Starfield Mods Not Working [FIXED]

Unfortunately, many players are into the Starfield mods not working issue. Whether you manually try to install a mod or use Vortex, the mods simply refuse to load inside of Starfield. The confusing part about this ordeal is that you will not face a specific error that can indicate what the problem is. Even mods that aim to improve Starfield’s stability and performance can be affected by the same problem as the cosmetic mods.

Why Are Starfield Mods Not Working?

Sadly, it is extremely difficult to know what exactly is causing your Starfield mods not to work. The culprits can differ depending on your system and the method you used to install the mods. Here are the most common reasons why Starfield mods might not be working:

• You might have downloaded your mods in the incorrect folder.
• If you are on an outdated version of Starfield, it can conflict with the mods and cause them not to work.
• Occasionally, your file names can change from .ini to .txt. This also leads to your mods becoming nonfunctional.
• If you are using the Vortex mods, you might need to tweak some settings for the mods to load.

Since many of these causes are entirely different, you must keep trying every solution mentioned in this guide until you can fix your issue.

Verify The File Name

Many players have a mixup where the “StarfieldCustom.ini” file is incorrectly named. The name must be exactly the same, including the lower and uppercase letters. Additionally, the file itself might be named as a .txt file instead of a .ini file. This can happen because the StarfieldCustom.ini file starts as a text document, and many players forget to delete the .txt extension from its name.

Verify that you have named the file correctly. If you notice that the file extension is .txt, change it to .ini and then launch Starfield to see if the mods are working.

Make Sure The Starfield Mods Are In The Correct Folder

Many players new to installing mods can make this mistake. The mods need to be in specific folders for them to be recognizable by a game. Even if you have placed your mods in the correct folder, external applications can sometimes relocate them without your knowledge.

Additionally, there is a common myth going around in the Starfield community that Vortex mods need to be placed in the Steam folder. This is incorrect. If you have fallen for this myth, it is likely the reason why your Starfield mods are not loading. You must paste all of your mod files directly into Starfield’s game folder or directory.

The Starfield game folder is in the “My Documents” folder by default. You must paste all of your mods here. Do note that players who used Steam or Xbox Game Pass to purchase Starfield may have a different location for their game folder.

Enable Hardlink Deployment In Vortex

If you are using Vortex, then you should immediately enable Hardlink Deployment. Hardlink deployment will make a new entry for your mod folder in the index while still using the same data from the original folder. This will make it much easier for Starfield to load your mods, as it will get rid of any confusion.

Here’s how you can enable Hardlink Deployment in Vortex:

1. Launch Vortex and navigate to its main settings menu. You can find the settings on the left side of your screen, under the general section.
2. Once in, switch to the mods section and select your deployment method as Hardlink Deployment.
3. Apply the changes and launch Starfield to see if your mods work.

Make Changes In The StarfieldCustom.ini File

This solution has worked for countless players. You have to copy and paste the following text inside your StarfieldCustom.ini file:

[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=

Here are more detailed instructions in case you are confused:

1. Locate your StarfieldCustom.ini file. You will find it in Starfield’s game folder. 
2. Once inside the folder, double-click the StarfieldCustom.ini to open it.
3. Copy the above text and paste it inside the file.
4. Make sure to paste it at the very top, above the rest of the text. 
5. Save your change and close the file.

Set StarfieldCustom.ini As Read Only

This is another popular solution among the Starfield modding community. For many players, setting the StarfieldCustom.ini file as read-only in its properties can help Starfield load the mods. At this point, this is likely the reason why your Starfield mods are not working.

Here’s how you can set StarfieldCustom.ini as read-only:

1. Find your StarfieldCustom.ini file in Starfield’s game folder.
2. Right-click the file to open the options menu. Here, click on properties.
3. Now check the box next to Read-only to set StarfieldCustom.ini as a read-only file. 
4. Click Apply to save your changes, then click OK to close the properties menu.

Are Your Starfield Mods Working Now?

Despite being a recent release, Starfield already has some of the best mods out right now. These mods can range from cosmetics to performance enhancement and even graphical improvement. Some players have to rely on the performance mods to be able to play Starfield. This is why having functional mods is extremely important. Thanks to this guide, however, you can be assured that Starfield Mods will start working once again.

Now that you can use your mods in Starfield, check out This Starfield Mod Finally Lets You Skip The Boring Intro.

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