Solution to Arma Reforger "can't download mods"

[Animosity]

If there is not enough disk space for the mods or if your mods directory does not exist, you can have the problem where no mods download from any server, they instantly fail to download.

You can solve this by changing where the mods will be downloaded to, but THE FOLDER MUST EXIST. The game will not create the folder for you in the path you specify.


Solution:

• Right-click Arma Reforger in Steam Library
  
• Open Properties
  
• General tab -> Launch Options:
  
• Add these flags (change the folder paths to your own):
  -addonDownloadDir "D:\GAMES\Arma Reforger\addons" -addonsDir "D:\GAMES\Arma Reforger\addons"
  
• Create these directories in Windows if they do not already exist [if they do not exist, the downloads will immediately fail]

[sentrysteve]

I don't own ArmA but this was such a well written fix to some issue I don't know about, I have to give you some post points! Also, definitely subscribing to this discussion!!

[Major MeOwcelot]

This seems like the latest solution.
My buddy has tried to do as suggested but he still encountered an immediate error.

I will document the issues (He is on PC and on Win11) from oldest to most recent:

1. He has uninstalled and reinstalled the game then verified game files from steam. Encounters the error of downloading mods.
(When it first started to occur, could only play on old servers we didn't need to update, such as WCS, TRE and DarkGru but TRE had an update for two mods, when he did try to update them, he received an error for his connection taking to long/failure to communicate with the server due to not being reached)

2. He has uninstalled, completely wiped any related matter to Arma Reforger. As in; Deleting (C:Drive>USER>UserProfileName>OneDrive>Documents>My Games>Arma Reforger>addons folder) addons folder as per instructions to fix some broken downloading mods. then reinstalling the game to end up with the same error.
(This was after RHS Status Que was needing to be updated for all servers we played on)
---
2.1. We added the launch options you provided with the correct folders being needed in the hierarchy to end up with the same error as before.

3. He has uninstalled, completely wiped any related matter to Arma Reforger. As in; Deleting (C:Drive>USER>UserProfileName>OneDrive>Documents>My Games>Arma Reforger) He has deleted the Arma Reforger folder. He also deleted anything referring to Reforger. (Local Files and Roaming Files) along with deleting anything in SteamLibrary>SteamApps>common>Arma Reforger file entirely. Still gets an immediate error when downloading mods. (And it also acts like he never played the game before, which is the result of deleting the profile in his OneDrive>Documents>My Games>Arma Reforger)

He can play non modded Servers no problem at all; Official or no mods that are being hosted by 3rd party servers. So he didn't mess up any files crucial for the game. BUT anytime he goes to download the mods, he is met with the immediate ERROR of not being able to download the games. It doesn't even say the connection timed out or took to long to reach servers, just an immediate error for not being able to download mods.

Honestly, any help will be nice and appreciated. especially any feedback. and please, to the people who say it's because RuSsIa iS DdOs tHe SERVERS, this has been an issue for almost a week.


EDIT 1: As of 5/24/2025 The Solution is to TURN OFF YOUR FIREWALL COMPLETELY (as only doing 1 of the 3: Domain, Private and Public; we didn't try) but REMOVING the launch options and TURNING OFF ALL FIREWALLS allowed my buddy to download the mods)
If anything else happens I will update this discussion forum with more details.

[QuickReleasePerc]

Originally posted by Baan Dar:

This seems like the latest solution.
My buddy has tried to do as suggested but he still encountered an immediate error.

I will document the issues (He is on PC and on Win11) from oldest to most recent:

1. He has uninstalled and reinstalled the game then verified game files from steam. Encounters the error of downloading mods.
(When it first started to occur, could only play on old servers we didn't need to update, such as WCS, TRE and DarkGru but TRE had an update for two mods, when he did try to update them, he received an error for his connection taking to long/failure to communicate with the server due to not being reached)

2. He has uninstalled, completely wiped any related matter to Arma Reforger. As in; Deleting (C:Drive>USER>UserProfileName>OneDrive>Documents>My Games>Arma Reforger>addons folder) addons folder as per instructions to fix some broken downloading mods. then reinstalling the game to end up with the same error.
(This was after RHS Status Que was needing to be updated for all servers we played on)
---
2.1. We added the launch options you provided with the correct folders being needed in the hierarchy to end up with the same error as before.

3. He has uninstalled, completely wiped any related matter to Arma Reforger. As in; Deleting (C:Drive>USER>UserProfileName>OneDrive>Documents>My Games>Arma Reforger) He has deleted the Arma Reforger folder. He also deleted anything referring to Reforger. (Local Files and Roaming Files) along with deleting anything in SteamLibrary>SteamApps>common>Arma Reforger file entirely. Still gets an immediate error when downloading mods. (And it also acts like he never played the game before, which is the result of deleting the profile in his OneDrive>Documents>My Games>Arma Reforger)

He can play non modded Servers no problem at all; Official or no mods that are being hosted by 3rd party servers. So he didn't mess up any files crucial for the game. BUT anytime he goes to download the mods, he is met with the immediate ERROR of not being able to download the games. It doesn't even say the connection timed out or took to long to reach servers, just an immediate error for not being able to download mods.

Honestly, any help will be nice and appreciated. especially any feedback. and please, to the people who say it's because RuSsIa iS DdOs tHe SERVERS, this has been an issue for almost a week.


EDIT 1: As of 5/24/2025 The Solution is to TURN OFF YOUR FIREWALL COMPLETELY (as only doing 1 of the 3: Domain, Private and Public; we didn't try) but REMOVING the launch options and TURNING OFF ALL FIREWALLS allowed my buddy to download the mods)
If anything else happens I will update this discussion forum with more details.

- YOU saved the day my friend, disabling the firewalls helped with the ERROR message of not being able to download any mods. I had also created an 'addons' folder and pathed it from the Steam properties tab under Arma Reforger.
Was finally able to download mods without any issue after relaunching the game.
Cheers mate

[Аллигатор]

bru

[[ZSU] Colonel Lingus]

The above solution didn't help me but I did find the cause of why I couldn't access mods.
It was the Microsoft Ransomware Protection "Controlled folder access".
To check if this is what is causing your issue, go to your Windows settings, then to Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > On this page under Current Threats, there is a blue hyperlink to show "Protection History" - click on this. You should now see a list of the recent actions Windows security has taken on your device. If you expand one of the list items you may see something along the lines of "Protected access folder blocked" - "Your administrator has blocked this action" "App or process blocked: ArmaReforgerSteam.exe" "Protected folder: %userprofile%\Documents
My Games\ArmaReforger\logs". Under this option you can individually allow these actions or in my case, I selected controlled folder access settings and turned this option off.

[Snowball]

Originally posted by Dickson Cider:

The above solution didn't help me but I did find the cause of why I couldn't access mods.
It was the Microsoft Ransomware Protection "Controlled folder access".
To check if this is what is causing your issue, go to your Windows settings, then to Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > On this page under Current Threats, there is a blue hyperlink to show "Protection History" - click on this. You should now see a list of the recent actions Windows security has taken on your device. If you expand one of the list items you may see something along the lines of "Protected access folder blocked" - "Your administrator has blocked this action" "App or process blocked: ArmaReforgerSteam.exe" "Protected folder: %userprofile%\Documents
My Games\ArmaReforger\logs". Under this option you can individually allow these actions or in my case, I selected controlled folder access settings and turned this option off.

Huge help I really appreciate it

[FirestormV6]

Originally posted by Dickson Cider:

The above solution didn't help me but I did find the cause of why I couldn't access mods.
It was the Microsoft Ransomware Protection "Controlled folder access".
To check if this is what is causing your issue, go to your Windows settings, then to Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > On this page under Current Threats, there is a blue hyperlink to show "Protection History" - click on this. You should now see a list of the recent actions Windows security has taken on your device. If you expand one of the list items you may see something along the lines of "Protected access folder blocked" - "Your administrator has blocked this action" "App or process blocked: ArmaReforgerSteam.exe" "Protected folder: %userprofile%\Documents
My Games\ArmaReforger\logs". Under this option you can individually allow these actions or in my case, I selected controlled folder access settings and turned this option off.

This actually worked for me thanks a lot! I have a (possibly dumb) question though: once i download the mods i want is it okay to re-enable my ransomware protection?