How To Mod Stardew Valley

While *Stardew Valley*'s recent update garnered significant attention, players have long leveraged the power of mods to enhance their experience. From expanding NPC storylines to adding unique cosmetic items, modding unlocks a world of creative possibilities. Here's how to mod *Stardew Valley*:

How To Mod Stardew Valley on Windows

Step One: Back Up Your Save File

This is highly recommended, especially if you've invested considerable time building your farm. Losing your progress would be a shame! If you're starting fresh, this step is optional.

Backing up your save is easy:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type %appdata% and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the Stardew Valley folder, then the Saves folder.
4. Copy the contents to a safe location on your computer.

Step Two: Install SMAPI

SMAPI is the essential mod loader, seamlessly integrating mods into your game. Download it directly from the official SMAPI website.

Related: How To Get Multiple Pets in Stardew Valley

After downloading, extract the SMAPI ZIP file to a convenient location (your desktop or downloads folder works well). Remember, SMAPI is a loader, not a mod itself; don't extract it into your mods folder. Run the SMAPI installer and select "install on Windows," following the on-screen instructions.

Step Three: Configure Your Game Client

If you play *Stardew Valley* through Steam, GOG Galaxy, or the Xbox app, you might need to take extra steps to maintain playtime tracking and achievements. Further configuration details can be found [here](link_to_configuration_guide). *(Replace "[here]" with an actual link if one exists)*

Step Four: Installing Mods

Now for the fun part!

Nexus Mods is a popular source for Stardew Valley mods, offering a vast selection. Download mods as ZIP files, extract them, and move the extracted folders into the Mods folder (automatically created after SMAPI installation). The Mods folder location depends 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

That's it! With thousands of mods available on Nexus Mods alone, there's endless fun to be had for both new and veteran players.

Stardew Valley is available now.