How to Install Mods on a 7 Days to Die Server

Install a 7 Days to Die mod by extracting its archive, placing the mod’s top-level folder (the one containing ModInfo.xml) directly inside the dedicated server’s Mods folder, and restarting the server. Whether players must install anything depends on the mod: server-only and many XML changes can work without client files, while mods that add icons, asset bundles, or other client content require every player to install the matching version. Check the mod’s supported game build and EAC requirement before anyone connects, then confirm the load message in the server log.

Where do 7 Days to Die server mods go?

The server copy belongs in the dedicated installation root’s Mods directory. If that directory does not exist, create one with that exact capitalization. The folder must be inside the installation used by the dedicated server, not merely inside a download directory or a player’s game folder.

The official 7 Days to Die wiki describes the installation root’s Mods directory as the location the game scans. A mod is recognized through a file named ModInfo.xml, so the directory layout matters as much as the file transfer.

<dedicated-server-installation-root>Mods<ModFolder>ModInfo.xml

Do not leave the downloaded ZIP in Mods and expect it to load. Do not copy only the files inside the mod folder while omitting the folder itself, and do not create an unnecessary second directory level such as ModsModFolderModFolderModInfo.xml. The folder that directly contains ModInfo.xml should be the folder placed in Mods.

How do I install a modlet on a dedicated server?

Use this sequence for a normal modlet installation. Make the file changes while the server is stopped, then restart it before testing.

1. Check the mod’s requirements. Confirm that its documentation supports the server’s current game version. Note whether it is server-only, XML-only, or requires client files, and record any EAC instruction. A mod built for a different game or server build may fail to load or prevent clients from connecting.
2. Download the archive from the publisher. Keep the original download outside the server installation while you work. Extract it to a temporary location so you can inspect the contents instead of copying an unknown folder structure into the live server.
3. Open the dedicated server’s installation root. This is the directory used by the dedicated-server build, not automatically the directory used by the client game. Create a folder named Mods if it is missing.
4. Identify the mod’s top-level folder. Open the extracted files and locate the folder that contains ModInfo.xml. That folder is the installable unit. If the archive opens to a single folder, inspect that folder; if it opens to several items, follow the mod author’s structure until you find the folder containing the required file.
5. Copy the folder directly into Mods. The resulting path should place ModInfo.xml one level below the server’s Mods directory. Copy the extracted folder, not the ZIP archive and not a shortcut to it.
6. Start or restart the server. A running process will not reliably pick up a newly copied mod. Restart after an installation, removal, or update so the server performs a fresh scan.
7. Read the server log. Look for the mod’s load message or other confirmation from the server startup. A log entry is stronger evidence than simply seeing the folder on disk.
8. Connect and test the feature. Join with a client and exercise the part of the mod you installed. If the mod adds client-visible content, test that content specifically rather than assuming a successful connection means every asset loaded.

The official modlet guidance and the Nexus Mods installation guide describe the same basic process: extract the archive, put the mod folder directly in Mods, restart, and verify the server log.

Do players need to install the mod too?

Not always. A server-only mod can remain on the server, while a mod that supplies client assets or other client-side files must be installed by every player at the same version. XML changes may be delivered by the server, but item icons and asset bundles can still require a local client installation.

Mod type or content	Server installation	Player installation	What to verify
Server-only behavior	Required	Usually not required	Read the author’s server-only statement and test a client connection.
XML-only changes	Required	Often not required	Confirm that the mod does not include client assets or code.
Icons, asset bundles, or other client content	Required	Required for every player	Distribute the exact matching mod version and install it in each player’s game Mods folder.
Mixed server and client package	Required	Required when the documentation says so	Install the complete, matching package on both sides unless the author separates the files.

When a client-required mod is updated, treat the server and all player installations as one versioned set. A player with an older or incomplete package may see missing content or fail to connect even though the server log shows a successful load.

What should the folder structure look like?

The reliable check is simple: open the folder you copied into Mods and confirm that ModInfo.xml is inside it. The file should not be buried beneath an extra copy of the same folder name.

Correct structure

ModsExampleModModInfo.xml

Common incorrect structures

• ModsExampleMod.zip — the archive was never extracted.
• ModsModInfo.xml — the enclosing mod folder was discarded.
• ModsExampleModExampleModModInfo.xml — an extra nested directory was copied.
• ModsSomeDownloadFolderExampleModModInfo.xml — the archive’s container folder, rather than the mod folder, was placed in Mods.

If an archive contains documentation, screenshots, or several versions, do not copy all of those items indiscriminately. Select the release folder whose own contents include ModInfo.xml and follow the author’s stated layout.

How do game versions, mod versions, and EAC affect installation?

Keep the dedicated-server build, mod build, and required client build aligned. A community dedicated-server guide describes matching mod and game versions as necessary for a connection; the mod’s release notes are the authority for the exact supported range.

Version check before copying files

• Record the game version running on the dedicated server.
• Check the mod page for that version, rather than assuming a newer release is backward compatible.
• For client-required content, give players the same mod release that is on the server.
• After a game update, recheck every installed mod before restarting a public server.

When should EAC be disabled?

EAC is mod-specific. Some code or gameplay modifications require EACEnabled=false on the server and EAC disabled for clients; other XML-only mods may not. Read the individual mod’s requirements before changing the setting. Do not disable EAC merely because a mod exists, and do not leave it enabled when the mod explicitly requires it to be off.

If a change to EAC is required, document that requirement for every player before the next connection attempt. A server setting and a player’s launch state that disagree can produce a connection failure even when the folder structure is correct.

How can I verify that a mod loaded?

Use the startup log as the first verification point, then test the feature in game. The expected result is a load message associated with the mod, followed by the behavior or content described by its author.

1. Stop the server before making the installation.
2. Start it after the mod folder is in place.
3. Search the startup output for the mod name or its load message.
4. If the message is absent, stop and inspect the path and ModInfo.xml location before trying a client connection.
5. If the message is present but the feature is missing, determine whether client files are required and whether the player has the matching version.
6. Test one feature at a time when adding several mods. This gives you a clear suspect if the next restart reports an error.

A successful log entry confirms that the server recognized the package; it does not prove that a client has every icon, bundle, or other local asset. Those two checks answer different questions.

Why is my 7 Days to Die mod not loading?

Most failures fall into a small number of branches. Follow the symptom that matches what you see instead of changing several settings at once.

The log shows no trace of the mod

• Confirm that the server is using the installation root where you placed the files.
• Make sure the archive was extracted.
• Check that the folder directly inside Mods contains ModInfo.xml.
• Remove an extra nested directory and restart.
• Verify that the mod is intended for the current game build.

The server loads, but players cannot connect

• Compare the dedicated-server, mod, and required client versions.
• Check whether the mod requires client installation and whether every connecting player has the same release.
• Read the EAC requirement. A mod that needs EAC disabled will not behave like one that supports EAC.

The connection works, but icons or other content are missing

This usually points to a client-content requirement rather than a server path problem. Have the affected player install the matching client files in the game’s Mods folder, then restart the client as directed by the mod author.

The server becomes unstable after an install or update

Third-party mods can be unstable, and the official support article says support cannot diagnose a particular mod. Remove or rename the newly installed mod folder, restart with a vanilla Mods directory, and reproduce the issue. If the problem disappears, add changes back one at a time rather than restoring the entire set at once.

A mod worked before a game update

Do not assume that a previously working package remains compatible. Check the author’s supported game version and obtain an updated release or temporarily remove the mod while you run the new server build.

How do I roll back a broken mod safely?

Rollback is a file operation plus a save-safety step. Keep a backup of the server save before major mod changes, especially when a mod alters items, progression, or world behavior.

1. Stop the dedicated server.
2. Preserve the current mod folder by renaming it or moving it outside the installation root, rather than deleting it immediately.
3. Remove or rename only the newly installed or updated mod.
4. Start the server with the remaining mods, or with a vanilla Mods directory if you are isolating the fault.
5. Reproduce the original problem.
6. If the vanilla launch is stable, consult the mod’s documentation before attempting another version. Restore from the save backup if the mod changed the world in a way that is not compatible with removal.

For a client, the launcher’s Open game folder path helps locate the local Mods directory when you need to disable a client-side package. Apply the same version discipline to clients as to the server during a rollback.

How should I compare mods before installing them?

Download counts or screenshots do not answer the operational questions that determine whether a server can run a mod. Compare the following details in each mod’s documentation before committing it to a live save.

Comparison point	Question to answer	Why it matters
Supported game version	Does the release explicitly support the server’s current build?	An unsupported build can fail at startup or block connections.
Server-only or client-required	Can players connect without installing files?	Client-required packages must be distributed and kept identical.
XML-only versus asset/code changes	Does it alter data only, or add icons, bundles, or executable behavior?	Asset and code changes are more likely to require client files or an EAC exception.
EAC requirement	Must the server and clients disable EAC?	The launch configuration must match the mod’s requirement.
Save or world impact	Does the author advise a fresh world or warn about removing the mod?	World changes can outlive the folder and make rollback unsafe.
Update cadence	Does the author publish compatibility updates when the game changes?	A maintained release is easier to align after a game update.

If the documentation does not state whether a fresh world is recommended, test on a copied save or a disposable world before changing a main server. Treat an unstated requirement as unknown, not as permission to proceed without a backup.

What should I do if I rent a managed server?

The same folder and restart rules apply, but the control panel may expose file upload, restart, and log-view functions instead of a local installation directory. If you lack those controls, managed 7 Days to Die server hosting can be practical; verify the provider’s current mod support, backup tools, server geography, pricing, and restart access before committing a save.

Ask specifically whether the service lets you upload an extracted folder, edit EAC settings when a mod requires it, and read the startup log. A host that accepts only a ZIP upload without showing the resulting folder structure can still leave the server unable to recognize ModInfo.xml.

What is the shortest reliable checklist?

• Confirm the mod supports the current game and dedicated-server versions.
• Read whether it is server-only or needs client files.
• Read the EAC requirement before changing EAC.
• Extract the archive outside the server directory.
• Place the folder containing ModInfo.xml directly in the server’s Mods folder.
• Restart the server.
• Check the startup log for the load message.
• Install the same version on every client when assets or other client files are required.
• Back up the save before major changes.
• For failures, remove or rename the changed mod and compare with a vanilla launch.

“Unfortunately, we do not maintain any familiarity with how any particular third party mod works or what issues it may have, and therefore are unable to offer any support for mods that may have been installed.” — 7 Days to Die Help Center, “Mod Use,” updated October 1, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install a mod while the dedicated server is running?

Stop the server before copying, removing, or replacing a mod folder. Restarting after the file change forces a fresh scan and avoids testing a partially read package.

Will a server send every mod file to connecting players automatically?

Do not assume it will. XML changes may be delivered by the server, but icons, asset bundles, and other client-side files can still require a separate installation on every player’s game.

Do I need a new world after installing a mod?

Only the mod’s documentation can establish that requirement. When it is silent, test on a copied save or disposable world first and keep a backup before applying the package to a main world.

What evidence should I collect before asking for help with a mod?

Record the game and mod versions, the exact folder path, the location of ModInfo.xml, the EAC setting, and the server startup log. Then reproduce the issue with the changed mod removed so you can distinguish a vanilla server problem from a third-party mod problem.