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Adding a Garry’s Mod Workshop addon requires two separate configurations: make the dedicated server load the addon, then tell connecting clients to download it. Add +host_workshop_collection <COLLECTION_ID> to the server’s startup command for server-side loading. In a server Lua file under lua/autorun/server/, add one resource.AddWorkshop("<ADDON_ID>") line for every addon clients must receive. Servers running Garry’s Mod version 2026.09.22 or newer can also use cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt to list addon IDs.
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What you need before adding an addon
Have the Workshop item’s numeric ID, access to the server’s startup command, and permission to edit the server files. The ID is the number in the item’s Steam Workshop URL. A collection has its own ID, which is different from the IDs of the addons inside it.
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Addon ID versus collection ID
Use an addon ID when you are referring to one Workshop item. Use a collection ID when you want the server to load all items grouped in a Steam collection. Do not substitute an individual addon ID for a collection ID in +host_workshop_collection; the startup parameter expects the collection identifier.
Check the server build
The newer cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt method is available on Garry’s Mod builds dated 2026.09.22 and later. If the server is older, use the startup collection parameter and the Lua download list instead. Check the build shown by your server before choosing the text-file method.
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Method 1: load a Workshop collection at server startup
The official Garry’s Mod server configuration uses +host_workshop_collection followed by a collection ID. The server reads the collection during startup, downloads its contents, and mounts the addons it can load.
Step 1: copy the collection ID
- Open the Steam Workshop collection that contains the addons.
- Copy the numeric collection ID from the collection URL.
- Confirm that the collection contains the exact addons and versions you intend to run.
Step 2: add the startup parameter
Add this argument to the same startup command that specifies the game and server settings:
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srcds ... +host_workshop_collection 1234567890Replace 1234567890 with your real collection ID. Keep the plus sign, use no angle brackets in the final command, and place the argument on the command line used to launch the dedicated server rather than in a server-side Lua file.
Step 3: restart and watch the console
Stop the server completely and start it again. A restart is required for the startup argument to be read. Watch the startup console for Workshop download or mounting messages. If the server starts without any sign that the collection was read, recheck the command used by the service manager, panel, batch file, or shell script; editing a different launch shortcut does not change the command that actually runs the server.
Step 4: test the addon on the server
Join the server as an administrator and test the addon’s expected behavior. A collection being downloaded does not prove that every item is compatible with the current game mode or map. Test any entities, weapons, scripted tools, maps, or content that the addon is supposed to provide.
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Method 2: make connecting players download the addons
Server-side loading and client delivery are separate. Loading a collection lets the server mount its addons, but it does not give you a reliable client-download configuration. Put each required Workshop item ID in a server-side Lua file with resource.AddWorkshop.
Step 1: create the autorun directory and file
Inside the server’s Garry’s Mod directory, create this path if it does not already exist:
lua/autorun/server/Create a clearly named file in that directory, such as:
lua/autorun/server/workshop_downloads.luaThe filename can be different, but it must end in .lua and be inside the server autorun directory. Keeping all required Workshop entries in one file makes later audits easier.
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Use the numeric Workshop item ID as a quoted string:
resource.AddWorkshop("1111111111")
resource.AddWorkshop("2222222222")
resource.AddWorkshop("3333333333")The quotation marks matter because resource.AddWorkshop receives a string. Do not paste a full Workshop URL, a collection URL, or an unquoted number. Add one line for every addon that a player must have to see or use the server correctly.
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Step 3: save, restart, and connect with a clean client
Save the file, restart the server, and connect from a client that does not already have the items cached. The client should begin downloading the listed Workshop content while connecting. Existing subscribers may appear to download nothing because the files are already present; test with an unsubscribed account or a cleared local copy when you need to verify delivery.
Step 4: keep the list synchronized
Whenever you add or remove an item from the Steam collection, make the corresponding change in workshop_downloads.lua. Editing a collection does not update this Lua file automatically. A server can therefore mount a newly added addon while clients still lack it, or continue requesting an item that has been removed from the collection.
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Using cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt on newer servers
Garry’s Mod’s wiki documents a newer option for servers running version 2026.09.22 or later: create cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt manually and list the Workshop addon IDs in it. This file can be used instead of, or alongside, a Workshop collection.
Verify compatibility first
Do not create the file and assume an older server will read it. Confirm that the running dedicated-server build is 2026.09.22 or newer. If your host’s control panel reports only a branch name, check the startup console or update the server before relying on this feature.
Create and maintain the file
Create the cfg directory if necessary, then create:
cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txtList the addon IDs using the layout documented for your installed build, normally one numeric ID per line. Do not put collection names, Workshop URLs, or Lua function calls in this text file. Because this is a newer feature, follow the exact formatting example in the official wiki for the server branch you run.
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Decide whether to combine methods
You can continue using +host_workshop_collection for a collection while maintaining individual IDs in the text file or Lua download list. Avoid accidental duplicates: keep a written inventory of which method supplies each addon and remove obsolete entries when you change the collection.
Which setup should you choose?
| Setup | Server loading | Client delivery | Maintenance | Build requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
+host_workshop_collection only |
Loads the collection at startup | Not a dependable replacement for an explicit client download list | Collection is easy to edit, but client configuration can drift | Supported by the standard collection method |
Collection plus resource.AddWorkshop |
Loads the collection | Requests every listed addon for connecting players | Two lists must be kept synchronized | Works when the server supports the collection method and Lua autorun |
cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt |
Reads individual addon IDs from the configuration file | Use the Lua download list as well when clients must receive the files | One ID list is straightforward to review; exact file syntax follows the installed build | Garry’s Mod 2026.09.22 or later |
For most established servers, the practical arrangement is a collection for server loading plus a server-side Lua file for client downloads. The newer text file is useful when you prefer to manage individual IDs without putting them in a collection, provided the server meets the version requirement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failures and how to fix them
The server starts, but no Workshop addon appears
- Check that the startup command actually contains
+host_workshop_collectionand the correct collection ID. - Confirm that you restarted the dedicated server after changing the command.
- Look for a typo in the ID; one missing digit points to a different item or an invalid collection.
- Verify that the process has permission to write its Workshop and addon directories.
- Make sure you edited the launch script or panel profile that starts this server instance, not a dormant batch file.
If the collection is not being read at all, solve the startup configuration before troubleshooting Lua downloads. The two mechanisms fail independently.
Players join without required models, sounds, or entities
- Open the server’s
lua/autorun/server/directory and confirm the download file is in that exact path. - Check that the file extension is
.lua, not.lua.txt. - Confirm every call follows the form
resource.AddWorkshop("ID"), with the ID in quotation marks. - Restart the server after editing the file.
- Test with a client that does not already have the Workshop item cached.
An older issue report on the Facepunch issue tracker stated that +host_workshop_collection did not automatically make clients download every item. That report is old and may not describe current behavior, but it is a reason to retain explicit resource.AddWorkshop entries when the content is required.
A newly added collection item works for the server but not for players
Compare the collection with workshop_downloads.lua. The collection controls what the server loads; the Lua file controls the IDs requested from connecting clients. Add the new ID to the Lua file, save it, and restart the server.
The text-file method has no effect
First check the server build. cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt requires version 2026.09.22 or later. On an older build, use the collection startup parameter and Lua download file. On a supported build, verify the filename, capitalization, location under cfg, and the ID format required by that branch’s official documentation.
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Only some addons download
Compare every item ID against the Workshop URL and remove spaces or extra characters from the Lua lines. A collection can also contain an item that has been removed, made unavailable, or changed independently of your server configuration. Test each ID separately by checking whether the corresponding item appears in the client’s download activity.
The collection does not load at all
Check the collection’s visibility and ownership settings. Community guides commonly state that a server must be able to read a public or unlisted collection, but that visibility requirement is not confirmed here by a primary source and can change with Steam behavior. If changing visibility is not possible, use individual addon IDs through the supported text-file or Lua methods and observe the server console for the exact failure.
Maintaining Workshop content over time
Keep a single inventory
Record each addon’s name, Workshop ID, purpose, and the configuration method that supplies it. This prevents a collection edit from silently disagreeing with the Lua file and makes it easier to remove abandoned content.
Update in a controlled order
- Edit the collection or ID list.
- Update
workshop_downloads.luaif clients need the item. - Restart the server so it reads the new configuration.
- Check the startup console for download or mount errors.
- Join with a client that lacks the addon and verify the download and in-game behavior.
Remove obsolete entries
When an addon is retired, remove it from the collection and every individual ID list. Leaving stale entries can trigger unnecessary downloads, confuse troubleshooting, and make it unclear which content the server actually requires.
A reliable installation checklist
- Identify the numeric collection ID and each individual addon ID.
- Add
+host_workshop_collection <COLLECTION_ID>to the real server startup command, if using a collection. - Restart and confirm that the server reads and mounts the collection.
- Create
lua/autorun/server/workshop_downloads.lua. - Add one quoted
resource.AddWorkshop("ID")line for every required client addon. - Restart again and test from a client without cached files.
- If using
cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt, verify the server is version 2026.09.22 or later and follow that build’s documented file format. - Keep the collection, text file, and Lua list synchronized whenever content changes.
Why the two-step model matters
A Garry’s Mod server can successfully load an addon while a player still lacks the files needed to render it. Conversely, a client can download an item that the server never mounted. Treat server loading and client delivery as separate checks: the startup collection or supported ID file answers “what does the server load?”, while resource.AddWorkshop answers “what should connecting players download?” Configuring both sides is what produces a predictable connection and gameplay experience.
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