Installing mods on your Project Zomboid server via the Steam Workshop

Mods are one of the biggest reasons why Project Zomboid stays fun for so long. Via the Steam Workshop you can easily add new vehicles, maps, items and gameplay tweaks to your server at MC-Node. In this article we explain how to find, install and keep mods up to date.

Before you start

• Every mod on the Steam Workshop has a Workshop ID and one or more Mod IDs. You need both; you'll usually find them in the mod's description on the Workshop page.
• Mods cost extra memory. If you run many or large mods, follow the RAM guideline of 6-8 GB as a base plus around 0.5 GB per additional player, and when in doubt choose a larger plan via our store.
• Players who connect need the same mods; the server indicates this when joining, after which the mods can be downloaded via the Workshop.

Step 1: Collect the Workshop ID and Mod ID

1. Look up the desired mod in the Project Zomboid Steam Workshop.
2. Note down the Workshop ID (the number in the URL of the Workshop page).
3. Note down the Mod ID from the mod's description. Some mods contain multiple Mod IDs; note down all the ones you want to use.

Step 2: Add the mods to your server configuration

1. Log in to the panel via panel.mc-node.net and open your Project Zomboid server.
2. Go to Files and open your server's configuration file (the .ini file with your server name).
3. Find the line that starts with WorkshopItems= and enter the Workshop IDs there, separated by semicolons. For example: WorkshopItems=1234567890;2345678901
4. Find the line that starts with Mods= and enter the corresponding Mod IDs there, also separated by semicolons. For example: Mods=ModNameOne;ModNameTwo
5. Save the file with Save Content.

Step 3: Restart the server

1. Go to your server's Console page.
2. Click Restart.
3. During startup, the server automatically downloads the mods via the Steam Workshop. With large mods, the first start may take longer as a result; follow the progress in the console.
4. As soon as the server shows Online, you can connect and the mods are active.

Keeping mods up to date

When a mod creator publishes an update on the Steam Workshop, your server needs to fetch the new version. A simple Restart via the panel is usually enough: during startup the Workshop mods are checked again and updated. If you notice players can't join due to a mod mismatch, restart the server first before investigating further.

Problems with a mod?

If the server stops working after adding a mod, remove the relevant Workshop ID and Mod ID from the configuration file again and restart. Preferably add mods in small batches, so you can quickly see which mod is causing a problem.