How to Install Palworld Mods on PC and Dedicated Servers

To install Palworld mods on PC, subscribe to the mod on the Steam Workshop or copy its .pak file into Pal\Content\Paks\~mods. On a dedicated server, upload the mod to the server’s Mods folder and enable it in Mods\PalModSettings.ini. Server-side mods currently require the Windows server edition.

Palworld mods range from cosmetic tweaks to full gameplay overhauls: better graphics, unlocked maps, shiny pals, expanded base limits. On PC, installing a mod is usually quick. On a dedicated server for multiplayer it is a different problem: the folder, the mod type and the server’s operating system all matter, and if one is wrong, nothing loads. Palworld 1.0 (released in July 2026) also added Steam Workshop support and a built-in mod system, so many older guides, and some older mods, are out of date.

Below: where the Palworld mod folder is on PC and on a server, how to install mods (Steam Workshop, PAK and UE4SS), how to upload and enable them on a dedicated server, and what to do when they break.

Palworld mod folder location: PC and dedicated server

Where mods go depends on the mod type, and on whether you play on PC or run a server. On PC, right-click Palworld in Steam, choose Manage, then Browse local files. The folder with Palworld.exe is your game folder.

Install type	Palworld mod folder location	Notes
Steam Workshop mod (PC)	Managed by Steam. Enable it in the game under Options, Mod Management.	No manual copying. Restart Palworld after enabling.
PAK mod (PC)	<game folder>\Pal\Content\Paks\~mods\	Create the ~mods folder if it does not exist. If the download includes .ucas and .utoc files, copy all three with matching names.
LogicMods (PC)	<game folder>\Pal\Content\Paks\LogicMods\	Used by UE4SS blueprint mods.
UE4SS and Lua mods (PC)	<game folder>\Pal\Binaries\Win64\ (Game Pass: WinGDK)	Follow the mod’s readme for the Mods subfolder. Use the UE4SS version the mod asks for.
Server mods (Windows dedicated server)	<server folder>\Mods\Workshop\<mod folder>\ and Mods\PalModSettings.ini	Info.json must sit directly inside the mod folder.
PAK mods (Linux dedicated server)	Pal/Content/Paks/~mods/	Official server-side mod loading is documented for the Windows server only, so results on Linux depend on the mod.

Note: folder names change between game builds, so check the mod’s own page first.

How to install Palworld mods on PC

Here is how to mod Palworld on a Steam PC in a few steps.

1. Back up your save. On Steam it lives in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Pal\Saved\SaveGames. Mod conflicts can corrupt worlds.
2. Steam Workshop mods: open the mod’s Workshop page, subscribe, then enable it in the game under Options, Mod Management and restart Palworld.
3. Manual PAK mods: download the mod from a moderated source such as Nexus Mods or CurseForge, extract it, and copy the .pak file (plus .ucas and .utoc if included) into Pal\Content\Paks\~mods.
4. UE4SS and Lua mods: install the UE4SS version the mod requires (many mods list it as a Workshop dependency), then place the mod as its readme describes.
5. Start Palworld and check that the mod appears or takes effect. If nothing happens, see the troubleshooting section below.

Mods only load on a server if they are installed there too. The server steps follow further down.

Palworld Mod Requirements: What You Need First

Single-player mods can often be dropped into your local game files. Multiplayer is different. If you want mods to work for everyone on a server, they need to be installed on the dedicated server — not just your local machine.

Three kinds of Palworld mods exist:

• Workshop or official mods: packaged with an Info.json file and installed through the Steam Workshop or the built-in mod system. Server-side use is limited to the Windows dedicated server.
• PAK mods: package files that go into a specific game content folder. No extra runtime required, but they are the most likely to break after a game update.
• LUA and UE4SS mods: script-based mods that run through the UE4SS scripting system. UE4SS must be installed on the machine that runs the mod.

Make sure your server has enough resources. Mods can be CPU and memory-intensive, particularly visual enhancement mods. A resource-constrained VPS will struggle with multiple mods loaded simultaneously. Check your RAM and CPU headroom before installing anything heavy.

Before you touch any mod files, back up your server. Mod conflicts can corrupt game data or cause the server to fail to start. A backup snapshot takes minutes and saves a lot of pain if something goes wrong.

Find Safe Palworld Mod Sources

The Palworld modding scene has grown fast. That means there are a lot of places to find mods — and a lot of places that don’t vet what they host. Stick to platforms that actively moderate submissions:

• Nexus mods – requires accounts, scans uploads for malicious code, and has a large Palworld section with ratings and download counts.
• CurseForge – runs moderation checks and manual inspections before approving any upload.

Both platforms have search and filter tools that make finding palworld mods for specific purposes easy. Random forum links, Discord attachments, or file-sharing sites have no such controls. Don’t use them.

If a mod has very few downloads and no ratings, that’s not necessarily a red flag — new mods start somewhere. But check the developer’s profile and any comments before downloading.

Download and Check Mod Files

Before downloading, run through this checklist for every mod:

• Download count – high counts signal that many people have tested it without problems. Not a guarantee, but a useful signal.
• Ratings and endorsements – look for user feedback, not just raw numbers. Read through recent comments for compatibility reports.
• Server vs. client installation – some mods only need to be on the server. Others require matching files on the client side too. The mod page should specify this clearly.
• Game version compatibility: Palworld updates frequently, and the 1.0 release in July 2026 broke many older PAK and UE4SS mods. Only install mods whose page confirms support for the current version, and remove old mod files completely before a major update instead of just disabling them.
• Dependencies – some palworld dedicated server mods require other mods or software to be present. Check the requirements section before downloading.

If you’re installing multiple mods, keep a text file listing each one with its source, version, and any known conflicts. Debugging a broken server is much easier when you can cross-reference what’s installed against what changed.

Extract Mod Archives

Downloaded palworld mods come packaged as ZIP files or similar archives. Extract them on your local machine before uploading to the server. This lets you inspect the folder structure and confirm the files are what you expect before they go anywhere near the server.

On Windows or macOS, right-click the archive and look for an extract option. If the option isn’t there, tools like 7-Zip or PeaZip handle any archive format and are free.

After extracting, check what’s inside. A PAK mod should contain a .pak file. A LUA mod should contain script files and a folder structure that matches the UE4SS mod format. If an archive contains executables, scripts that run outside the game, or anything unexpected, don’t use it.

Upload Palworld Mods to Your Dedicated Server

Windows or Linux? Palworld’s built-in server mod system (Mods\PalModSettings.ini) is documented for the Windows dedicated server only. On a Linux server, PAK mods may still load, but results depend on the mod. Check your server’s operating system before you start.

Installation paths depend on the mod type:

• Workshop and server mods (Windows server): Mods/Workshop/<mod folder>/ next to the server executable, with Info.json directly inside the folder
• PAK mods: Pal/Content/Paks/~mods/ (create the ~mods folder if it is missing)
• LUA mods (UE4SS): the UE4SS Mods folder under Pal/Binaries/Win64/, for example Pal/Binaries/Win64/ue4ss/Mods, depending on the UE4SS version

Transfer files using SFTP. FileZilla is a reliable cross-platform SFTP client. Here’s how to connect and upload:

1. Download and install FileZilla from filezilla-project.org
2. Open FileZilla. In the Host field, enter your server connection string. For PAK mods: sftp://[username]@[your-server-ip]:[port]/Pal/Content/Paks/~mods. For LUA mods: sftp://[username]@[your-server-ip]:[port]/Pal/Binaries/Win64 and then open the UE4SS Mods folder. If your host has no SFTP, see our FTP client overview.
3. Click Quickconnect and enter your server password when prompted
4. In the Local site panel, navigate to the extracted mod folder
5. Drag and drop the mod files into the Remote site panel

Alternatively, transfer files using the scp command if you prefer the command line:

scp -P [port] modfile.pak [user]@[server-ip]:/Pal/Content/Paks/~mods/

If the mod requires client-side files too, copy the corresponding files into the same path on your local game installation.

Enable server-side mods in PalModSettings.ini

1. Start the server once so it generates Mods/PalModSettings.ini, then stop it.
2. Put the mod folder in Mods/Workshop/ and confirm Info.json contains “IsServer”: true under InstallRule. Without it the mod is client-only.
3. Open PalModSettings.ini and set bGlobalEnableMod=True.
4. Add one ActiveModList entry per mod, using the PackageName from Info.json (not the folder name).
5. Make sure the server is not started with the -NoMods launch argument, then restart the server fully.

Players who connect need the same mods on their PC. To let clients join with mods, check the bAllowClientMod setting in PalWorldSettings.ini.

Palworld Linux server mods: what works

Palworld Linux server mods are the least predictable case. The built-in mod system and Steam Workshop server mods are documented for the Windows server only, and UE4SS is a Windows component that is not officially supported on Linux. Plain PAK mods are the most portable, but they are also the most likely to break after an update. If you need Palworld mods for a multiplayer server, run it on Windows or test every mod on a copy of your world first.

If you have not set up your server yet, our Palworld dedicated server guide covers the hosting side, and our game server hosting comparison helps if you would rather rent a managed host.

Launch and Debug Palworld Mod Issues

Once files are uploaded, restart the server. Then launch Palworld through Steam, choose Multiplayer, and connect to your server IP. The mods should load automatically on connection.

If nothing happens or the server fails to start:

• Verify the files are in the correct path. PAK and LUA mods in the wrong directory simply won’t load — the game doesn’t throw a visible error.
• Check the game version against the mod’s listed compatibility. An update since the mod was released can break it silently.
• If you installed multiple mods, test them one at a time to isolate the conflict. Remove all mods, add them back one by one, and restart the server each time.
• Review the server log for error messages. The log will usually tell you if a mod failed to load and why.
• Error “mods are not allowed on this server”: the client and server mod states do not match. Remove the client mod and reconnect, or enable the same mod on the server.
• Mods have no effect on the server: check that Info.json contains “IsServer”: true and that bGlobalEnableMod=True is set.
• Console and Mac players cannot join modded servers, because Xbox, PlayStation and Mac clients do not load PC mods.

Mod conflicts are the most common failure mode when running multiple palworld server mods. Two mods that modify the same game system will often break each other. The mod pages for each usually note known conflicts — read them before you start stacking mods.

Best Palworld Mods to Try

These mods were popular before the 1.0 update. Check each mod’s page for 1.0 support before you install it, and skip any that have not been updated since then.

MapUnlocker

Reveals all unexplored areas of the world map. Doesn’t unlock fast travel points — you still need to activate beacons manually — but it removes the fog and lets you plan routes without exploring first. Useful for efficient server progression.

Enhanced Palworld Visuals

Automatically applies optimized graphic settings to improve visual quality. Includes presets so players can switch configurations with a single click. It’s resource-intensive — factor this into your server capacity calculations before installing.

Better Night Light

Changes in-game night lighting to blue tones for a more realistic look. Actively maintained and updated for recent Palworld patches, which is what separates reliable mods from abandoned ones.

Hide Backpacks, Lanterns, Weapons

Lets you toggle visibility of carried equipment for cosmetic purposes. Doesn’t affect gameplay stats, just appearance. Works with modded outfits.

Increased Bases and Worker Pals

Removes or raises the default limits on the number of bases and worker pals per player. Configurable via the mod settings. Useful for large multiplayer servers where default limits feel restrictive.

Shiny Pals

Adds alternate textures to pals, similar to shiny variants in other games. Currently covers 35 pals with plans to expand. Requires the OK Overhaul mod as a dependency — install that first.

All the Bases

Raises the maximum base count per guild up to 128 across all guild levels, not just max-level guilds. Server-side installation only. A good pick for established multiplayer communities that have outgrown the default four-base cap.

Palworld Mods FAQ

Summary

Installing Palworld mods comes down to the mod type and the right folder. On PC, use the Steam Workshop or copy PAK files into Pal\Content\Paks\~mods. On a dedicated server, upload the mod, enable it in Mods\PalModSettings.ini and restart; server-side mods currently need the Windows server. Download only from moderated platforms, back up first, and when mods break after a game update, test them one at a time until you isolate the problem.