Creating a modded Valheim server can transform your Viking survival experience with new items, quality-of-life improvements, enhanced gameplay mechanics, and custom content. Whether you want to streamline inventory management, add RPG elements, or create a completely customized Norse adventure, mods open up plenty of new possibilities.

In this guide, you will learn how to install BepInEx, manually add mods to a Valheim 1.0 server on Windows, install mods through Pine Hosting, set up client-required mods, and troubleshoot common problems.

What Is BepInEx And Why Do You Need It?

BepInEx is a plugin framework used to load mods in Unity games such as Valheim. It runs alongside the game or dedicated server and allows compatible mod files to change or add gameplay features.

Valheim 1.0 does not include official mod support, so BepInEx and individual mods may need updates when Valheim itself changes. Before updating an established modded server, create a backup and make sure the mods you rely on support the current version.

Important: Whether BepInEx and a mod need to be installed on player clients depends on the mod. Some mods are server-only, some are client-only, and others require installation on both the server and every connecting player's game.

Console players cannot install BepInEx or client-required Valheim mods, which is important to consider if you plan to run a crossplay server.

How To Install BepInEx And Mods Manually

If you are running your own self-hosted Valheim server on Windows, installing mods requires downloading BepInEx and placing the necessary files into your dedicated server directory.

Step 1: Download BepInEx

Visit Thunderstore and download BepInExPack_Valheim:

  1. Go to thunderstore.io/c/valheim
  2. Search for BepInExPack_Valheim
  3. Open the mod page
  4. Select Manual Download
  5. Save the .zip file to your computer

Always use a BepInEx version compatible with your current Valheim server version.

Step 2: Locate Your Valheim Server Directory

For a default Steam installation, your Valheim Dedicated Server files are usually located at:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Valheim dedicated server

You can also find the folder directly through Steam. Right-click Valheim Dedicated Server in your library, select Manage, and then choose Browse Local Files.

Step 3: Install BepInEx

Stop your Valheim server completely before making changes.

  1. Extract the BepInEx .zip file.
  2. Open the extracted BepInExPack_Valheim folder.
  3. Copy all of the contents inside.
  4. Paste them directly into your Valheim Dedicated Server root directory.
  5. Confirm file replacement if Windows prompts you.

After installation, your server directory should contain:

  • BepInEx folder
  • doorstop_config.ini
  • winhttp.dll
  • Your normal Valheim dedicated server files

Make sure you copy the contents of BepInExPack_Valheim into the server directory rather than placing the entire downloaded folder inside it.

Step 4: Verify BepInEx

Start your server normally after installing BepInEx.

Watch the server console while it loads and look for BepInEx initialization messages. You should see BepInEx and the Chainloader starting as part of the server startup process.

If BepInEx does not load, stop the server and confirm that all of the files were copied into the correct root directory.

Step 5: Download Your Valheim Mods

With BepInEx working, you can start adding mods.

Thunderstore is one of the main repositories for Valheim mods, while Nexus Mods also has a large collection available.

Before downloading a mod, check:

  • Whether it supports your current Valheim version
  • Whether it requires additional dependencies
  • Whether it needs to be installed on the server, client, or both
  • Whether the developer provides any special installation instructions

For manual installation, download the version that gives you access to the raw mod files.

Step 6: Install Mods Into BepInEx

Most BepInEx mods are downloaded as .zip archives containing one or more .dll files.

To install a standard mod:

  1. Extract the downloaded .zip.
  2. Find the mod's .dll file.
  3. Open your server's BepInEx folder.
  4. Open the plugins folder.
  5. Copy the mod files into BepInEx/plugins.
  6. Install any required dependencies listed by the mod developer.

A typical server structure will look similar to:

Valheim dedicated server/
├── BepInEx/
│   ├── config/
│   ├── plugins/
│   │   ├── ValheimPlus.dll
│   │   ├── EpicLoot.dll
│   │   └── BetterArchery.dll
│   └── core/
├── start_headless_server.bat
└── [other server files]

Some mods may use additional files or folders, so always follow the installation instructions provided for the specific mod.

Step 7: Configure And Test Your Mods

Once your mods are installed, start the server again and allow everything to load.

Some mods generate .cfg files inside BepInEx/config after their first launch. These files can be opened with a text editor if you need to change the mod's settings.

While the server starts, watch the console for mod loading messages or errors. You can also check BepInEx/LogOutput.log if something does not load correctly.

Errors at this stage are commonly caused by missing dependencies, outdated mods, or conflicts between installed mods.

How Pine Hosting Simplifies Valheim Modding

Manually installing BepInEx and Valheim mods works, but it requires downloading files, extracting archives, navigating server directories, and keeping track of individual mod files.

Pine Hosting simplifies this process by allowing you to install BepInEx through the game panel and then manage supported mods through the built-in Mod Manager. This makes setting up modded Valheim server hosting much easier while still giving you access to your server files when you need them.

How To Install Valheim Mods With Pine Hosting

  1. Log in to the Pine Hosting game panel, select your Valheim server, and stop it.
  2. Open the Startup tab and install BepInEx to enable modding.
  3. Open the Mod Manager and search for the Valheim mod you want to install.
  4. Select the mod, install it, and repeat for any additional mods you want to add.
  5. Start your server and check that everything loads correctly.

You should still check each mod's requirements before installing it. Some mods require additional dependencies, while others may also need to be installed on every player's Valheim client.

Using the Mod Manager removes the need to manually download every mod, extract .zip files, locate individual .dll files, and upload them into the BepInEx/plugins directory, making modded Valheim hosting much easier to manage.

Do Players Need To Install The Same Valheim Mods?

Not always. Valheim mods generally fall into three categories:

  • Server And Client Mods: Gameplay changes such as new items, creatures, mechanics, or major overhauls may need to be installed on both the server and every connecting player's PC.
  • Client-Only Mods: UI, camera, visual, and other personal changes may only need to be installed by the individual player.
  • Server-Only Mods: Some administration, monitoring, backup, and server management tools only need to run on the server.

Always check the requirements of each mod rather than assuming every player needs the complete server mod list.

For mods that do require client installation, players will generally need to:

  1. Install BepInEx into their local Valheim game directory, usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Valheim.
  2. Add the required mods to their own BepInEx/plugins folder.
  3. Make sure they are running compatible mod versions and any required configuration.

Valheim does not automatically download server mods when someone connects.

For larger mod lists, tools such as r2modman or Thunderstore Mod Manager can make client setup easier by allowing players to use the same mod profile instead of manually finding and installing every file.

Common Valheim Modding Issues

Most modding problems come down to an incorrect installation, missing dependency, incompatible version, or conflict between mods.

Mods Aren't Loading

If a mod does not appear to be working:

  1. Confirm BepInEx loads when the server starts.
  2. Make sure the mod files are inside BepInEx/plugins.
  3. Check that all required dependencies are installed.
  4. Open BepInEx/LogOutput.log and look for errors.
  5. Remove recently installed mods and add them back individually if necessary.

Players Can't Connect

If players experience connection failures after mods are added, check whether the affected mods require client installation.

Make sure players have the required BepInEx setup, compatible mod versions, and any configurations that need to match the server. Also confirm that both the Valheim client and server are running compatible game versions.

Mod Conflicts Or Server Crashes

When a server starts having problems after adding new mods, disable the most recently installed mods and test them individually. BepInEx logs can often identify which plugin is producing the error.

Problems become more likely when several mods modify the same gameplay systems. Understanding common Valheim mod conflicts can help when choosing mods for the same inventory, combat, building, or gameplay systems, as overlapping functionality may prevent them from working correctly together.

Keeping mods updated and avoiding multiple major overhauls that change the same mechanics can also reduce compatibility problems.

If all of your mods are loading correctly but a large mod setup begins slowing down as the world or player count grows, you may instead need to look at Valheim server performance, especially when mods add additional entities, systems, or background activity.

Run A Modded Valheim 1.0 Server With Pine Hosting

Running a heavily modded server manually can become time-consuming as you manage BepInEx, individual mod files, dependencies, configurations, updates, and server performance.

Pine Hosting makes it easier to run a modded Valheim 1.0 server by letting you install BepInEx directly from the Startup tab and add supported mods through the built-in Mod Manager.

Alongside mod support, Pine Hosting gives you backups, file access, server monitoring, and an easy-to-use game panel for managing your world. Whether you need modded Valheim hosting for a private group or dedicated Valheim hosting for a larger community, you have the tools needed to manage your server as it grows.

If you're looking for the best Valheim hosting for a modded playthrough, start your Valheim 1.0 server with Pine Hosting and spend less time manually managing server files.