Stardew Valley
Your Stardew Valley server fully supports SMAPI, so you can run the same mods you'd use on your own PC. This guide covers uploading mods to your server, and which ones your players will actually need to install on their own PC too.
Step 1: Upload Your Mods
SMAPI mods are usually downloaded as a .zip file. Unzip it on your PC first - you want the mod's folder itself, the one containing a file called manifest.json, not the .zip.
- Stop your server on the MintServers panel.
- Open the Files tab and navigate to the folder below.
📁 server (your main server directory)
📁 Mods (upload your unzipped mod folders here)
- Upload the unzipped mod folder into
Mods. - Repeat for any other mods, then Start your server.
Which Mods Need to Go on Your Players' PCs Too?
This is where most people get tripped up. Uploading a mod to your server's Mods folder only puts it on the server's side of things - whether each player also needs it installed on their own PC depends entirely on what that specific mod does.
- Content and world mods - new NPCs, locations, custom crops, big overhaul packs, and most Content Patcher-based mods - generally need to be installed both on your server and on the PC of any player who wants to see or interact with that content properly.
- Purely personal mods - ones that only change what one player sees or how their own controls feel, with no effect on the shared world - usually only need to go on that individual player's PC, not the server at all.
- Some mods are host-side only by design. Installing one of these on a farmhand's PC as well doesn't usually cause a conflict - it typically just sits disabled for that player.
Since this varies from mod to mod, the most reliable way to check is the mod's own page - most authors state directly, often under a "Multiplayer" or "Compatibility" section, whether every player needs it installed.
🛠️ Troubleshooting Mod Issues
Mod isn't loading:Check the SMAPI log for errors - the panel's Console tab shows it on startup, and it usually names the exact mod and why it failed.Missing a required framework:Many mods depend on Content Patcher or another framework mod. If the log mentions a missing dependency, download and upload that framework mod too.Works for the host but not farmhands:Double-check whether that mod needs to be installed on every player's PC - see the section above.Server feels slow with a lot of mods installed:Try disabling mods you're not actively using rather than running everything at once. Still sluggish after trimming down? Open a support ticket and our team can take a look.
Once your mods are uploaded and everyone who needs them has matching versions installed, you're ready to play. Bringing over an existing save at the same time? Check out our Upload an Existing Save guide. If a mod still won't cooperate, no worries! Just open a support ticket and our team will help you get it running.