Enhance your Stardew Valley experience with mods! This guide details how to seamlessly integrate mods into your game, expanding gameplay and adding cosmetic elements. Let's get started.

Modding Stardew Valley on Windows:

Step One: Safeguard Your Save Data (Recommended)

Before starting, back up your save file. This protects your progress. To back up:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type %appdata% and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the Stardew Valley folder, then the Saves folder.
4. Copy the contents to a secure location on your computer. This is crucial if you have an established farm.

Step Two: Install SMAPI

SMAPI is the essential mod loader. Download it directly from the official SMAPI website.

Extract the downloaded ZIP file to your desktop or downloads folder (do not extract into the Stardew Valley Mods folder). Run SMAPI and select "Install on Windows," following the on-screen instructions. Remember, SMAPI isn't a mod itself; it's the tool that enables mods.

Step Three: Game Client Configuration (If Necessary)

If playing through Steam, GOG Galaxy, or the Xbox app, you might need extra steps to maintain achievement tracking and playtime recording. Refer to the SMAPI documentation for client-specific instructions.

Step Four: Installing Mods

Now for the fun part!

Nexus Mods is a great resource for Stardew Valley mods. Download mods (usually as ZIP files), extract them, and place the extracted folders into the Stardew Valley Mods folder. The location of this folder varies depending on your game client:

• Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley
• GOG Galaxy: C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Stardew Valley
• Xbox App: C:\XboxGames\Stardew Valley

With thousands of mods available, explore and customize your Stardew Valley experience!

Stardew Valley is available now.