How to restore a removed worshop addon for personal use.

Have a mod that you wanna use but can't because it's removed from workshop? Here's an easy fix!

The thing

First, you MUST HAVE THE .GMA file, otherwise you can forget about it.
Navigate to your addons folder and search for the mod you want to revive, assuming you didn't purge it. It typically is similiar to the workshop name. In this case, we will be resurrecting a PM/Ragdoll of the protag of the HL2 mod Wilson Chronicles.
(The reason it's in my D: drive instead is cuz I copied it 6 times to different areas on my laptop so that I don't lose it). You may have noticed the folder with the same name as the .gma, we'll get onto that in a lil' bit
Keep the window with the .gma open.
Second, navigate to the folder where gmad.exe is located. It is typically in Steam> steamapps> common> GarrysMod> bin
Now, drag the .gma onto gmad.exe................. Notice that a folder with a name like the .gma has appeared in the same directory as the .gma. Copy that folder then navigate back into your addons folder. Now paste it into the folder.
That's it! Launch Gmod, and your mod should be installed!
Weapon mod: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=506283460
Map: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1366679243

Thanls for reading! There really ain't nothing you can do to support me, other than keep me sane by supplying me with DOOM Eternal trailers cuz I'm morally obligated to get it sooner or later lol.

[ModdedFries]

@noriakikaylon776 I saw stuff like that too, I think for whatever reason gmod decided to change most of the .gma files names to whatever was used to upload it to the workshop, I saw plenty of gmpublisher when trying to even find the addon I wanted to restore. And even when I did finally find it and put it through gmad, it still just showed the id number followed by via_crowbar. Still worked after I put the folder into the addons folder though, which I'll admit was a pleasant surprise given that gmod stopped putting addons there itself. Hopefully they never update gmod to stop reading the addons folder or get rid of it entirely, or else it's going to be a whole new can of worms when trying to restore a randomly removed addon.

[ModdedFries]

Can confirm that this still works in 2024, even though Gmod switched where to find the addons and the fact that it's harder to identify them cause you get bombarded with a list of number ids. If you manage to find the addon you're looking for, after following the steps putting the newly made folder into the seemingly defunct addons folder still works!
Thank you for the guide

[noriakikakyion776]

for some reason the addon turned into "new_item_via_crowbar" so idk whats wrong

[Jackee4]

i had a cs:o 2 zombie pack that got deleted without me knowing. After that i searched how to reupload a gmod addon but nothing came up, so i gave up

[I've ran out of profile ideas h]

@LA MUERTE, I'm afraid I actually don't know. It probably either removed itself or something else.

[jcninja20]

i'm still so mad that marvel universe roleplay got removed from gmod

[Spice]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eMhs6VFG0o I need more work

[sperm@zoid]

Hm, question, what about hidden addons? Right now I can think of Filzo's Global Defense Forces and the TFA-VOX of Niko Bellic are seen as hidden addons. I did try to find them in the addons folder but none have appeared in it.

[Science Enjoyer]

shoutout to this man, for a quality content post +1 +rep + whatever you think matters

[I've ran out of profile ideas h]

By "removed workshop addon" I mean exactly what you think.