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How to Install Mod Collections on a Palworld Server

A complete guide to installing, activating, updating, and troubleshooting Palworld Workshop mod collections on a Windows dedicated server.
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On a Windows Palworld dedicated server, install a mod collection by placing each server-compatible Workshop package under Mods/Workshop, enabling the loader in Mods/PalModSettings.ini, and adding each package’s PackageName as an ActiveModList entry. Restart the server to deploy the collection.

This workflow applies to Pocketpair’s official server mod loader. It does not make client-only mods work, and some packages require matching files on every player’s computer.

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What you need to know before installing

Pocketpair’s documented server-side mod system currently supports the dedicated-server Windows edition. A Linux server, a console server, or a package designed only for the game client is outside this procedure. Check every mod’s own documentation before copying files: the official loader expects Workshop packages with an Info.json file and installation rules.

Back up the world and stop the server before changing anything. A mod collection changes the files and behavior used by a live save. Pocketpair warns: “Use mods at your own risk. They may cause save-data corruption or crashes.” Keep the backup until the collection has started successfully and players have completed a test session.

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  • A Windows Palworld dedicated server installation with access to its files.
  • Permission to edit the server configuration and restart the process.
  • The collection’s Workshop packages and the author’s dependency list.
  • A known-good world backup and, ideally, a record of the package versions being deployed.

How the official collection format works

A collection is not enabled merely by copying a folder. Each package has an Info.json file. Its PackageName is the identifier the server uses in the configuration, while the folder name is only a storage location. The package’s InstallRule must include "IsServer": true for the package to be intended for server installation.

When the server restarts, the loader reads the active package list, evaluates each package’s installation rules, and creates a deployed copy under Mods/ManagedMods/<PackageName>/InstallManifest.json. Deployment therefore happens on restart, not while the process is already running.

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Item Purpose What to verify
Mods/Workshop Default location for Workshop packages Each package has its own folder and its Info.json is directly inside that folder
Info.json Defines the package name, version, dependencies, and installation rules PackageName is copied exactly; InstallRule includes IsServer=true
Mods/PalModSettings.ini Enables the loader and lists active packages bGlobalEnableMod=true and one ActiveModList line per package
Mods/ManagedMods Generated deployment area The expected package directory and InstallManifest.json appear after restart

Install a mod collection step by step

1. Back up the world and stop the server

Use your normal backup method to preserve the current world, then shut down the dedicated server cleanly. Do not edit the collection or configuration while the server is writing to the save. Label the backup with the date and the package set you are about to install so you can identify the matching rollback point.

2. Start the dedicated server once

Run the Windows dedicated server without attempting to install the collection first. The initial launch creates Mods/PalModSettings.ini automatically. Stop the server again after that file exists. If it is not created, confirm that you are running the dedicated-server Windows edition and that the process can write to its installation directory.

3. Create the Workshop package folders

Next to PalServer.exe, create the default directory:

Mods/Workshop

Give each package its own subfolder. The subfolder can use any name, but the package’s Info.json must be directly inside it:

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Mods/Workshop/<any folder name>/Info.json

Do not add an extra nesting level such as Mods/Workshop/CollectionName/PackageName/Info.json unless the package’s documentation explicitly produces that layout. The loader needs to find the manifest at the package-folder level.

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4. Inspect every package manifest

Open each Info.json in a text editor. Record the exact value of PackageName, the current Version, any listed prerequisites, and the server installation rule. A folder called FarmingQuivern does not prove that the package name is also FarmingQuivern; activation follows the manifest value, including capitalization and punctuation.

Install prerequisite packages listed by the author before activating a dependent package. A package can be physically present yet fail to deploy if a required dependency is missing or if its installation rules target only the client.

5. Enable the mod loader

Open Mods/PalModSettings.ini. Under the [PalModSettings] section, set:

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bGlobalEnableMod=true

If the setting is present with a false value, change it rather than adding a conflicting duplicate. Keep a copy of the edited file so you can compare it with the last known-good configuration during troubleshooting.

6. Add every package to the active list

Add one line for each package, using the PackageName from its Info.json:

ActiveModList=GamingCattiva
ActiveModList=FarmingQuivern

Repeat the key for every package in the collection. Do not combine names with commas, and do not substitute the Workshop folder name. The order should follow the author’s dependency guidance when one is provided; otherwise, add the packages consistently and use the logs to identify a failure.

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7. Restart and let the loader deploy

Save the configuration and start the server. The loader processes the active packages during startup. It creates a managed directory for each package and writes an InstallManifest.json describing the applied installation rules. A package that was copied after startup will not be active until the next restart.

Watch the deployment output or server logs for each package. A clean process start is necessary but not sufficient: verify that the package itself is reported as deployed and that no dependency or installation-rule error appears later in the log.

8. Test before inviting players

Connect with an administrator account or a test client first. Confirm that the server remains online, the expected content or behavior is present, and the world loads normally. If the author requires client-side companion files, install the exact matching files on the test client before judging the deployment. Invite the rest of the players only after the test succeeds and the backup remains available.

Configuration reference

Configuration or path Required value or layout Common mistake
Mods/PalModSettings.ini bGlobalEnableMod=true Leaving the loader disabled or editing a different server installation
Active package entries One ActiveModList=<PackageName> line per package Using the folder name, a Workshop ID, or a comma-separated list
Package manifest Mods/Workshop/<folder>/Info.json Putting Info.json one directory too deep
Server compatibility InstallRule contains "IsServer": true Activating a client-only package
Deployment result Mods/ManagedMods/<PackageName>/InstallManifest.json Assuming a copied archive is active without restarting

Do players need to install the mods too?

There is no single answer for every package. The server loader can deploy server-side files, but a mod author may also require a client installation. Classify each package using its documentation:

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  • Server-only: the server has the required files and clients do not need a companion installation.
  • Client-only: it is not suitable for this server loader and will not become a server mod by placing it in Mods/Workshop.
  • Both sides: the server package is enabled as above, and every player installs the required matching client files.

When players see different behavior, first determine which of these categories applies. Check that the client version and package version match the author’s stated requirement, and make sure the server is not running a package that the author marked for clients only. Do not assume that a successful server startup means every client has the necessary files.

Move the Workshop directory

Pocketpair documents two supported ways to use a Workshop directory outside the default location. Choose one method and point it to the same absolute path that contains the package folders.

Set the path in the configuration

Under [PalModSettings] in Mods/PalModSettings.ini, add:

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WorkshopRootDir=<absolute path>

Use an absolute filesystem path, not a path relative to PalServer.exe. Keep the package layout below that directory consistent with the default arrangement so each package still contains Info.json directly in its folder.

Pass a startup argument

Alternatively, launch the server with:

-workshopdir="<absolute path>"

This is useful when the same installation is started by a script or launcher and you want the Workshop location to be explicit at startup. If both a configuration value and a launch argument are present, standardize on one documented location for your operation and verify in the startup output which directory is being scanned.

Update, disable, and remove packages

Updating a package

When the Version in a package’s Info.json changes, restart the server. The loader automatically removes the old version and deploys the new one. Keep the world backup and the previous package files until the updated server has passed a test startup.

Disabling one package

Remove that package’s PackageName from ActiveModList, save the file, and restart. The package remains stored in the Workshop directory but is no longer in the active list. This is the least destructive first step when isolating a suspected conflict.

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Removing a package completely

After removing its active-list entry, you can delete the corresponding Mods/Workshop/<WorkshopId>/ folder if it is no longer needed, then restart the server. Preserve a copy if you may need to reproduce the previous setup or roll back an update.

Disabling all mods for emergency recovery

Start the server with -NoMods. This documented isolation switch forcibly disables all mods, allowing you to determine whether the collection is responsible for a crash or startup failure. Once the server is stable, stop it, restore the known-good package set if necessary, and reintroduce packages deliberately.

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Troubleshooting by symptom

The server starts, but the mod is absent

  1. Open Mods/PalModSettings.ini and confirm bGlobalEnableMod=true.
  2. Compare every ActiveModList value with the exact PackageName in the matching Info.json.
  3. Check that Info.json is directly under the package folder in Mods/Workshop.
  4. Confirm that the package’s InstallRule includes IsServer=true.
  5. Restart and inspect deployment output for the package and its generated managed manifest.

The collection fails after one package is added

Remove the newest ActiveModList line and restart. If the server becomes healthy, add packages back in small groups, checking logs after each restart. Recheck the removed package’s dependencies and server rule before trying it again. This narrows the failure without discarding the entire collection.

An update causes a crash

Use -NoMods to isolate the server. If it starts normally, restore the last known-good world and package set, then inspect the changed package’s Version, dependencies, and installation rules. Reintroduce the update only after confirming that the author supports the server edition you are running.

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Players report inconsistent behavior

Determine whether the package is server-only, client-only, or a both-sides installation. For a both-sides package, verify that every affected player has the required companion files and that their versions match the server’s package. If the package is client-only, remove it from the server active list; placing it there cannot make it server-compatible.

The server cannot find packages in a relocated directory

Check that WorkshopRootDir or -workshopdir uses the intended absolute path, that the server account can read it, and that the package folders retain the required Info.json layout. Restart after changing the path and confirm the scanned location in startup output.

Choosing a management method

Approach Control Compatibility considerations Operational effort Recovery considerations
Manual Workshop and INI editing Direct control over files, versions, and activation lines Uses the official Workshop package format and server installation rules Requires file access, manifest inspection, and planned restarts Strong when backups, logs, and a documented package list are maintained
Palworld Server Launcher from Nexus Mods Accepts a Workshop ID or URL and provides enable, disable, remove, and update controls Verify that the launcher release supports your server version before production use Can download and update packages at startup, reducing repetitive manual work Keep independent backups and confirm what changed during each startup update
PalworldInstaller for Mod Organizer 2 Routes package files into expected locations through a mod-management workflow Useful for packages containing .pak, Lua, and companion files; follow the author’s instructions when an archive is ambiguous Adds a separate tool and profile to maintain Retain the underlying package and configuration records so you can disable it directly
Managed hosting Depends on the provider’s file access, configuration editor, backups, and restart controls Confirm that the service explicitly permits Palworld mod file management and supports the required Windows server edition Less server maintenance, but procedures vary by provider Choose a service with accessible backups, logs, and a way to disable mods quickly

Tools change the administration experience; they do not remove the need to verify server compatibility, dependencies, client requirements, or backups. If a tool obscures the generated configuration, learn how to perform the manual disable procedure before relying on it.

Operational checklist for a reliable collection

  • Record the package folder name, manifest PackageName, and Version for every item.
  • Confirm each package has a server installation rule and install all documented prerequisites.
  • Keep a dated world backup before the first deployment and before major updates.
  • Make one controlled configuration change at a time when diagnosing a failure.
  • Restart after adding, updating, disabling, relocating, or removing packages.
  • Read deployment output and verify the generated managed manifest instead of relying on a successful process launch alone.
  • Test with a client that has any required companion files before opening the server to the full player group.
  • Keep -NoMods available in the startup command or launcher settings as an emergency isolation option.

Key limitations to keep in mind

The official workflow is currently specific to the Windows dedicated-server edition, and only packages designed for servers are eligible. A collection is a set of independently validated packages, not a guarantee that every combination is compatible. Dependencies, version changes, and client requirements belong to each package’s author and must be checked individually.

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The safest rollout is therefore staged: preserve the world, deploy a small set, inspect logs and managed manifests, test with the required client files, and expand only after the server remains stable. If a change breaks startup, -NoMods, removal from ActiveModList, and restoration of the known-good backup provide the practical recovery path.

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