How to Install Mods

When you know the right steps, installing mods for 7 Days to Die is very easy. Below is a quick guide to help you set everything up and start enjoying your mods right away.

1. Create a “Mods” Folder

Note for 7 Days to Die V1 users:
In version 1.0+, a “Mods” folder is automatically created. If you’re using 7 Days to Die 1.0 or later, you can skip this step.
Important: There is a “0_TFP_Harmony” folder inside “Mods” folder. Do not delete it! This is a vanilla folder required for C# mods to work. For more details, see Stop Deleting the Harmony Folder.

For Alpha versions (Alpha 21 or earlier), you’ll need to manually create a “Mods” folder in the game’s installation directory. This is where you’ll place any mods you download.

Steam:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\7 Days To Die

If you plan to use mods on a server, create a “Mods” folder in the server’s installation directory.

Dedicated Server:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\7 Days To Die Dedicated Server

2. Download the Mod

We feature thousands of mods on our website, so browse around and pick what you like. Once you’ve found a mod that interests you, just follow the download link to get it.

3. Extract the Mod and Put It in the “Mods” Folder

(This is the most important step. Please read the instructions carefully.)

1. Extract the downloaded mod file (usually in a .zip or .rar file).
2. Within the extracted file, identify the correct folder. This folder must contain the “ModInfo.xml” file.

For example, if your download path looks like this:

\Downloads\ExampleModFolder1\ExampleModFolder2\ExampleModFolder3\ModInfo.xml

The correct folder to copy is “ExampleModFolder3” .

3. Copy that folder and paste it into your “Mods” folder.

Where is the “Mods” folder?

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\7 Days To Die\Mods

When you paste the correct mod folder, the final state of the directory will be as follows:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\7 Days To Die\Mods\ExampleModFolder3

Click to view the server installation details.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\7 Days To Die Dedicated Server\Mods

When you paste the correct mod folder, the final state of the directory will be as follows:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\7 Days To Die Dedicated Server\Mods\ExampleModFolder3

Still have questions about this step? You can clear everything up by downloading an example folder structure with the correct installation:

DOWNLOAD Example Folder Structure (5 KB)
Please do not attempt to install the contents of this file. It is just an example file designed to help you understand everything more clearly.

4. Run the Game and Enjoy the Mod

After completing the steps above, launch the game. Your mods should now be active!

Additional Notes

Different Installation Methods

Some mods require different installation steps. Always follow the specific instructions provided by the mod’s creator if they differ from this guide.

Alternative Mod Folder Location

According to TFP (The Fun Pimps), there is a new alternative mod folder location starting with Alpha 20.4 b42:

Alpha 20.4 b42: Mods are now loaded from <UserDataFolder>/Mods (i.e. the folder that also stores saves, e.g. on Windows %APPDATA%/7DaysToDie/Mods) in addition to <game folder>/Mods. In a future build this will change to only load from that new location so no data is written/changed in the program folder at any time.