How to add Steam Workshop mods to a Project Zomboid server

Project Zomboid servers download Steam Workshop mods automatically when they start. You just need to tell the server which mods to use. Every mod needs two values, and mixing them up is the number one reason modded servers fail to start.

1. Find the Workshop ID and the Mod ID

• Workshop ID: the number at the end of the mod’s Steam Workshop page address. In steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2169435993, the Workshop ID is 2169435993.
• Mod ID: the mod’s own name for itself. Most authors list it at the bottom of the Workshop description, as Mod ID: modoptions. Some Workshop items contain several mods with different Mod IDs. Only add the ones you want.

2. Add them to your server

On Nexcon, open your server in the dashboard, go to Mods, paste the Workshop link and the Mod ID, then press Apply & restart. That’s it.

If you prefer to edit the config yourself, open Zomboid/Server/servertest.ini (the name matches your server name) in the file manager and edit these two lines. Separate entries with semicolons:

WorkshopItems=2169435993;2392709985
Mods=modoptions;tsarslib

3. Get the load order right

Mods load in the order listed. Put libraries and frameworks first (anything other mods say they “require”), then the mods that depend on them. Always check a mod’s “Required items” on its Workshop page and add those too.

4. Map mods need one extra step

Map mods also need to be listed in the Map= line of the same file, before the base map, for example:

Map=MyMapMod;Muldraugh, KY

5. Build 41 vs Build 42

Many older mods only support Build 41. If your server runs Build 42 multiplayer, check that every mod says it supports Build 42. Unsupported mods are the most common cause of crashes after switching builds.

Troubleshooting

• Server won’t start: open the console and look for the last mod mentioned before the error. Remove it, restart, and add mods back one at a time.
• Players can’t join (“mod mismatch”): a mod updated on the Workshop. Restart the server so it downloads the latest version. Players update automatically when they rejoin.
• Running out of memory: big mod lists need more RAM. See how much RAM you need.