Manual installation currently missing. If you happen to know how it works, please add instructions. Thanks!
¶ How to use mods in Baldur’s Gate 3
Modding games is a wonderful way to enhance and individualize your game experience. It’s also never entirely safe, especially if the game is still regularly patched like Baldur’s Gate 3.
Mods modify game files. If those game files are altered by a patch or hotfix, it can cause the mod to not being able to work properly anymore. This may lead to being unable to load a savegame or cause gameplay issues. It is important to check if updates are needed each time Larian provides a patch or hotfix.
Please understand that modding comes with the possibility of something not working right, which can cause frustration, wasted time and effort, and it can potentially screw something up in your game.
This guide will hopefully help to prevent that.
¶ Minimize the risks with a few simple steps:
¶ Backup your savegames
Before:
- starting to mod an ongoing playthrough
- adding new or more complex mods
- updating your game
Go to your story folder, highlight everything and copy it to a separate location. Default savegame folder path:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\PlayerProfiles\Public\Savegames\Story
¶ Read mod descriptions
Mod authors usually provide crucial information about their creations in the description. Please read it and pay extra attention to:
- install instructions
- requirements
- load order
- compatibility between mods
It also never hurts to read sticky posts in the comments and to have a quick glance at the most recent entries.
¶ Disable auto-updating your game
- Steam: go to Library - Baldur’s Gate 3 - right click Properties - Updates - select Only update this game when I launch it
- GOG: go to Settings - Game features - uncheck Auto-update games
Alternatively, the game can be started directly from the bg3.exe or bg3_dx11.exe found in the games bin folder.
Default bin folder path:
C:\Program files\Steam\steamapps\common\Baldur's Gate 3\bin
¶ Where to find and download mods
NexusMods - All types of mods, including many that cannot be used on consoles.
Mod.io - The official location for BG3 mods, and where console players will have to source all of their mods.
Patreon - Some mod authors upload mods to their Patreons instead of other sites. Most are free to download as long as you join the Patreon in question.
¶ Mod types and how to install them
Pak files are conveniently packaged data bundles. They are used with a mod manager and make installing and uninstalling mods very convenient. Paks can include a variety of modifications to game elements such as textures, sounds, objects, and many others.
Installation:
- Install the mod manager of your choice. We recommend Laughing Leader’s Baldur’s Gate 3 Mod Manager. Follow this guide on how to install and set up BG3MM.
- Go to the mod page, read it, and download the desired version of the mod you want. Use Manual download and save the archive to a location outside of program or game files.
- Open the archive and drag or copy the .pak into your Mods Folder*. Make sure that there aren’t any subfolders or files other than .pak in the mod folder.
Default Mod folder path:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\Mods - Start BG3MM or if it is already running, click refresh to see the new mod. It most likely will appear in Inactive Mods to the right.
Optional: Save Order As to make sure you have a working order to go back to just in case. - Drag the mod from Inactive Mods to Active Mods. Keep load order requirements in mind while doing so. General Load Order Guide
Some mods are overrides. They will appear in a separate section called Overrides at the bottom of the Active Mods panel.
DiceSet_06 and Honor in the Inactive Mods panel to the right are game files.
Don’t move either of them into the Active Mods panel.
- Save and export the load order to your game.
- Start the game either directly through BG3MM or use your preferred method.
*You can also just drag the .zip file into your Inactive Mods section without unpacking it first. Then continue with Step 4.
Games updated to Patch 7 do not need Mod Fixer anymore. Mods including Mod Fixer should still work fine, as long as the used file is called ForceRecompile.txt
Mod Fixer is still necessary up to Patch 6. If it isn’t installed, character creation will not be available. Instead, this lovely view will appear on screen:
Installation:
- Download Mod Fixer
- Move ModFixer.pak into your Mods folder or drag it into BG3 Mod Manager.
That’s it.
Norbyte, the creator of Mod fixer explains how it works in his post on Larian Studio’s discord
Mods that come as loose files are moved to your Data folder, and do not need to be installed with a mod manager. They are also sometimes called “replacer mods”, though technically a .pak mod can also be a replacer. The exact subfolder it needs to be placed in is usually part of the mod description and included in the archive.
Default Data folder path:
C:\Program files\Steam\steamapps\common\Baldur's Gate 3\Data
Depending on which mods are installed, the contents of these folders may vary greatly.
A few mods such as Native Camera Tweaks are application extensions and come in the format .dll. They go in your bin folder, and the tool Native Mod Loader is required to load them.
Please follow the instructions on how to install the tool carefully.
The manual installation of mods is an alternative, in case you can’t use a mod manager.
TODO: Add manual installation instructions.
Script Extender by Norbyte adds Lua/Osiris scripting support to the game. It is a necessary requirement for a multitude of other mods.
SE works on Windows, Linux, and Steam Deck. Follow this guide on how to install SE.
Download SE only from Norbyte’s official GitHub or via the BG3 Mod Manager. Any other source is unofficial and unsafe.
¶ Video
¶ Modding and Achievements
Modding Baldur’s Gate 3 disables all achievements. They are automatically re-enabled when using Script Extender. If Script Extender cannot be used for any reason, the native mod Achievement Enabler can also be used for enabling achievements again. Please do not use those two methods together.
Happy modding!
