How to use the mod manager and where the State of Decay 2 .pak folder is

Where the mods (.pak) folder is

Mods don't go in the folder where the game is installed, but in your Windows user's data folder:

• Steam: %LOCALAPPDATA%\StateOfDecay2\Saved\Paks
• Xbox/PC Game Pass: usually %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.Dayton_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\StateOfDecay2\Saved\Paks (if it doesn't exist on your PC, tell me and I'll help)

To open it quickly press Windows + R, paste the path and press Enter. If the Paks folder doesn't exist, create it yourself.

How to use the mod manager

The mod manager lets you enable, disable and sort mods without moving files by hand.

1. Add a mod: use the add option and pick the .pak file you downloaded.
2. Enable or disable: tick or untick the mod in the list. The manager doesn't delete it: when you disable it, it leaves it as .bak.
3. Load order: the manager puts a number in front of each mod (for example 000-, 010-). Mods that others need, like Mod Integration, go first.
4. After changing anything: close the manager and launch the game.

Rules so nothing breaks

• Only one version of each mod. Before adding a new version, remove the old one from the manager.
• Add mods from the manager. If you copy a .pak into the Paks folder by hand, the manager may remove it the next time you open it.
• Don't rename .pak and .bak files by hand: enable and disable from the manager.
• Close the game before installing or removing mods.

If a mod disappears or doesn't load

1. Open the Paks folder and check the file is still there and ends in .pak.
2. If it's a .bak, enable it from the manager.
3. If it's gone, add it again from the manager.
4. If the game crashes, check the logs in %LOCALAPPDATA%\StateOfDecay2\Saved\Logs and disable mods one by one until you find the one that fails.

Haven't installed any yet? Start with How to install mods in State of Decay 2.