How To Mod Stardew Valley

Enhance your Stardew Valley experience with mods! This guide provides a straightforward method for modding the game on Windows. From enriching NPC storylines to adding cosmetic enhancements, modding unlocks creative possibilities.

Modding Stardew Valley on Windows:

Step One: Backup Your Save (Recommended)

Protecting your progress is crucial. If you've invested significant time, back up your save file. This isn't necessary for new games.

To back up:

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type %appdata% and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the Stardew Valley folder, then the 'Saves' folder.
4. Copy and paste the contents to a secure location.

Step Two: Install SMAPI

SMAPI is the essential mod loader. Download it directly from the official SMAPI website. Remember, SMAPI is a loader, not a mod itself; don't extract it into the mods folder.

1. Extract the downloaded ZIP file.
2. Run SMAPI and select "install on Windows."
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Step Three: Game Client Configuration (If Necessary)

If using Steam, GOG Galaxy, or the Xbox App, you might need additional steps to maintain playtime tracking and achievements. Refer to the SMAPI documentation for client-specific instructions.

Step Four: Installing Mods

Nexus Mods offers a vast library of Stardew Valley mods.

1. Download mods (typically ZIP files) from Nexus Mods.

2. Extract the downloaded ZIP files.

3. Move the extracted mod folders into the Mods folder, automatically created by SMAPI. The Mods folder location depends on your game client:

   • Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley
   • GOG Galaxy: C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Stardew Valley
   • XBox App: C:\XboxGames\Stardew Valley

With thousands of mods available, explore and enhance your Stardew Valley adventure!

Stardew Valley is available now.