the DLC folder does not exist in my Documents?

Create it yourself. Right-click in the Sid Meier's Civilization VI folder, select "New Folder," and name it DLC. The game does not create this folder automatically, so you may need to make it the first time you add DLC.

Can I put DLC files in the game's installation folder instead?

No. Civilization VI only looks in your Documents folder for DLC files. Putting them in the game's installation directory will not work, and you may lose them if you reinstall the game.

Do I need to unzip the .civ6pack file?

No. Leave the file as is with the .civ6pack extension. The game reads it directly. Unzipping it will break it and the game will not recognize it.

Why does my DLC not show up after I moved the files?

Close the game completely and reopen it. The game only scans the DLC folder when it starts. If it still does not appear, verify the file is in the correct path: Documents > Sid Meier's Civilization VI > DLC, and that the filename ends in .civ6pack.

Can I have multiple DLC files in the same DLC folder?

Yes. You can place as many .civ6pack files as you want in the DLC folder, and the game will load all of them when it starts.