How to Install Mods on a Vintage Story Server

Add a mod to the correct directory

1. Stop the server and back up its .vcdbs world, serverconfig.json and existing Mods directory. Make this copy before adding, removing or updating a mod.
2. Download a .zip mod suited to your game version. Check whether it is labelled Server-side, Universal or Client-side, and read its dependencies. A client-only mod does not necessarily belong on the server.
3. Place the ZIP in the server data directory's Mods folder. In serverconfig.json, confirm ModPaths includes that path. On Linux, the dedicated-server guide shows an explicit data path and warns you to keep the first Mods entry, which loads base game files.
4. Restart, read logs and join with a test player. Accept the offered download for server-side and universal mods. On the client, they are stored per server in ModsByServer.

If a player still has an older version

First check that the ZIP actually changed and the server loaded it on startup. The wiki describes a rare case where an author replaces mod contents without changing the filename; a client may keep its old copy. The player can leave, remove that server's subfolder in ModsByServer, then rejoin to download mods again. Keep a world backup before removing a mod that adds items or terrain.

For server installation, see the Vintage Story dedicated-server guide. Before renting, check access to ModPaths, mods and backups in the Vintage Story offers.