How to Install Mods to Your Insurgency: Sandstorm Server

Insurgency: Sandstorm delivers mods through Mod.io. Getting a mod running takes three things: an access token linking your server to your Mod.io account, the -mods startup argument telling the server to actually download anything, and a list of the mod IDs you want.

Step 1: Generate A Mod.io Access Token

1. Sign into mod.io (Steam, Xbox Live, Google, and a few others all work as login options, or make a free account).
2. Click your username, top right, then API Access on the left.
3. Under OAuth 2 Management, give the token a name (something like "MintServers Sandstorm" so you remember what it's for), read access is enough, and click Create Token.
4. Copy the token, it's long and should be treated like a password.

Stop your server, then edit GameUserSettings.ini in Insurgency/Saved/Config/LinuxServer (create it if it isn't there yet):

[/Script/ModKit.ModIOClient]
bHasUserAcceptedTerms=True
AccessToken=YOUR_TOKEN_HERE

Step 2: Enable Mods And List Which Ones To Download

Add -mods to the Additional Switches field on your Game Settings tab. Without it, the server ignores mods entirely, no matter what else is configured.

Next, browse Mod.io for mods, and note each one's ID number (shown under the mod's title). Create Mods.txt in Insurgency/Config/Server (as with our admins guide, the Config and Server folders likely need creating first) and list one mod ID per line:

150867
93591

Prefer not to manage a file? The same list can go directly in Additional Switches instead: -CmdModList="150867,93591".

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If A Mod Needs A Mutator Or Config Changes

Some mods require a specific mutator to actually activate their content, this is stated on the mod's Mod.io page. Add it the same way as any other mutator, covered in full in our mutators guide: -mutators=TacticalArmory, mixing in stock mutators if you'd like: -mutators=TacticalArmory,Vampirism.

If a mod needs its own settings added to Game.ini, the mod's page will include the exact lines to paste. Add them the same way described in our Game.ini guide.

Forcing A Map Change After Downloading

Some mods only take effect after the map changes at least once following the download. Rather than doing this manually, add:

-ModDownloadTravelTo=Canyon?Scenario=Scenario_Crossing_Checkpoint_Security

This tells the server to automatically load that map and scenario right after mods finish downloading, guaranteeing they're actually in effect.

Running More Than One Mod List

Like Admins.txt and MapCycle.txt, you're not limited to the default file name. Keep separate lists, like CompMods.txt for competitive nights and FunMods.txt for everything else, and switch between them with:

-ModList=CompMods

Same rule as always: leave off the .txt, and it's case-sensitive. This is only needed if you're not using the default Mods.txt name.

Common issues: mods not downloading almost always comes down to a missing -mods switch, a token that didn't paste correctly into GameUserSettings.ini, or the server not having been restarted after the changes. If a specific mod won't activate even though it downloaded, double-check its Mod.io page for a required mutator or config setting you might have missed.

Once your token, mod list, and any required mutators are in place and the server's restarted, your mods should download automatically and be ready for players. If something's not cooperating, no worries! Just open a support ticket and our team will gladly take a look.