Manual installation is the safest, cleanest way to add mods when you download a zip file from the official repository, forums, or a trusted creator. This guide focuses only on manual install, no one click installs.
What you need before you start
- A mod file downloaded as a zip
- Access to your BeamNG user folder
- The correct version folder inside the user folder (it matches your game version)
BeamNG loads most mods directly from the zip, so in most cases you do not extract anything.
Step 1: Find your BeamNG user folder
The most reliable method is using the BeamNG Launcher:
- Open the BeamNG Launcher
- Choose Manage User Folder
- Click Open in Explorer (or the equivalent button on your OS)
This opens the exact folder BeamNG is currently using, which avoids the most common mistake: putting mods in an old or unused location.
Typical Windows locations you might see:
Depending on your setup, the user folder is commonly in one of these places:
- Documents\BeamNG.drive
- C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\BeamNG.drive\
The launcher method above is still best because BeamNG can be configured to use different user folder locations.
Step 2: Go to the correct version folder
Inside the user folder, open the folder named like your current BeamNG version, for example:
- 0.32
- 0.33
- 0.34
The official manual install steps specifically point you to the current version folder.
Step 3: Put the mod zip into the mods folder
- Inside your current version folder, look for a folder named mods
- If it does not exist, create a folder named mods
- Drag the downloaded zip file into that mods folder
- Do not extract the zip unless the mod author explicitly tells you to
BeamNG expects the zip to sit in the mods folder and will load it from there.
The correct target folder looks like this
User folder:
- current version folder
- mods
- yourmod.zip
Step 4: Launch the game and confirm the mod is detected
- Start the game
- Open Mod Manager
- Check that the mod appears in the list
- Enable it if needed, then reload content if prompted
The official docs note the mod should show up in Mod Manager if it contains no errors.
Step 5: Quick sanity check for broken zips
If the mod does not appear, the zip is often packaged incorrectly. Before deleting it, open the zip and check the top level contents.
A healthy mod zip usually contains folders like:
- vehicles
- levels
- scenarios
- lua
A common packaging problem is a double nested folder structure, for example yourmod.zip contains a single folder named yourmod, and inside that is vehicles or levels. That often prevents BeamNG from recognizing the mod correctly.
Troubleshooting if the mod does not work
1) The mod does not show up in Mod Manager
- Confirm you placed the zip in the current version folder mods directory, not an older version folder
- Make sure the file is a zip and you did not rename it into something else
- Check the zip structure for double nesting
- Clear cache from the launcher Support Tools, then start the game again
2) Textures missing, infinite loading, or game acts broken
- Disable all mods
- Clear cache using the launcher
- Re enable mods one at a time to find the culprit
- Remove the broken mod and clear cache again
BeamNG’s official troubleshooting guide recommends this workflow because a heavily broken mod can affect core functionality.
3) I cleared cache and my mods disappeared
In most cases your downloaded zip mods are still in your mods folder, but the game needs a relaunch or a cache rebuild. If you used a different user folder location previously, use the launcher to open the active user folder and verify the mods are still there.
Pro tips for clean manual mod installs
- Keep your mods as zips unless the author requires extraction
- Install a few mods at a time, then test, it makes troubleshooting much faster
- Prefer trusted sources and avoid packs that replace core game files, they are more likely to break updates
- If something seems off after installing a mod, clear cache from the launcher before doing bigger fixes
Manual install FAQ
Do I need to extract BeamNG mods?
Usually no. Place the zip directly into the mods folder. Only extract if the mod author explicitly says so.
Where are repository downloaded mods stored?
Repository mods are also managed inside the user folder and are visible in Mod Manager. If you cannot find the location, Mod Manager includes an option to open the mod folder, and inside you can also see the repo folder.
Does manual install work on Steam and Steam Deck?
Yes, the logic is the same: find the active BeamNG user folder, then place the mod zip into the current version folder mods directory. The only difference is how you access the filesystem, but the mod structure and the mods folder rule stays the same.
