Vortex Mod Manager Guide

For Starfield, Skyrim, Fallout, and many other games.
Complete with Tutorial Videos on how to use Vortex, plus Links, References & More.

Including:
• Video Tutorials.
  
• Vortex completely installs the Script Extender for you from download to update notices.
  
• Vortex completely installs your ENB.
  
• Vortex uses Loot API (Built-in).
  
• Vortex now supports GOG.
  
• Vortex supports mods for over 200 games.
  
• FAQ's section

Plus: Why was Vortex created from scratch rather than continuing Nexus Mod Manager.

Help others find this guide with a thumbs up

If you find this guide useful give it a Favorite and a thumbs up so it's not buried and lost in the shuffle. - Always appreciated and thank you.

thank you and enjoy

“What we find in books is like the fire in our hearths. We fetch it from our neighbors, we kindle it at home, we communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all.” ~Voltaire

Why this Guide?

First, why this guide and what does it contain?
Hopefully it serves as a means to cut through the main question for Gamers that are new to the modding scene. I spend a considerable amount of my time helping Gamers with their modding questions and many are confused as to which Mod Manager to use and that confusion is many times compounded by "bad information" regarding what Vortex is, who designed Vortex and what happened to Nexus Mod Manager. So rather than giving my personal opinion I thought it would be helpful to give folks a few words directly from the Vortex archives.

Originally much of this guide was copied directly from the Vortex Knowledge Base (I did speak with the very helpful folks in the Nexus Vortex forums, like Tannin42 and Pickysaurus, before publishing this "guide"). I was simply porting over information directly from Vortex to Steam via copy & paste in a Guide format for whomever may be interested. Over time the guide has grown with content I added to what it is today.

This guide is now a combination "How-to" guide and info from the "Knowledge Base". There is also a Q & A section as well as reference links which will be updated as needed.

There are other Mod Managers out there that are very powerful like MO2 or Wrye Bash. This guide does not recommend one over the other.

Why create Vortex instead of simply continuing with Nexus Mod Manager?

The following is taken directly from the Vortex knowledge base & is indicated as such by " " :

"The main reason why we decided to create a new mod manager from scratch, rather than to continue on with Nexus Mod Manager is that the latter is based on code written for Oblivion (Oblivion Mod Manager) and Fallout 3 (Fallout Mod Manager) - games that are now over 10 years old.

Since then, we’ve been working hard to bolster the functionality and scope of NMM despite being constantly stymied by code that is long past its prime written by developers who have long since moved on from the community and their work on the mod managers.

As our community has massively grown since the days of Oblivion and Fallout 3 (from half a million users back then to now almost 18 million), both the standards for the code base of our designated mod manager as well as the standards for its functionality have evolved.

Maintaining and updating Nexus Mod Manager meant carrying over inherent flaws in its code from revision to revision and adding functionality to it - such as mod packs, which we are aiming to do in the not too distant future - became akin to building on top of a crumbling foundation. The longer users stuck with NMM, the more likely it became that it would cause issues such as corrupted mod installations, all without notifying or alerting users to it.

Therefore, in 2016 we brought on a full-time developer with a proven track record of making mod managers to create from scratch a new, modern mod manager with the simplicity of NMM paired with high-end functionality that would further work with a vast number of games (at this point almost 70). In many regards, Vortex is the amalgamation of now almost 10 years of our joint experience in making and maintaining mod managers. Not only that, but we are also distributing it with a GPL-3 license, meaning Vortex is open source and based on extensions which gives avid programmers the ability to extend its functionality through plugins.

In essence, rather than having to work around and with flawed code from 10 years ago and keeping on patching NMM, starting fresh with Vortex and now two full-time programmers working on it enabled us to build exactly the mod manager we wanted from the ground up.

That being said, while we could have forced a switch for all users from NMM to Vortex, we chose not to because we think that if you are happy with NMM and have a working setup - by all means - you should stay with it. Just bear in mind that we are no longer providing support for NMM (i.e. helping you trouble-shoot issues with NMM). You can, however, still download the community-maintained version of NMM on our site and get help from users who are familiar with it and/or willing to assist with issues NMM might be causing.

If you are curious to try out Vortex, starting a new playthrough, a new mod setup, or simply want to start over due to issues with NMM or other mod managers, you can download the latest stable build of Vortex on our site."

Why choose Vortex?

Vortex is a great fit for people who...

• want an easy to use mod manager.
  
• like the idea of automated sorting combined with powerful conflict resolution tools
  
• would like to manage multiple games (not limited to Bethesda titles).
  
• want a mod manager with close integration with the Nexus Mods website.
  
• want a convenient way of managing mod profiles for different playthroughs.

That being said, we know that Vortex might not be for everyone. If you have a functional installation and a load order with many mods working perfectly together - by all means, stay with whichever way you choose to manage your mods. Likewise, if you are not interested in any of the features offered by Vortex, there is no point in switching.

Vortex might not be suited for people who...

• have massive, stable load orders, which they maintain manually or with another mod manager.
  
• prefer to do their sorting manually.
  
• are not interested in profile management, automatic sorting, or a mod manager with close integration with the Nexus Mods website."

For new modders

"For newcomers to modding, especially to modding of Bethesda games (The Elder Scrolls & Fallout series), this means that Vortex might be more intuitive than other mod managers as the main burden of load order management is taken off your shoulders. Because of that, Vortex is a great fit for new modders who have little to no experience when it comes to the intricacies of load order management and mod conflict resolution."

For veteran modders

"For experienced modders, Vortex’s automatic load order sorting might necessitate a renewed way of thinking about modding:

Over the years, many of us have become attached to the idea of being able to manually drag plugins in our load orders to specific slots. In fact, this is probably one of the most frequently pointed out things about Vortex from those with prior experience of modding Bethesda games. Through automatic sorting and conflict based granular control, Vortex places more focus on resolving conflicts and keeping changes to the minimum needed to have a working, stable game."

How Vortex manages your load order

"One of the key features is Vortex’s capability to automatically sort your load order (this applies to Bethesda games only: The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series) to prevent, or severely reduce, the number of conflicts between mods and increase the overall stability of your game. In general, using Vortex will have to spend a lot less time micromanaging your load order to achieve a stable setup.

When it comes to managing your load order, it is important to note that often modders will presume that a given plugin needs to be loaded in a specific load order slot, while in reality, all that matters is when the plugin in question is loaded in relation to another plugin. In other words: it would e.g. not matter if plugin A would load in load order slot 95 or 98, all that would matter is that it loads e.g. before plugin B, but after plugin C etc.

Vortex accomplishes this by making use of LOOT (Load Order Optimisation Tool) to automatically sort your plugins. LOOT is integrated into Vortex by default and does not need to be installed separately.

LOOT, and by extension, Vortex, will in most cases sort your plugins in a sensible fashion, though not always automatically get the load order 100% right. With that in mind, you will still be able to resolve mod conflicts manually. Providing you with information, assistance, and powerful tools, Vortex will help you to achieve exactly the setup that you want with minimal incompatibilities and issues remaining."

For more information on how Vortex approaches Load Order Sorting Click Here [wiki.nexusmods.com]
The above Link takes you (to an external site) here:
https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/The_Vortex_approach_to_load_order_sorting

All quoted ("") content copied directly from Vortex Mod Manager 1/23/2020

A look at the Vortex User Interface [wiki.nexusmods.com]

Coded with Loot API

Loot API[github.com] is built-in Vortex

File Based Load Order API

The concept of load ordering when modding games refers to the organization of a series of game modifications in a specific order for the game to load in sequence; this is particularly useful if for example mod A has functionality that depends on mod B - in order for mod A to function as intended, mod B must be loaded by the game before mod A.

Vortex's file based load ordering API aims to provide game extension developers with a simple way to quickly add a drag-and-drop load ordering page to their extensions, which game modders can use to organize their mod entries as they see fit from inside Vortex (or outside of it when applicable) before launching the game.

As the name of this article suggests, our system involves saving the load order data persistently on disk, which works quite well with (but not exclusive to) games that require a mod list file to be generated (e.g. Witcher 3, Kingdom Come: Deliverance and others). The extension developer has full control of how and where to save, load and validate mod entry data, while Vortex decides when it is necessary to do so... more[github.com]

Video Tutorials

Take some time to familiarize yourself with Vortex
At the very least watch the first 3 videos for now

Here's the introduction video by Gopher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kbOteChLJE&t=188s
Here's there rest of Gopher's tutorial videos
| #2 : Installing Mods | #3 : Scripted Installers | #4 : Plugins and Load Order
#5 : Dependencies and Conflicts | #6 : Profiles | #7 : Script Extenders | #8 : ENB | #9 : Fores(FNIS)
Encore (ENB)

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Make sure you're mapped

Make sure you can see your way around Vortex
Recently I've had several folks ask me how to easily identify mods with scripts and also those with dependencies. I've also had folks tell me "I don't see that icon in Vortex" so I'm bringing the following info back to this guide. Don't overthink this because when using Vortex it's actually quite simple:

First the "Mods" section

1. Make sure you're in the "Mods" view. Look all the way to the top rh side, click the gear cog (next to Actions) and make sure everything is checked with the exception of Archive Name, Mod Size, Tracking, Reference Status, Collection, and Highlight. . Refer to the image on the left.

2. New columns will appear in Vortex, several of the above should already be checked 2 however we don't want to check too many or everything will looked cramped.

3. The "Content" column shows you if a mod contains scripts, plugins, textures, meshes, etc.
Simply hover your mouse over these various icons and a text will appear identifying each one.

4. The "Dependencies" column should be checked by default (if not check it) however this is the most important so you can easily see your rules and change them if needed. The dependency column shows you the lightning bolt if there is a resolved conflict (green) or an unresolved conflict (red). To see these rules you simply click on the lightning bolt and that window will pop up.

Now the Plugin section

Similar to above so we can see LOOT messages and more.

First select the gear cog.
1. Make sure you're in the "Plugins" view. Look all the way to the top rh side. Click the gear cog.

2.Make sure all boxes are checked.

3. The last box will allow us to see all or some of LOOT's messages (this will at least alert us to check LOOT's message). These messages will be in line with the mod's file name.

3. All other boxes create new columns. For example by hovering over one of the icons in the "Flags" column with your mouse you'll see more info on each mod. The other columns are self explainable.

This should make managing your load order at a glance much easier.

Also, when you are following instructions or someone is helping you with Vortex and asks you to look at such and such column you will actually see the column they are referring to.

Tool Setup

Some games already have shortcuts for popular tools on the dashboard these can be edited from the context menu next to the play button. In the case of games that don't, we can use the 'Add tools' option in the Starter dashlet. See: Tool Setup[wiki.nexusmods.com]

Simple Script Extender install for Bethesda Games

Script Extender: SKSE - NVSE - FOSE - SKSE64 - OBSE - VR(all) Easy install

Installation Tutorial Video by Gopher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0prWgeGGnp8

Script Extender Download Locations by Game

GAME	Script Extender VERSION	DOWNLOAD SITE
Fallout 3	FOSE	fose.silverlock.org/
Fallout 4	F4SE	f4se.silverlock.org/
Fallout 4 VR	F4SEVR	f4se.silverlock.org/
Fallout New Vegas	NVSE	nvse.silverlock.org/
Skyrim	SKSE	skse.silverlock.org/
Skyrim SE	SKSE64	skse.silverlock.org/
Skyrim VR	SKSEVR	skse.silverlock.org/
Oblivion	OBSE	nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/37952

NOTE: only download script extender from a silverlock.org site listed above
the only exception will be for Oblivion from NexusMods.com also listed above

Installing Mods

Installing Mods from Nexus

Please pay careful attention: At each mod page when using Nexus (which is 97% of the time) always download your mods from the "Files" tab as many times there are multiple files to choose from and using the "Main Download" (or Vortex) button at the top of the page may not give you the file you need. If by chance the mod only has a "Manual" download button read & follow the install instructions on the mod page. See below for more info:





THEN USE THE MOD MANAGER DOWNLOAD BUTTON IN THAT SECTION
unless of course you are installing a mod that must specifically be installed manually.
(usually in these instances (but not always) you will only see a MANUAL DOWNLOAD button)

Installing mods from 3rd party sites (other than Nexus)

To drag & drop a file into Vortex you do so from the very bottom of the "Mods" section:


OR you can navigate to the file from the very top left hand side of Vortex (see image below):

Cyclic Errors - Avoid them

What is a Cyclic Error?
If you set plugin A to load after plugin B and plugin B to load after plugin A, the two rules contradict each other and Vortex (same with MO2 and LOOT) will not be able to sort your plugin list and instead put out the error message “Plugins not sorted because of cyclic rules”.

A Tip to avoid the Cyclic error rabbit hole
Let's first talk about sorting conflicts in general and how you address them in Vortex. A lightning bolt icon appears in Vortex next to a mod that is in conflict with another mod. Don't panic as this icon is very helpful. I feel this icon should be set to show by default as an additional alert to users when there's a conflict as they build their load order. I've had folks tell me "I don't see that icon in Vortex" so I'm adding this section to the guide so you can set the User Interface (UI) to display this icon. So let's set that up as outlined below.

1. First Make sure you're viewing the "Mods" section of Vortex. Look all the way to the top rh side, then select the gear cog (next to Actions). Refer to the image on the left.


2. Make sure everything is checked with the exception of Archive Name, Mod Size, Tracking, Reference Status, Collection, and Highlight. . Refer to the image on the left.

New columns will now appear in Vortex, several of the above should already be checked however we don't want to check too many or everything will looked cramped. The new column we are interested in here is the "Dependencies" column.

Before I get into the steps I should mention there is no magic wand in this section that will save the day without you taking your time as you build your load order, especially where conflicts and compatibility come into play. Maybe one day I'll make a video explaining this a bit better in the future but for now hopefully this will point you in the right direction.

Important
When you install a mod that conflicts with another mod (or mods) you have installed Vortex will always display a pop up indicating the conflict, this is by default. However as a result of the above steps where we checked that dependency box a lightning bolt icon will now also appear whenever there's a conflict with a particular mod (or mods). One will also appear next to the mod (or mods) it's conflicting with. First remember that all conflicts are not bad but if you built your load order properly Vortex is simply alerting you to the fact that you must choose which one loads last. A Red lightning bolt indicates a conflict and a Green lighting bolt indicates you satisfied the conflict.

Using the conflict to fix a cyclic error
As soon as a Cyclic error message appears in Vortex Stop right there because the last mod you just installed triggered the error. Look for any red lightning bolts and then select it. A large box will appear showing you the mod or mods that are conflicting. Make note of them along with the before and after rules you had previously set before the error appeared. Your issue is in there somewhere but of course how you solve it depends on how many mods are listed in the box. By sorting the issue here it's sometimes much easier than using the large connect the dots type system that is sometimes used.

Again, the key is taking your time. You may even want to uninstall that last mod you just installed and then make note of the before/after rules in that section for clarity. Then reinstall the mod which will trigger the message again and then you can use your notes to sort it out knowing that the previous rules for the previous mods were correct. Sometimes it's as easy as flipping one rule, other times it's changing more than one rule, sometimes everything is green which indicates you probably already tried solving the issue perhaps through the Groups chart. This can happen if you discovered this method too late and had already tried moving things around. In this case you'll have to do some homework on cyclic errors or perhaps rebuild your load order. But this works for me although I rarely see cyclic errors and neither will you as you gain more experience modding.

This is something that I do that I thought I'd share. I'm not sure this section will help everyone but I thought I'd share this as it has always worked for me. I really can't help you much more than what I typed above.

Conclusion
There are other ways to solve cyclic errors of which quite frankly you should be at least an intermediate level experienced mod user otherwise you should do extensive research on how to address them. The best way to deal with cyclic errors is not to encounter them to begin with so please when building a load order do so slow and methodical. This way you'll not encounter them in the first place. But if you do encounter a cyclic error the above steps might just save the day.

For more info on conflicts and dependencies
Go to the 18:40 mark of this video for cyclic rules
https://youtu.be/eSkurhkPSyw

Profiles * set-up and use

click image to expand

Profiles are a useful way to keep mod lists, game settings and save files separate for different characters on the same game. This functionality is enabled by using the toggle on the “To-do” dashlet or in the settings menu under “Interface” in Vortex.

Each profile will contain the current mod list you have enabled. To start a new profile, click the button below the profile tiles. This will open the form with the following options:

Name - This is what the profile will be called.
This profile has its own save games* - Keep the save games for this profile separate.
This profile has its own game settings* - Keep game INIs specific to this profile.

You can toggle between all profiles you have set up by pressing the “Enable” button beneath each. The icon in the bottom right of each profile will allow you to easily transfer the currently enabled mods list from one profile to another by dragging it onto the icon on a different profile.

All of your installed mods will appear across Profiles. Each additional Profile you create will initially disable those mods of which you can choose to enable each or leave it disabled.

Refer to the Vortex Knowledge Base[wiki.nexusmods.com] for more information.
you can also find the Knowledge Base from within the Vortex mod manager

How to set up different profiles for the same game

Part of Gopher's excellent tutorial series on using Vortex

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For Vortex support see the section of this guide titled "How to request Forum Support"

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Flagging as Light Plugins

Vortex has made this process both easy & safe:

Posted by  Tannin42
Actually this is quite trivial for Vortex, LOOT is doing the important work here.

LOOT has a function to tell us if all the records in a plugin have ids below the threshold and thus could be converted without re-arranging the records.

We (Vortex) just set a flag in the header of the plugin when you convert.

The more involved/problematic case where records are "compactified" to stay below the threshold isn't support, that still requires xedit.

With that out of the way
Just follow these simple steps:

1. go to your plugins tab in vortex

2. make sure that you have the flags column enabled (you can activate this by using the gear icon in the upper right hand section - I have them all checked)

3. If a mod can be marked as light, you will see an outline of a feather (solid gray colored feather means it's already a light plugin so ignore it).

4. Double click the feather (actually anywhere but the link) and a new section slides out on the far right and there's a button that you can click which simply says 'Mark Light'.

5. Click it - now deploy mods in Vortex - you're done.

Note: the light plugin option has been there for a while now. also, I have tested this by cross checking in xEdit for the past several months and have yet to see a single error as far as what Vortex says can be safely converted.

Disable an .esp (plugin)

I get asked from time to time if disabling an .esp will keep the textures and meshes active. For example when using Particle Patch for SSE and ENB Helper SE together you'll receive a message in Loot to disable the Particle Patch .esp

The answer is Yes.

Simply go to the "Plugins" section of Vortex and use the dropdown under the "Status" column (far left side) and choose "Disabled". Make sure the mod is still active (green) in the Mods section of Vortex which it should be as long as you didn't mess with it there.

What is Hardlink Deployment?

A deployment method refers to how Vortex installs your mods so they load when the game is launched. When adding a supported game to Vortex, it will automatically choose the best deployment method for your game and system. It is not recommended that you switch the deployment method.

To understand Hardlink deployment you must first know how File Systems work. Files are stored in two parts, the actual file data and an index containing the filename, access rights, creation/modified dates and other information.

Hard Links work by creating a second entry in the index pointing to the new location but still referencing the original file data. This way there is no difference between the original and link files after the link is created.

Vortex adds your mods to the mod install path, then makes a hard link to your mod install location when deployed. Each deployment will check and rebuild all Hard links. On purging your mods these links are removed.

For more information see this[wiki.nexusmods.com]

This is an extension for Vortex that adds a new deployment method to Vortex.
Fully Virtual Deployment[www.nexusmods.com]

Moving Mods to another drive

Moving mods over should be as easy as:
- Moving them over.
- In Vortex: Settings > Mods > Mod Staging Folder (Skryim Special Edition).
- Settings > Mods > Downloads > Download folder.

If Vortex does not detect links outright after restart then purge and deploy them again.

For more information:
https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions#What_does_%22deployment%22_(and_%E2%80%9Cpurge%E2%80%9D)_mean?

Moving Mods to new PC

Moving your Vortex Mod Setup to a new Computer[wiki.tesnexus.com]

Removing ALL mods

Removing ALL your mods from Vortex

1. Open Vortex
2. make sure you are in the "Mods" section
3. Purge Mods by using the "Purge Mods" button at the top
4. then click on the very first (top) mod then Ctrl + A on your keyboard
5. New line will appear at the very bottom
6. Select Remove all (that's it for Vortex but we should also clean up any loose files - see step 7)
7. Now perform a Clean Vanilla Reinstall of SSE following this Video

Merged plugins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWOqWr0r7dY

https://youtu.be/sXRsos5IsgA

Vortex Extensions

Available Vortex Extensions - All Games
Extensions[www.nexusmods.com]

Manual Rules

Make sure you can see your way around Vortex

First Let's Cover the "Mods" section of Vortex
Recently I've had several folks ask me how to easily identify mods with scripts and also those with dependencies. I've also had folks tell me "I don't see that icon in Vortex" so I'm bringing the following info back to this guide. Don't overthink this because when using Vortex it's actually quite simple:

Remember, the following cover the "Mods" section of Vortex
Make sure your checked boxes match the image
1. Make sure you're in the "Mods" section of Vortex. Look all the way to the top right hand side, click the gear cog (next to Actions) and make sure everything is checked with the exception of Archive Name, Mod Size, Tracking, Reference Status, Collection, and Highlight. . <<<Leave these 6 unchecked. Refer to the image on the left.

2. New columns will appear in Vortex, several of the above should be checked by default however we don't want to check them all or everything will looked cramped and be difficult to find. We need to see them at a glance.

3. The "Content" column shows you if a mod contains scripts, plugins, textures, meshes, etc.
Simply hover your mouse over these various icons and a text will appear identifying each one.

4. The "Dependencies" column should be checked by default (if not check it) however this is the most important box so you can easily see your rules and change them if needed. The dependency column shows you a lightning bolt icon - a resolved conflict (green) or an unresolved conflict (red). To see these rules you simply click on the lightning bolt and the sorting window will pop up.


Managing your load order with organized easy to see columns makes resolving conflicts much easier.

Also, when you are following instructions or if someone is helping you with Vortex and asks you to look at a particular column you will actually see the column they are referring to.

Now for the Plugins section I'll simply refer you to Gopher's video
The following is an older video so the current layout will be slightly different.
The principles still apply:
https://youtu.be/BRo8I32ASSw

Files within Conflicts

As an Example I'll use 2 mods for Skyrim SE:
"Optimized meshes for ENB Lights - A - Vanilla and SMIM files" and "SMIM"
(simply substitute the names of the 2 mods you are working with)

So you have them both installed and have set the "Optimized Meshes" mod to win the conflict, however you want one file in "SMIM" to win a conflict within.
(see the image below)
From the Mods section of Vortex
Step 1. Find the mod Optimized meshes for ENB Lights - A - Vanilla and SMIM files"
Step 2. Right click on it and select "Manage File Conflicts"
Step 3. under "Imperial" find the file "impcandelabracandle01.nif"
Step 4. Staying on that line and to the far right select the dropdown
Step 5. Now change it by selecting "Static Mesh Improvement Mod"
Step 6. Save/Exit window then Deploy Mods
(Select image below for a detailed look at steps 4-6)
Step 7. Remember to deploy mods when finished.

Modlist Backup

Description
There is an Extension that will back up your mod list. The way it works is it takes the list of mods that Vortex currently has and writes them to a file. It then allows you to take that file and Restore your list of mods, making Vortex download them again as if you'd downloaded them from the Nexus Website. This feature will only redownload the mods you downloaded from Nexus mods. You will also need a Premium Nexus account.

Installation
You need to install the extension by opening Vortex, look on the left side and select "Extensions" then in that section look down near the bottom and selct "Find more". Then in the search bar type 'modlist backup' then in the search results highlight Modlist Backup 0.3.2 and you can read about it and the install instructions.

Vortex Forum Support

Vortex Forums[forums.nexusmods.com]

This section was copied directly from the Vortex Knowledge Base

In order for us to be able to troubleshoot and investigate potential issues with Vortex it is crucial that you provide us with all pertinent information and a concise description of the problem at hand. The more clearly you communicate your issue, the more likely we are to provide assistance and improve Vortex. Please, bear in mind that this forum is intended for Vortex support requests. If you would like to report a bug, or if you have a suggestion, please use the Vortex feedback system which can be accessed from within Vortex (three dots in the top right > Send Feedback).

If you come across a post by a user that is lacking information, please, point them to this forum topic and highlight the fact that they need to provide more information about their setup and system.

It is in your best interest to be as precise as possible so we, as well as other users, can try our best to help you. So, please, be polite and respectful in your report, follow forum etiquette, and describe your issue in a comprehensible manner.

Crucial information that we need in order to help you

1. Which version of Vortex are you on?

We need to know which version of Vortex you are using as some issues are unique to older versions and may have already been fixed in the latest build.

To look up which version you are using: click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "About".


2. What game are you trying to mod with Vortex?

Different games come with different Vortex features, deployment methods, or even UI elements. We need to know which game you are using Vortex with so we can properly investigate your issue.


3.How many mods do you have installed?

Some issues might be down to a very large number of mods being used. Providing us with a ballpark number might help us identify the issue at hand.


4. What environment are you running Vortex on?

At times it might be important for us to know what Windows version you are using, how much RAM you have available, as well as whether your system architecture is x64 or x86.

Be precise and concise in your report

Starting by choosing a descriptive topic name, you should try to communicate your issue in a concise and precise manner. After providing the version of Vortex that you are on, as well as the game that you are using Vortex with, please, lay out the issue that you are experiencing, what you were trying to do when the error occurred, as well as any error messages that you might have received. Moreover, let us know about any steps you might have taken in order to solve the issue yourself.


It is of utmost importance that you provide us with the exact wording of any (error) message that Vortex is producing, rather than trying to describe it in your own words.

Provide helpful screenshots and/or log files

If possible, provide screenshots of any error messages (you can use imgur.com to upload your images), Vortex UI issues, or your particular mod or plugin setup. Further, in some cases, it might be helpful if you provide your Vortex log files which you can find in %AppData%/Roaming/Vortex.

To access that folder hold your Windows Key + R
Type in %appdata% and hit Enter
Open the Vortex folder
Look for text documents named Vortex, Vortex1, Vortex2 etc. The most recent one will be the log file that is most relevant to your issue. You can upload it to a hosting platform of your choice, or copy and paste the content of that log file in your post (please use the spoiler tag in that case).


Address any follow-up questions staff might have
If one of the admins (Dark0ne, Tannin42, BigBizkit, Pickysaurus) responds to your report with further questions about your issue, please, try to answer these questions providing more specific information if possible. If you do not respond to our follow-up questions within a reasonable amount of time, we will conclude that the issue did not persist or you were since able to resolve it.

Examples of what to do (and what not to do)

Good example report
Topic: No deployment method available (0.16.5)

I am using Vortex version 0.16.5 and I am trying to mod Fallout 4. I am using Windows 10, x64, and I have 16gb of RAM. I am only using a handful of mods (12) but I am receiving an error message saying "No deployment method available" right from the start, as I have only just now installed Vortex for the first time.

Here's a screenshot of that error message: <screenshot>

This report is short and to the point while providing all pertinent information. The topic title already conveys which version the user is on and what their issue is.


Bad example report
Topic: Vortex not working

I cannot run Vortex with my game, I just get an error. Can anyone help?

This report is very vague and entirely devoid of information. We only know that the user is having some sort of issue, but we do not know which version they are on, what the issue is, what game they are trying to mod etc. In this case, we cannot help them until they have answered several questions.

What we cannot help you with

At times people post in the Vortex support forum with requests for help related to their load order, mod setup, or bugs they experience in the game. Unfortunately, if it is apparent that these issues are not related to Vortex, but rather to the mods themselves - be it faulty textures, meshes, or scripts - we cannot help you and the appropriate place to ask would be in the corresponding mod troubleshooting subforums e.g.:

Skyrim Mod Troubleshooting

Skyrim Special Edition Mod Troubleshooting

Fallout 4 Mod Troubleshooting

But you came for the link:
Vortex Nexus Forums[forums.nexusmods.com]

How to Report a bug

---

If you would like to report a bug, or if you have a suggestion, please use the Vortex feedback system which can be accessed from within Vortex (three dots in the top right > Send Feedback).

You also can report bugs here:
https://github.com/Nexus-Mods/Vortex/issues/

---

Vortex Next - Preview Build (Collections)

Caution: This build of Vortex is intended for users who would like to assist with the alpha and beta testing of the Collections feature. This version of the application may contain bugs and may not be suitable for general usage. If you are not interested in helping us to test collections, please download the latest stable release instead.
Vortex Next - Preview Build[www.nexusmods.com]

Where can I download Vortex

For download and other information regarding Vortex please visit the link below:

Vortex: Click Here for Vortex [www.nexusmods.com]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Not Recommended
NMM: Click Here for Nexus Mod Manager [www.nexusmods.com]
Please note: Nexus Mod Manager is no longer supported however community support is offered.

UPDATES - Changelog

Not seeing an option to update Vortex?
Simply refesh your user info in the top right section of Vortex (see image below)
Afterwards if there's a new version of Vortex you'll be prompted to update

*Recent Updates

Vortex now supports GOG

Complete Update History[github.com]

most recent updates to Vortex - Use the above link for details
------------------------------------------------------------
2 0 2 5
1.14.0-beta.1 is available
1.13.7 (01/21/2025) See above link for details
1.13.5 (01/07/2025)
1.13.7 (01/21/2025)
1.13.6 (01/19/2025)
------------------------------------------------------------
2 0 2 4
1.13.2 (12/03/2024)
1.13.1 (12/02/2024)
1.12.6 (10/02/2024)
1.12.5 (10/01/2024)
1.12.4 (9/13/2024)
1.12.3 (8/19/2024)
1.12.2 (8/14/2024)
1.12.1 (8/11/2024)
1.12.0 (August 2024)
What's new in Vortex 1.11.7[github.com] 6/12/2024

What's new in Vortex 1.6.14[github.com] 10/11/2022

What's new in Vortex 1.6.13[github.com] 9/30/2022

What's new in Vortex 1.6.12[github.com] 9/29/2022

What's new in Vortex 1.6.6[github.com] 8/11/2022

What's new in Vortex 1.6.5[github.com] 8/9/2022

What's new in Vortex 1.6.4[github.com]

What's new in Vortex 1.6.2[github.com]

What's new in Vortex 1.6.0[github.com]

What's new in Vortex 1.5.13[github.com]

What's new in Vortex 1.4.12[forums.nexusmods.com]

What's new in Vortex 1.4.9? [forums.nexusmods.com]

What's new in Vortex 1.4? [www.nexusmods.com]

What's new in Vortex 1.3? [www.nexusmods.com]

What's new with Vortex? - 1.2.14 [www.nexusmods.com]

Complete Release History[github.com]

Added a section in this guide titled "Down the road..." as Nexus announces they will be working on a new mod manger. Don't panic as not only is this a long way off until the beta is released but Vortex will be supported for quite some time. Don't get caught up in all the noise that's sure to come.

Wiki

Wiki: Vortex[wiki.nexusmods.com]

FAQ

Some Questions Vlad 254 has come across from both users & potential users of Vortex

Q: Where does Vortex install to by default?
A: C:\Program Files\Black Tree Gaming Ltd\Vortex

Q: Where is a list of my plugins from Vortex when people ask me to post my load order?
A: You can find it here: C:\Users\[your name]\AppData\Local\Skyrim Special Edition\loadorder.txt
AND/OR: While in Vortex / while in the "Mods" section / up top choose "Open" (folder icon) / choose "Open Game Application Data Folder" / you'll see "loadorder.txt"

Q: Is Loot built-in to Vortex?
A: LOOT is integrated into Vortex by default and does not need to be installed separately. LOOT, and by extension, Vortex, will in most cases sort your plugins in a sensible fashion, though not always automatically get the load order 100% right. With that in mind, you will still be able to resolve mod conflicts manually. However, since Vortex also uses your rules it's more accurate than stand alone Loot (unless of course you make Meta changes in Loot).

Q: Why should I download and use Loot then?
A: I use both for the simple fact Loot gives me detailed messages. Sure Vortex uses Loot API and Vortex will also alert you regarding any messages from Loot so for these reasons you don't "need" Loot. But Loot gives me a detailed message with any links related to that message that would otherwise clutter up Vortex. These details are vital as they lead directly to Patches and compatibility links etc.

Q: Who created Vortex?
A: Vortex was created by Tannin, the same person that created Mod Organizer.

Q: Can Vortex Handle a Large load order effectively and efficiently?
A: Absolutely. I have had 700 mod list load orders, and have played hundreds of hours on that character adding mods as I go and I can report zero issues since the day I started my character that were directly related to Vortex. I have even used Vortex to safely remove mods that were simple textures or Armors or mods the mod author of that particular mod said were safe to remove mid- playthrough.

Q: How can I remove ALL my SSE mods from Vortex so I can start over?
A: 1. Open Vortex
2. make sure you are in the "Mods" section
3. Purge Mods by using the "Purge Mods" button at the top
4. then click on the very first (top) mod then Ctrl + A on your keyboard
5. New line will appear at the very bottom
6. Select Remove all (be sure to check "Archive" as well)
(that's it for Vortex but we should also clean up any loose files - see step 7)
7. Now perform a Clean Vanilla Reinstall of SSE following this Video

Q: Does Vortex have an option to open my Skyrimprefs.ini & Skyrim.ini files?
A: Yes, I'm sure it will be in the next update as an easier way to access, however, in the meantime you can download it now. Follow the instructions on the Download page; https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/103?tab=description

Q: Vortex keeps telling me there's an update each time I open it
A: This is commonly caused by updating a version of Vortex installed in a "Custom Install Location". It's possible the updater is installing the new version of Vortex to C:\Program Files\Black Tree Gaming Ltd\Vortex but the old version installed elsewhere still exists. When using your pre-existing shortcuts to open Vortex it will launch the outdated version and prompt you to update again. To fix this either uninstall the newer copy of Vortex and redownload the custom location installer from the download page or remove the version installed outside of Program Files and continue to use the latest version at the default location.

Q: Finally made the switch to Vortex from the old NMM and I'm now seeing more conflicts that I ever remember seeing in NMM?
A: This answer is included in the Vortex knowledge base. Nexus Mod Manager and Vortex have different ways of making you aware of file conflicts and enabling you to solve them. In most cases your NMM installation will have several file conflicts which you simply are not aware of, whereas Vortex will inform you about the conflicts, and offer the option to resolve them (in different ways) without having to reinstall the mods in question.

Q: Why are all my mods missing after updating?
A: If your mods table appears to be blank or you receive a warning that the staging folder cannot be found after restarting Vortex there are a number of possible changes that may have happened since Vortex was last opened. In almost all cases this change was not caused by Vortex itself.

• Your mod staging folder has been moved
  
• Your mod staging folder has been deleted
  
• The removable/network drive your mod staging folder was on is no longer connected
  
• The drive your mod staging folder was on has been assigned a new drive letter (Ex: D:\ may now be E:\)

Vortex runs several safety checks when you set your staging folder to prevent you from placing it somewhere it could be deleted, however, it may be still possible in specific circumstances to set it incorrectly. The most common mistake is having your staging folder(s) and download folder(s) inside the Vortex install directory (typically C:\Program Files\Black Tree Gaming Ltd\Vortex). This folder and all it's contents are completely removed each time Vortex updates, so any data placed inside the folder is at risk of being permanently deleted.

What's up with the Vortex message about loose files not being loaded?
A: Vortex is informing you of a "quirk" in the game engine that sometimes prevents loose files (unpacked mod files) from being loaded. To fix this, simply allow Vortex to change the filetime on the vanilla BSA files by clicking "Fix" on the notification. There is no drawback to this, and it is therefore highly suggested that users allow this fix.

Q: I saw LL recommends MO2 in many of their mods. Why is that?
A: Once upon a time, before Vortex and even in Vortex's Alpha stage that was true. Today there are a tremendous number of gamers who mod with Vortex and use mods from LL in their Load Order with no problems. Many of those descriptions where written long ago. Vortex is now a Premium modding tool in my opinion (any many others opinion).

Q: Can I mod Oblivion or Fallout 4 with Vortex?
A: Yes, and other Elder Scrolls titles like Fallout New Vegas and Legendary Skyrim. Thing is, older games like Morrowind (which I also mod with Vortex) and Oblivion came from before Mod Managers were a thing. So back then a lot of mods were not packed for Mod Manager use. You would manually install those mods back then. That's where the "preview" link on Nexus comes in handy so you can see if you are going to manually install it or repack it for mod manager use. Another thing is, WryeBash was the go to for games like Oblivion. So you can just run Wrye Bash through Vortex like you would xEdit for the times you wanted to use it.

Q: How do I manually adjust my load order with Vortex?
 A: Although Vortex utilizes Loot code to sort your load order it also gives you total control over your      load order. The video below from Gopher best describes this in detail. You can skip ahead to the 9 minute mark to get right to the meat & potatoes:

For a list of FAQ's directly from the Vortex archives Click Here [wiki.nexusmods.com]

Reference Links

For MORE INFORMATION regarding Vortex:

About Vortex:
https://www.nexusmods.com/about/vortex/?

Vortex User Interface:
https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/User_Interface_Overview

Vortex Support - Nexus Forums:
https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/forum/4306-vortex-support/

https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/forum/4316-vortex-discussion/

Vortex FAQ:
https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/7060326-vortex-help-center-faq-documentation/#entry64285926

*NEW this gives you easy access to both of your .ini files from Vortex
https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/103?tab=description

Vortex Github:
https://github.com/Nexus-Mods/Vortex/releases/

Vortex Categories:
https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/Category:Vortex

Vortex SSE Knowledge Base
https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/Skyrim_Special_Edition

Vortex Nexus Forums:
https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/forum/4316-vortex-discussion/

Steam discussion and Update thread for this Guide

The Vortex approach to load order sorting: https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/The_Vortex_approach_to_load_order_sorting

INSTALL/REMOVE VORTEX

Vortex Download Latest Version -
https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/1?tab=files

How to correctly uninstall and remove Vortex - https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/Removing_Vortex

Required Tool To Download Mods

You will need a Archiver also known as a Data Compression Tool to download mods
* "Almost all the mod files on the Nexus sites are compressed in to what are known as "archives". The file formats for these archives will usually be either .zip, .rar or .7z
File compression software packages multiple files in to one simple to use file. Instead of you having to download many different files you will only have to download a single file that contains all the other files within it. If the file author has packaged the archive correctly, then all the files and folders will be in the proper structure and directories, saving you a heck of a lot of time."

You'll need the latest version of one of the following (both have Free Trial Versions that do not expire although you will get the expiration message):

Pick (at least) one:

7zip Download (Get 64bit) [www.7-zip.org] (I prefer 7z)

Winrar Download (Get 64bit) [www.win-rar.com]


* Archive information from NexusWiki [wiki.nexusmods.com]

Down the road.....

23 August 2023
Down the road there will be a new official mod manager for Nexus mods but that is a long way off.

Vortex will continue to be the Mod manager for Nexus Mods for some time but there is a new Nexus Mod Manager titled "Nexus Mods app" which is considered in the pre-alpha stage and according to Nexus it's not suitable for use by the general public so you "should not attempt to use any build of the app as a daily driver for modding yet as this can (and at this point, will) break your modding setup".

You can track the progress by checking out the GitHub page[github.com]. There are no timelines as they are working towards a level of quality rather than a set date.

Don't Panic
According to Nexus: "Vortex will continue to be our primary, supported mod manager for the foreseeable future and will be the application that we provide to support modding for upcoming titles such as Starfield[www.nexusmods.com]."

So with this being the end of August 2023 and the project for the new mod manager being in it's early stages Vortex will continue to be the official Nexus mod manager for some time. The new mod manager is not even in it's Alpha or Beta state as of this date.

Back in 2016 when Nexus announced the development of Vortex many who were avid users of "Nexus Mod Manager" (NMM) and were in a state of panic over what would happen to their beloved mod manager yet as it turned out are still using NMM to this very day.

Bottom Line:
You can continue to use Vortex not only as the official mod manager for Nexus modding for quite some time but can continue to do so long after this new mod manager is ready for release.

Remember:
You should always use the mod manager YOU are most comfortable with.

For details visit The future of Vortex and the Nexus Mods app[www.nexusmods.com]

---

Vlad 254's Guides

MY OTHER GUIDES FOR SSE
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2738338974 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2944593951
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2636368499 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1986067552 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2264913895 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2266129651 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2225149260 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2456651059

Before you go..

Did this guide help you in your Skyrim SE modding ventures?

If so, please leave a rating o& favorite this guide.

So that others may find it as well

Thank you

---

---

[Vlad 254]

@Immersivegenix - I've never experienced this issue but I have researched it and it seems this is a problem with Immersive Sounds Compendium (ISC) users. The symbolic link fix seems to work for some and only partially for others who gain back some sounds but not all. On top of that Vortex uses hardlinks as opposed to symbolic links. Any particular reason ISC is the mod you prefer? For example ISC adds some news sounds while Audio Overhaul enhances sounds.

I do have some sound fixes listed in my SSE Help Guide which is linked down at the bottom of this guide. Or perhaps you can open a thread in the SSE Steam Forums and someone who has experienced your same issue may have a fix. For the issue your having I myself don't have a fix.

[Genixrune]

Thanks for the guide but I have problems with mods that change the sound effects like Immerisve Sound Compendium but I dont know how to make that symbolic link work otherwise , so do I have to make it all a symbolic link because it really bothers me

[Vlad 254]

hey alex, didn't see your message until now. As for this guide, better late than never. Just save it for future reference.

[alexdoerofthings]

Excellent Vlad! I wish I would have seen this earlier. So very much, Thank You.

[Vlad 254]

Some Long time users of NMM still use NMM because they are that good at modding. I know a few who just have NMM mastered and won't switch although they too suggest new users should not use NMM. The general consensus of the modding community is that people new to modding should use either Vortex, or MO2 and I agree with this as there are things that NMM simply is not good at and unless you're experienced with NMM you will have a hard time performing some tasks and many feel that since NMM is unsupported by Nexus that the community support is not going to be advantageous to all. Then there's the reason why Nexus mods even dropped NMM and created Vortex in the first place which is spelled out by Nexus mods in this guide. Btw, Vortex has been out of Beta for aprrox. 2 years and has become a very very powerful mod manager. I have been using Vortex since it's Beta days and have never had a problem with it at all. All of my load orders are between 500 and 600 mods.

[SteelerTy86]

I just don't know how people use Vortex. I find NMM far better.. Easier to solve conflicts, you can see more mods without having to scroll down, the categories of NMM are so helpful, and imo, it just looks better. I've used vortex before and it's perfectly fine for small load orders, but is an absolute pain if you're downloading 100+ mods. For anyone unaware, NMM is still community supported. Loot, SSEedit, and other tools are integrated into the software. I could not recommend it enough.

[Vlad 254]

Pleasure Purge. Enjoy.

[Purge]

vlad thank you for this

[smr1957]

I could have used it today for that question - if I had remembered!

[Vlad 254]

Nice Steve, thnx and better late than never. I'm sure it will be used.