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How to Install Mods for Fallout 4 on PC
This page contains instructions on how to install mods on the PC version of Fallout 4.
There are two main methods of installing mods: manually or via a program such as the Nexus Mod Manager. If you're playing on console, here's how to install mods on Xbox One.
WARNING
Installing mods requires you to add to / remove / alter the main files
of the game - ALWAYS use caution when installing mods.
The first step to modding any game is to make a backup of all of your games files, including any loose configuration files. In the case of Fallout 4, these are found (by default) in:
C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam > SteamApps > Common > Fallout 4
C: > Users > [Your Profile] > My Documents > My Games > Fallout 4
Copying these files will ensure that, in the event of a catastrophic failure on your part (or if you just want to start from a clean install), you don't have to download and re-install the game.
In order to make your copy of Fallout 4 mod-friendly, you need to edit two configuration files, Fallout4.ini and Fallout4Prefs.ini. By default, these are located in:
C: > Users > [Your Profile] > My Documents > My Games > Fallout 4
In Fallout4.ini, repalce the line sResourceDataDirsFinal=STRINGS\ (under the [Archive] section), with:
sResourceDataDirsFinal=STRINGS\, TEXTURES\, MUSIC\, SOUND\, INTERFACE\, MESHES\, PROGRAMS\, MATERIALS\, LODSETTINGS\, VIS\, MISC\, SCRIPTS\, SHADERSFX\
In Fallout4Prefs.ini, scroll to the bottom to find the [Launcher] section. Directly beneath the [Launcer] header, enter:
bEnableFileSelection=1
If this line already exists, make sure that the value is set to 1 and not 0.
The video above explains how to install mods via NMM.
Before Installing any mods, follow the instructions above to back up your game files and enable modding for Fallout 4.
Nexus Mod Manager is the easiest way to install many mods for Fallout 4, as it eliminates most of the hassle of installing mods manually.
Once you've created an account and installed the manager, log into your Nexus account in the manager to enable direct downloads. To login, click on the profile icon in the bottom-left corner of the manager window - keep in mind, the popup may open behind the main NMM program window.
When you find a mod you want to install, simply click on the files tab of the mod's Nexus page and select the files / version you want to download, then click Download With Manager on those files.
Once the download completes and you have read all of the installation instructions provided by the creator, simply double-click on the mod or select it and press the Enable Mod button (the green checkmark on the left) to install and activate the mod.
If your game crashes during play or on startup, open the Plugins tab of the manager and make sure that your load order is arranged correctly.
The video above explains how to manually install mods for Fallout 4.
Before Installing any mods, follow the instructions above to back up your game files and enable modding for Fallout 4.
While Nexus Mod manager has been update to support files for Fallout 4, some mods may still require players to install files manually. The best way to avoid errors in this is to read all of the installation instructions carefully before installing any files.
Installing mods manually may seem like a daunting task, but in many cases it's a much simpler job than one might think. Apart from scripting tools (such as the FOSE for Fallout 3 / New Vegas) or lighting overhauls (like Boris Voronstov's ENBseries), almost all of the mod files will be installed into the Data folder of your game's directory. By default, the directory is installed to:
C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam > SteamApps > Common > Fallout 4
When you've downloaded your mod files, use a file extracter such as WinRar or 7zip to extract the files into the Data folder. If your mod contains plugins, such as a .esp or .esm, simply copy those files into the data folder on their own. If the mod contains loose files - such as a folder lablelled "Meshes" or "Strings" or something - copy the entire folder into Data.
Before launching the game, open the Fallout 4 launcher then exit it to activate your mods.
Until the official modding tools for Fallout 4 are released, it is unlikely that the launcher will feature a Data Files tab to configure your mod load order.
In order to ensure that your mods are installed, you'll need to manually check and setup the game's plugin list. This file can be found (by default) in:
C: > Users > [Your Profile] > App Data > Local > Fallout 4
IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE APP DATA FOLDER
By default, this folder is hidden. In Windows Explorer, open the Tools section of the Menu Bar and select Folder Options. In the View tab of that window, under the Hidden Files and Folders section, check the box marked "Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives".
In the Fallout 4 folder in App Data, open plugins.txt- if your installations were successful, you should see your .esp or .esm files listed beneath Fallout4.esm. If they aren't listed there, manually enter the file names and save the document, then launch the game.