How to Install Valheim Mods on a Dedicated Server (BepInEx)

To install Valheim mods on a dedicated server, install the BepInExPack_Valheim mod loader into the server folder, put each mod's .dll file in BepInEx/plugins, and restart. Every player then installs the same mods in the same versions on their own game, which is easiest with a mod manager like r2modman and a shared profile code. Mods come from Thunderstore, the main Valheim mod site.

That is the core of it. The part that actually causes trouble is keeping everyone's mods matching, so most of this guide is about that.

What you need

Piece	What it is
BepInExPack_Valheim	The mod loader, published on Thunderstore by denikson. Every BepInEx mod needs it
Mods	`.dll` plugins from Thunderstore, each with its own dependencies
Jotunn	A common library many content mods depend on. Install it when a mod lists it
A mod manager	r2modman or the Thunderstore Mod Manager, so players can install the same set in one go

Which mods need to be on the server and which on clients?

Valheim mods fall into three groups, and each mod's Thunderstore page should say which it is:

Server and client. Anything that adds items, creatures, building pieces or changes gameplay rules. Everyone needs it, in the same version. This is most mods.
Client only. Visual and interface mods, like minimap tweaks or better UI. Players can install them without the server caring.
Server only. A few admin and performance mods run on the server alone.

When in doubt, install it in both places. A mod missing on one side is the most common reason a modded crew cannot connect.

Step 1: Install BepInEx on the server

On a self hosted server:

Download BepInExPack_Valheim from Thunderstore.
Open the zip. Inside is a folder called BepInExPack_Valheim.
Copy everything inside that folder into your Valheim server folder, next to valheim_server.exe or valheim_server.x86_64. You should end up with a BepInEx folder beside the server program.
On Windows, start the server as usual. On Linux, start it with the start_server_bepinex.sh script from the pack, after setting your server name, world and password in it.
Start once and stop. BepInEx creates its folders, including BepInEx/plugins and BepInEx/config.

If BepInEx/LogOutput.log exists after the first start, BepInEx is loading.

Step 2: Add the mods

Download each mod from Thunderstore, plus every dependency listed on its page.
Copy the mod's .dll file (or its folder, if it ships as a folder) into BepInEx/plugins.
Start the server. Each mod creates its config file in BepInEx/config.
Stop the server, edit the configs you care about, and start again.

Server config files often sync to clients for mods built on Jotunn or ServerSync, so players get the server's settings automatically. That is the mod author's choice, so check the mod page.

Step 3: Give your crew the same mods

This is where modded servers live or die. Our advice: do not ask friends to copy .dll files around by hand.

Install r2modman or the Thunderstore Mod Manager.
Create a profile for your server and install the exact mods and versions the server has.
In the profile settings, export it as a profile code.
Send the code to your crew. They import it and launch Valheim through the mod manager.

When you add or update a mod on the server, update the profile and send a new code. Many mods built with Jotunn check versions on connect and refuse players whose mods do not match, with a message naming the mod. That is annoying in the moment, but it beats silent desyncs and broken items.

The easier way: a Thunderstore modpack

If your crew agrees on a list, publish it (or pick an existing one) as a Thunderstore modpack. A modpack is just a list of mods with exact versions, so the server and every player install precisely the same thing. Players import the modpack in their mod manager, and you never have to compare version numbers again.

Installing mods on a GamezServers Valheim server

GamezServers Valheim servers come in two server types, picked at checkout and switchable later in Settings:

Server type	For
Vanilla	Valheim as Iron Gate ships it, with crossplay for console and Game Pass players
BepInEx	Thunderstore mods and modpacks, for PC players

On the BepInEx type, BepInEx is already installed. Then you have two options:

Single mods: open the Files tab, go to BepInEx/plugins and upload the mod files. Press Restart.
A modpack: enter the modpack's dependency string in Settings under Thunderstore modpack, in the form Author-PackName-1.0.0, then press Update game. The server pulls BepInEx and every mod in the pack.

One thing to know: with a modpack set, Update game replaces BepInEx/plugins with the modpack's mods. Pick one approach. If you want extra mods on top of a pack, the clean way is a pack of your own that includes them. Your worlds are not touched either way.

Press Backup before adding mods to a world you care about. It is one click and covers the case where a mod corrupts something.

Crossplay and mods

Console players cannot use mods. A server with gameplay mods is effectively PC only, because Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 players have no way to install the matching mods. That is why our BepInEx type has crossplay off by default and our vanilla type has it on. If your group mixes PC and console, stay vanilla and use world modifiers to tune the game instead.

After a Valheim update

Big Valheim patches break mods regularly. After an update:

Expect some mods to fail until their authors update them.
Check BepInEx/LogOutput.log for errors that name a mod.
Update mods as fixes appear, on the server and in your shared profile.
Remove anything abandoned.

Our servers update Valheim on every restart, so after a big patch hold off on restarting until your key mods are updated, or be ready to remove a few. Leave the Beta branch setting empty on a modded server unless your whole crew and every mod are on the public test branch too. See Valheim incompatible version fix for the version side of things.

Common problems

Problem	Fix
Mods do nothing on the server	BepInEx is not loading. Check `BepInEx/LogOutput.log` exists after a start
Players get an incompatible version error	Mod versions differ. Re-share the profile code
Player kicked with a mod name in the message	That mod is missing or on a different version for them
Server crashes after adding a mod	Missing dependency. Install everything listed on the mod page
Items vanished after removing a mod	Items and pieces from a removed mod are gone. Restore a backup if you need them

How much RAM does a modded Valheim server need?

Vanilla Valheim is light. A BepInEx server with a handful of mods runs well in 6 GB, and big content modpacks are happier with 8 GB. We size our Pro plan at 8 GB for exactly that. More on sizing in how much RAM a game server needs.

FAQ

Do all players need the same Valheim mods as the server?

For any mod that changes gameplay, items or building, yes, in the same version. Client only visual mods are the exception.

Can I add mods to an existing Valheim world?

Yes. Most mods work on existing worlds. New content may only appear in areas that have not been explored yet, depending on the mod.

Is BepInEx safe to use?

BepInEx is the standard open source mod loader for Valheim and many other Unity games. Download it and mods only from Thunderstore or the authors' official pages.

Can I use Valheim Plus?

Check its Thunderstore page for an update to the current Valheim version first. Older versions of large overhaul mods often break after patches.

Does Iron Gate support modding?

Iron Gate does not provide official mod tools, but BepInEx modding has been the norm for Valheim since early access, and the dedicated server runs it fine.

Modded Valheim in a minute

Pick the BepInEx type at checkout, drop a modpack name in Settings, and your crew is sailing in about 60 seconds. See Valheim server hosting or the Valheim quick start.