Mods - How to install mods MANUALLY

This guide will tell you how to install mods for SnowRunner manually.

This guide is WIP. If there's something not clear enough for you, let me know and I will make it better! =)

1. Installing mods manually - why, though?

On mod.io we can sometimes find interesting mods that require a manual installation. While going through the Steam forum I found several topics with people questioning where they need to put the mods, and how to install it.

Generally, you do not have to install mods manually.

The modder will tell you in his description whether the mod needs to be installed manually or not.

DO NOT install mods manually that are subscription based from mod.io!

New vehicles, new Maps are generally subscription based - Vehicle edits like additional tyres, more fuel, engine and transmission overhauls are installed manually. So basically everything that edits base game files needs to be installed manually.

Only when mod installation is not possible via subscription, this guide is helpful for you! Also - a lot of modders give a little tutorial on how to install mods. Now I know it is a little bit different to the EPIC-version of the game in terms of paths - so I got you covered if you continue reading.

Bear in mind:

I use an example here. With this example, we have to edit the initial.pak. This file is used for 99.9% of all mods, so this is the best example you can get! Always read the modder's description!




Installing mods manually requires you to edit base game files, that cannot be touched by subscribing to a mod via mod.io. Mods you have to install manually are typically marked as such on mod.io.

But wait, doesn't this create issues with multiplayer?

No. The game does not check or verify base game files. So if you modded a winch to be 2 times longer or your trucks to have more fuel, it will work for you in multiplayer without breaking the game. It won't work for anybody else playing with you who has not installed the mod.

HOWEVER

Make sure you do NOT install a huge load of mods! Chances are, you are going to install a mod that shares its files with another mod and you end up with a different function as intended.

Always read what the mod does!

2. What we need

Make sure you backup your game files before editing. If something goes wrong you can easily fix the game with these backups.

Before we start installing mods manually we will need to have one program installed.

WinRAR in its latest version.

You can find it for free at: https://www.win-rar.com/download.html?&L=1

Using WinRAR will make any further step incredibly easy because WinRar can open the file type we are about to edit by default!

DO NOT use 7zip or similar software. It doesn't work properly with *.pak files and will break your game!

3. Finding the correct path and using WinRAR

Opening *.pak files with WinRAR

4. Installing the mod!

Find the mod you want to install and open the zip file with WinRAR. It is probably going to look like in this example with the realistic fuel capacities mod:




Also, open the initial.pak with WinRAR. Drag and drop the files from the mod into the initial.pak like in the image:




When being asked how you want to add the files, choose add and replace in WinRar and click okay!

That's it! You successfully installed a mod. You can close all your windows and try if the mods work ingame. If yes, you made everything correct!

[elevenfourteen]

Check out step 3 in this description.

[jlntvoigt]

What is the file location of the initial.pac that it is being dropped into?

[elevenfourteen]

Mod.io is perfectly save - although people wish for steam workshop, mod.io is the currently best and safest option available when it comes to mods for SnowRunner!

[Plati Davide]

Is it safe to use mod.io with the steam account? will it steal my data?

[Uriel]

Same issue here, end even better, the md browser doesn't even list subscribed mods when using the filter. Guess it's manual instal from now on...

[✠ ωĦŁĶĺŅĢĦмοĶ ✠]

@Geooo i have the same problem...do u have any fix?

[Geooo]

Hello, I can no longer download mods in the game mod browser??
Unfortunately it's not possible via the modio site either.
When I click on the subscriptions button nothing happens. I am logged in via STEAM.
But on the modio page my subscription mods are displayed as my saved mods. No truck or car is visible in the game - can someone help me?
It doesn't work via the mod browser in the game or via the modio site? LG Geo

[elevenfourteen]

An easy way is to check the truck's capacities before and after installing the mod. If you have a truck with 200 liters and you install a mod that gives realistic fuel capacities, and the truck hast a different value than before, you did it correctly.

[BUiLD MasTeRY]

ok. I tried installing that fuel capacities. Maybe I just didn't notice the difference. I'm sorta new to the game just yet. Thanks for the guide requardless if I can't figure it out or not.

[elevenfourteen]

I can't really understand the term 'preinstalled mod'. A manually installed mod does not show up in the game's mod browser. You edited base game files after all. If you installed it correctly, it does, what it said in the mod description. Most obviously when it's a mod that changes fuel capacities for example.