How to Add the Expansion Mod to a DayZ Server (2026)

To add DayZ Expansion to a server, load four Workshop mods in this order: CF (1559212036), Dabs Framework (2545327648), DayZ-Expansion-Licensed (2116157322) and DayZ-Expansion-Bundle (2572331007), with their keys in keys. Start once so Expansion writes its settings to profiles/ExpansionMod/. Then copy the expansion_ce and expansion folders from the Expansion mission template into your mission folder and add the expansion_ce block to cfgeconomycore.xml. Without that step, Expansion loot and traders never appear.

What you are working with

Expansion is split into modules on the Workshop, but the Bundle contains all of them except Licensed and the optional Animations mod. For a first server, the Bundle is the simple choice.

What maps have Expansion traders ready?

Chernarus is the easiest start. On other maps, the market works but you place traders yourself, which how to add a trader to a DayZ server covers.

Before you start

• Back up the mission folder and profiles. Expansion changes the economy and adds persistent items.
• Plan the memory. Expansion is heavy. We suggest 12 GB for an Expansion server up to about 40 players.
• Start on a fresh or recently wiped world if you can. It works on existing worlds, but new vehicles and loot take a while to spread through the economy.

Step 1: Add the four mods in order

Load order matters: each mod must come after what it depends on.

-mod=@CF;@Dabs Framework;@DayZ-Expansion-Licensed;@DayZ-Expansion-Bundle

Copy each mod's .bikey from its keys folder into the server's keys folder. Our general DayZ mod install guide explains SteamCMD downloads and keys if you self host.

Step 2: Start once and stop

Start the server and let it reach the point where the mission loads, then stop it. Expansion now creates profiles/ExpansionMod/ with its settings, market and trader files.

Step 3: Copy the mission template

1. Download the template from the DayZ-Expansion-Missions repository as a zip.
2. Open Template/Chernarus (or Enoch for Livonia).
3. Copy the expansion_ce folder and the expansion folder into your mission folder, for example mpmissions/dayzOffline.chernarusplus/.

Step 4: Register the loot files

Open your mission's cfgeconomycore.xml and paste this block just before </economycore>:

<ce folder="expansion_ce">
    <file name="expansion_types.xml" type="types" />
    <file name="expansion_spawnabletypes.xml" type="spawnabletypes" />
    <file name="expansion_events.xml" type="events" />
</ce>

Then open the template's cfgeventspawns.xml, copy the Expansion vehicle spawn entries and paste them into your mission's cfgeventspawns.xml just before </eventposdef>. Leave the vanilla entries in place.

Step 5: Start and check

Start the server and read the newest .RPT and script log in profiles. XML errors name the file and line. Join through the DayZ Launcher, which downloads all four mods for players. Walk to the Green Mountain trader on Chernarus to confirm the market works.

The gotcha: mission folder and Map setting

Most failed Expansion installs have every mod loaded and still no traders or Expansion loot. Two causes cover nearly all of them:

1. The files went into a mission the server does not load. The server loads the folder named in template= in serverDZ.cfg. If you copied the template into dayzOffline.chernarusplus but the server runs dayzOffline.enoch, nothing happens.
2. The economy block was never added. Copying expansion_ce is not enough. Without the <ce folder="expansion_ce"> lines in cfgeconomycore.xml, the central economy never reads the files, so Expansion weapons and vehicles never spawn.

A tidy approach: copy your whole mission folder to a new name that keeps the map suffix, like expansion.chernarusplus, make all Expansion changes there and point the server at it. Your Expansion edits then sit apart from the stock dayzOffline folders, which game updates and file validation can restore to vanilla.

On our servers there is one more layer: the panel's Map setting rewrites the template= line in serverDZ.cfg on every start. Editing that line by hand is undone at the next restart. Put the mission folder name in Map instead.

Common problems

• Server closes on start: load order is wrong, a mod is missing, or the Bundle is loaded without Licensed.
• Kicked for signatures: a .bikey is missing from keys, or a player has an older mod version. See the DayZ signature kick fix.
• No Expansion loot or vehicles: the expansion_ce block is missing from cfgeconomycore.xml, or it went into the wrong mission.
• Traders missing: the expansion/traders folder is not in the loaded mission, or the map has no default trader locations.
• Settings changes ignored: you edited profiles/ExpansionMod/Settings while the server was running. Stop, edit, start. After each Expansion update, compare your settings with the Expansion wiki, because new options are added often.

Expansion on GamezServers

On a GamezServers DayZ server, put @1559212036;@2545327648;@2116157322;@2572331007; in the Workshop mods setting and restart. We download the mods, keep them updated on every start, load them in that order and copy their keys. Upload the template folders in the Files tab (zips extract there) or over SFTP, edit cfgeconomycore.xml in the browser, and set Map to your mission folder. Press Backup before you start. For loot tuning afterwards, see how to edit loot on a DayZ server.

FAQ

What mods does DayZ Expansion need?

CF, Dabs Framework and DayZ-Expansion-Licensed, loaded before DayZ-Expansion-Bundle. The Bundle's Workshop page lists these as required items.

Where are DayZ Expansion settings stored?

Server wide settings, market and trader files are in profiles/ExpansionMod/. Map specific settings such as market zones and safe zones are in mpmissions/<mission>/expansion/settings/.

Can I add Expansion to an existing DayZ server?

Yes. Back up first, add the mods and template files to the mission the server already uses, and expect new loot to spread in over a few restarts.

Do players need to download Expansion?

Yes. The DayZ Launcher downloads all four mods when they join. The Bundle alone is close to 3 GB, so tell new players to subscribe ahead of time.