Using SKSE with Steam's Skyrim Launcher and In-Home Streaming

Shows how to install SKSE (Skyrim Script Extender) in a more Steam-compatible way.
Allows use of the Steam Workshop/Skyrim Launcher and SKSE at the same time.

UPDATE - THIS GUIDE IS OBSOLETE

SKSE now has a version you can download from Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/365720/Skyrim_Script_Extender_SKSE/
I'm leaving this guide up for historical purposes, and for anyone who wants to undo the changes they made.
If you want to change over to the new version, I recommend undoing these changes.
This guide hasn't been updated since 2014, and I stopped offering support for it in 2015 - so any future use is entirely at your own risk.

Introduction

Many Skyrim mods on Steam Workshop and the Nexus require SKSE for some portion of their changes. The problem is the installation instructions available don't allow you to use SKSE and the Steam Workshop together: either you run skse_loader or run the game from Steam.
This means you don't get Workshop subscription updates or in-home streaming unless you run Skyrim from within Steam, but doing that breaks any mod that requires SKSE.

This guide will show you how to get them to work together. :)

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Before You Begin: Please make sure that you Show File Extensions by following Microsoft's Instructions[windows.microsoft.com].

1. Download and run the latest SKSE installer from skse.silverlock.org (author's site)[skse.silverlock.org]

• This guide has been tested with SKSE version 1.6.16 and the latest 1.7.1 version.

2. Goto your Skyrim folder, which is usually:

• C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim
  OR
  
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim

3. If you already have a file called TESV_original.exe, then

• Rename TESV.exe to skse_old.exe
  
• Rename skse_loader.exe to TESV.exe

4. If you don't have TESV_original.exe, then:

• Rename TESV.exe to TESV_original.exe
  
• Rename skse_loader.exe to TESV.exe

At this point, you should have two files with these names and icons:

5. Goto the Data folder under the Skyrim folder
6. Create a new folder named SKSE (if it doesn't already exist), and goto that folder
7. Create a new text document named SKSE.ini (see note after these instructions)

The file should look like this:

8. Open the file in notepad and add the following text (cut and paste):

• [Loader]
  
• RuntimeName=TESV_original.exe

9. Make sure to delete any SKSE shortcuts that the installer may have added to the desktop (they won't work now)
10. You should be good to go! Try running Skyrim from within Steam and see if it works.

Please leave a comment if this guide helped you or if you have questions/issues. Thanks!

How Does It Work?

• The Steam launcher for skyrim is set to always run TESV.exe when you click play.
  
• SKSE needs to run TESV.exe its own way for the changes to work:
  
  • skse_loader.exe runs TESV.exe, the same file the Steam launcher runs.
• SKSE can be configured to run any file you want, just by changing the SKSE.ini file.
  
• So, we essentially tell Steam to run SKSE, and we tell SKSE to run the original Skyrim program (TESV_original.exe)

A Note about creating SKSE.ini

It is Absolutely Essential that SKSE.ini is created according to Steps 5 to 8. Otherwise this will NOT work.

• If you already have a SKSE.ini file in the Skyrim\Data\SKSE folder, then you just need to add the two lines from the instruction to the end of the file.
  
• If you don't already have that file:
  
  • If you're running XP, just create the file and put in those two lines.
    
  • If you're running Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, etc. then you will need to google for instructions on how to create .ini files in the Program Files root folder.
    
    • Once you figure that out, just create the file and put in those two lines. :)

[alan2486]

do you need to use steam for skyrim script extender? I'm terrible at using computers and just want to use mods

[Eadmond]

really helpful

[Pfincess]

i can nolonger run skyrim someone pls help

[Underpantzz]

Hi, it worked great for me but I had the problem that my launcher started and not skyrim.
I fixed it by changing TESV.exe to Skyrimlauncher.exe.
So thanks

[chinamicah]

I'm glad it works for you. :)

[Seed]

but thanks for your concern =)

[Seed]

honestly the way mine is currently working is good for me. what happens is i run SKSE_loader (this does not actualy load skse for some reason) then the steam skyrim menu pops up and synchs my mods, then i close it and re-open it and it loads skyrim with skse. not sure how it works but it works fine for me.

to answer your Qs though
1 version number 1.9.32.0

2 im english

3 no

[chinamicah]

markiplier1111: If doing that doesn't bother you, I'm happy for you. However, the whole point of this guide is to avoid having to do that. :)
BMANSAB1: Three questions:
1) Could you please right click on TESV_original.exe and click Properties, then click Details and tell me what is listed as the version number?
2) Are you using a non-English version of Skyrim? Apparently the Japanese version has a different number.
3) After it says "incorrect Skyrim version", does Skyrim load anyway?

[Cody Knight]

i actually found a workaround for the workshop mods not working with skse
you don't have to launch skyrim from the launcher
just open the launcher and wait until it says "Finished syncronizing subscribed mods"
then exit the launcher and run skse_loader.exe
and BOOM nothing is broken
gg

[Seed]

yes