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How to Install Steam Workshop Mods on a Conan Exiles Server

By Freedom251 Team · · 10 min read

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To install Steam Workshop mods on a Conan Exiles server, place every required mod’s .pak file in the server’s ConanSandbox/Mods folder, list those filenames in modlist.txt in the intended load order, and restart the server. Each player must have the same mods enabled in the same order or Conan Exiles will reject the connection.

The procedure is almost identical on a self-hosted dedicated server and a rented server; the difference is how you obtain and upload the files. The steps below cover both setups, network ports, configuration locations, updates, removal and the most common connection failures.

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What you need before installing mods

Use a dedicated Conan Exiles server rather than a normal client session. You need administrator or file-transfer access to the machine, enough disk space for the server and mod files, and a way to restart the server after changing its files. Every person joining must be able to install the same Workshop items through Steam.

  • A dedicated server installation: install Conan Exiles Dedicated Server from Steam’s Tools library, or install it with SteamCMD using application ID 443030.
  • A generated server directory: start the server once after installation. This creates the ConanSandbox folders and configuration files you will use.
  • The exact mod files: the server needs the Workshop .pak files themselves, not merely a subscription made from a player’s computer.
  • A load order: decide which mod should load first and keep that order on the server and every client.
  • Matching clients: players must subscribe to or otherwise install every required mod and activate them in the same order.

Steam clients use the Steam Workshop API for mods. Funcom’s documentation describes a separate mod-download TCP offset for applicable non-Steam clients; do not apply that non-Steam setting to a normal Steam-only server without confirming that your client configuration requires it.

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Install the dedicated server

Steam Tools installation

  1. Open Steam and switch the Library filter to Tools.
  2. Find and install Conan Exiles Dedicated Server.
  3. Launch the dedicated server once, allow its initial files to be created, then stop it cleanly. The first run generates the ConanSandbox directory, saved configuration files and the location used for mods.

SteamCMD installation

On a machine where you prefer command-line deployment, install SteamCMD, sign in as required by SteamCMD, and download application 443030. The exact SteamCMD installation directory is your choice; what matters is that the dedicated-server files are downloaded completely and that you start the server once before configuring mods.

Keep a note of the installation root. All paths in this guide are relative to that root, so a typical mod directory is:

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ConanSandbox/Mods

Get the Workshop files onto the server

Why subscribing on a client is not enough

Subscribing to a Workshop item in the Steam client downloads it to that client’s local Workshop cache. It does not automatically copy the server-ready .pak file to a separately installed dedicated server. A self-hosted administrator therefore has to locate the downloaded file and copy it to the server, while a managed host requires an upload through its control panel, file manager or FTP service.

Copy files for a self-hosted server

  1. On a computer that has subscribed to the desired Workshop items, locate each item’s downloaded .pak file. The exact Steam library path varies with your Steam installation and library location.
  2. Copy the required .pak files to the dedicated server’s ConanSandbox/Mods directory. Do not put them in the client’s mod folder only; the server process must be able to read them from its own installation.
  3. Preserve each filename exactly. Do not rename a file to its numeric Workshop ID unless that is already the filename supplied by the download.
  4. Repeat the copy for every mod that the server will require. A dependency that is missing from the server is still a missing mod, even if a player has it installed locally.

Upload files to a managed server

Rented Conan Exiles servers normally provide a web file manager, FTP access or both. Open the provider’s server files, enter ConanSandbox/Mods (creating it only if the provider’s layout requires that), and upload the .pak files there. Then edit or create modlist.txt in the same directory.

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Some hosted control panels identify a Workshop download by the numeric mod ID in the Workshop URL. That number is an identifier for the panel’s download workflow; it does not replace the need for the resulting .pak file and a correctly populated server manifest. Follow the host’s documented import process if it offers an automated Workshop downloader, and verify that the file appears in ConanSandbox/Mods afterward.

Create and order modlist.txt

modlist.txt is the server’s mod manifest. Create it directly inside ConanSandbox/Mods, next to the .pak files. Use a plain-text editor and put one exact .pak filename on each line.

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FirstMod.pak
SecondMod.pak
ThirdMod.pak
  1. Write the filename exactly as it appears on disk, including capitalization, spaces and the .pak extension.
  2. Place entries in the load order you intend to use. If a mod author documents a required position or dependency order, follow that instruction.
  3. Do not add Workshop URLs, numeric IDs, commas or quotation marks to the manifest unless your particular host explicitly documents a different format. The standard dedicated-server procedure uses one .pak filename per line.
  4. Save the file as modlist.txt, not modlist.txt.txt. On Windows, enable visible file extensions while checking the name.
  5. Make the same order available to players. The server manifest and each client’s enabled-mod list must contain the same entries in the same sequence.

Funcom’s technical manual states that the game checks whether connecting clients have the same mods selected and that a client cannot connect unless those mods are installed and activated. In practice, an extra mod, a missing mod, a spelling difference or a different order can all produce a mismatch.

Restart and verify the server

  1. Stop the Conan Exiles server if it is running.
  2. Confirm that every listed filename exists in ConanSandbox/Mods.
  3. Start the server again. Mod changes are read during startup; changing the manifest while the process is running does not reliably apply the new list.
  4. Wait for the server to finish loading before testing a connection. Watch the server console or log for file-not-found errors and other startup failures.
  5. Join from a test account that has subscribed to and activated the same mods in the same order.

If the server starts but behaves as though no mods are installed, stop it and recheck the folder path and manifest spelling before changing gameplay settings. The most common cause is that the files were copied to a client directory or to a similarly named folder outside the server’s actual ConanSandbox/Mods path.

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Set up players’ mod lists

Install the required Workshop items

Give players the exact Workshop collection or item list used by the server. Each player should subscribe to every required item, allow Steam to finish downloading it, launch Conan Exiles, and enable the items in the server’s order. A player who has subscribed but has not enabled a required item is still treated as missing that mod.

Keep order consistent after changes

When you add or remove a mod, publish the new complete order to the community rather than telling players only about the changed item. Clients can retain old entries, and a leftover enabled mod can cause a mismatch even when all current server files are correct.

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For a large group, keep a simple text copy of the approved order. Compare it with each player’s in-game enabled list whenever someone receives a mismatch message. The comparison must include every entry, not just the mod that was most recently installed.

Open the required network ports

Mod files do not make a server discoverable by themselves. The server machine’s firewall and, on a home network, the router must allow the ports used by Conan Exiles. Funcom’s current dedicated-server documentation lists these defaults:

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Port Protocol Purpose
7777 UDP Gameplay traffic
7778 UDP Server-browser ping; the game port plus one
27015 UDP Default server-query traffic

For self-hosting, forward these UDP ports from the router to the computer running the server and allow the server executable through the operating-system firewall. For a rented server, the provider normally controls the external firewall, but you should still check the panel’s port assignment and status. If the server is invisible in the browser, first confirm that the process is running and that all three documented ports are allowed.

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Know where the server configuration lives

Dedicated-server configuration files are under:

ConanSandbox/Saved/Config/WindowsServer
File What it controls
Engine.ini Server identity and network-related settings.
Game.ini Gameplay settings.
ServerSettings.ini In-game server settings, including the admin password.

These files are separate from the mod manifest. Put modlist.txt and the .pak files in ConanSandbox/Mods; do not place the manifest under Saved/Config/WindowsServer.

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Self-hosting versus managed hosting

Both approaches use the same server-side mod structure. The practical difference is who controls the operating system, network and file-transfer process.

Consideration Self-hosted dedicated server Managed server
Operating-system control Full control of the machine, folders and processes. Limited to the provider’s panel and permitted files.
SteamCMD You can install and run SteamCMD directly, including app 443030. Usually handled by the provider; availability depends on its service.
File access Local filesystem or your own remote administration tools. Provider file manager and/or FTP upload.
Workshop updates You must download, replace and verify updated .pak files yourself unless you automate it. Some panels offer automated Workshop downloads; confirm how they update files and manifests.
Port forwarding You are responsible for router forwarding and the host firewall. The provider normally supplies the public network endpoint; panel firewall rules still matter.
Backups You choose the backup location, schedule and retention. Backup support varies by provider and plan; verify what is included.
Cost Uses your existing hardware, power and internet connection; recurring cost is not stated here. Pricing and included resources vary by provider and are not stated here.

Choose self-hosting when you need operating-system access, custom automation or direct control of SteamCMD. Choose managed hosting when a control panel, FTP workflow and provider-managed connectivity are more valuable than that control. In either case, retain your own copy of the approved mod order and save backups before replacing files.

Update mods safely

  1. Announce a maintenance window so players do not join while files are changing.
  2. Stop the server.
  3. Back up the current ConanSandbox/Mods folder and modlist.txt.
  4. Download or upload the new version of the affected .pak file. If its filename changed, update the corresponding line in modlist.txt.
  5. Check whether the mod author changed dependencies or required order. Adjust the complete manifest if necessary.
  6. Start the server and test it with a client that has finished downloading the same Workshop update.
  7. Tell players to allow Steam to update and to recheck their enabled order before reconnecting.

Do not leave both old and new versions in the Mods directory when they represent the same item. A stale duplicate can make it unclear which file the manifest is loading and can consume unnecessary storage.

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Remove one mod or all mods

Remove a single mod

  1. Stop the server.
  2. Delete that mod’s filename from modlist.txt.
  3. Remove the corresponding .pak file from ConanSandbox/Mods when it is no longer needed.
  4. Save the revised manifest and restart the server.
  5. Tell players to disable the removed item before joining.

Uninstall every mod

For a complete dedicated-server cleanup, remove the mod entries and the associated files. Funcom’s help guidance also describes deleting the Mods folder when uninstalling all mods in the relevant dedicated-server setup. Stop the server first, preserve a backup if you may reinstall the collection, then recreate the folder only when the server or your hosting panel requires it.

Troubleshoot the common failures

The server starts, but no mod appears

  • Verify the files are in the server’s ConanSandbox/Mods, not only in a player’s Steam Workshop cache.
  • Open modlist.txt and compare every line with the actual filename, including the extension and capitalization.
  • Check that the file is really named modlist.txt and is not saved with an additional extension.
  • Restart after correcting the files. The server reads the list at startup.

A player receives a mod-mismatch message

  • Compare the server’s complete manifest with the player’s enabled list.
  • Look for one missing entry, one extra entry or a different position in the order.
  • Confirm the player’s Workshop download has completed and that the item is enabled, not merely subscribed.
  • After a server update, have the player restart Steam or the game if the local Workshop copy has not refreshed.

The Workshop files never reached the server

A subscription on a gaming PC downloads locally and does not transfer files to a remote machine. For self-hosting, copy the resulting .pak files to the dedicated-server directory. For hosting, use the provider’s file manager, FTP or documented Workshop import tool, then verify the files from the panel.

The server is missing from the browser

  • Confirm the server process is running and has completed startup.
  • Allow UDP 7777, 7778 and 27015 through the host firewall and router forwarding where applicable.
  • Check that the query and ping ports have not been changed by a hosting panel or custom configuration.
  • Test a direct connection method supplied by your host or network setup; browser visibility and mod loading are separate problems.

The server will not start after a mod change

  • Stop it and restore the backed-up manifest.
  • Check for a typo, a line containing a nonexistent file or a partially uploaded .pak.
  • Upload the file again and make sure the transfer completed before restarting.
  • If the failure began after replacing a mod, temporarily remove that entry and test the server with the remaining known-good list, then consult the mod author’s compatibility notes.

A repeatable checklist

  1. Install the dedicated server with Steam Tools or SteamCMD app 443030.
  2. Run it once to generate folders.
  3. Place every required .pak in ConanSandbox/Mods.
  4. Create modlist.txt in that same directory.
  5. Enter one exact filename per line in the chosen load order.
  6. Restart the server.
  7. Have every player install and activate the identical list in the identical order.
  8. Verify UDP ports 7777, 7778 and 27015 if the server cannot be found.
  9. Back up the Mods folder and manifest before updates or removals.

Following that sequence separates the three issues that are most often confused: obtaining the actual server files, declaring their load order, and making the network endpoint reachable. Fix the relevant layer instead of reinstalling the game or changing unrelated configuration files.

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Conan ExilesDedicated Servergame server administrationmodlist.txtserver modsSteam Workshop

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