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Palworld Server Mods Not Working: A Complete Fix Guide for Windows Dedicated Servers

A step-by-step troubleshooting guide for Palworld server mods: verify Windows dedicated-server support, package metadata, Workshop discovery, activation settings, managed deployment, updates, and UE4SS dependencies.
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Palworld server mods fail for a small number of repeatable reasons: the server is on an unsupported platform, the package is a client-only mod, the server cannot find the package, activation uses the wrong identifier, a launch flag disables mods, a prerequisite is missing, or a loader dependency such as UE4SS is broken. Work through those checks in order. Pocketpair’s current documentation says server-side mods work only on the Windows edition of the dedicated server, so platform support is the first decision—not an optional troubleshooting detail.

Use this decision table before changing files

Question If yes If no
Is the server the Windows dedicated-server edition? Continue with Pocketpair’s documented workflow. The documented server-mod workflow does not establish official support for that setup.
Does the mod’s Info.json contain "IsServer": true inside InstallRule? The package is marked for server use. Treat it as client-only unless the author provides different, current instructions.
Is Info.json directly inside the package folder being scanned? Package discovery can proceed. Correct the folder nesting or configure the actual Workshop path.
Is the package’s PackageName in ActiveModList? The server is configured to activate it. Add the exact identifier from Info.json.
Is -NoMods absent from the launch command? Launch arguments are not globally disabling mods. Remove the argument and restart.
Does the mod require UE4SS? Follow the mod’s loader instructions and inspect UE4SS.log. Use the normal package-install path.

Do not jump to UE4SS, reinstall the game, or replace configuration files until the platform, package metadata, path, and activation checks are complete. Those earlier checks eliminate the most fundamental causes.

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1. Confirm that your server platform is supported

Pocketpair’s official “Installing Mods on a Server” guide (displayed as version 1.0.4) states: “At this time, server-side mods work only on the dedicated server with Windows edition.” This is a support boundary, not a suggestion that Windows is merely easier.

Windows dedicated server

If your Palworld server is the Windows dedicated-server edition, the workflow in this article applies: Workshop packages are discovered from the server’s configured directory, enabled through PalModSettings.ini, and deployed according to each package’s install rules.

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Linux and other setups

If the server runs Linux or another setup outside the Windows dedicated-server edition, Pocketpair’s documented process does not establish official support for server-side mods there. A mod manager or compatibility layer may claim to provide an alternative, but that is a separate, mod-specific path. Do not treat Windows paths, configuration keys, or deployment results as proof that an unsupported platform should work.

2. Verify that the package is actually a server mod

A package can be perfectly valid for a client and still do nothing on a dedicated server. Open the mod’s Info.json and inspect the InstallRule section. Pocketpair’s requirement is an "IsServer": true entry.

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{
  "InstallRule": {
    "IsServer": true
  }
}

The exact file can contain additional fields and a different layout around this section; the important check is that the server-use flag is present and set to the Boolean value true, not the text "true" and not a missing key.

When the flag is missing

If IsServer is absent or false, Pocketpair’s guide says the mod is not designed to run on servers. Do not force it by adding the flag yourself. The author may have client-only files, a separate server package, or prerequisites that are not documented in the file. Consult the mod’s current instructions for a server-compatible release.

Record the package identity

While Info.json is open, copy its PackageName value. You will use that exact value in ActiveModList. It is common for the package identifier and the folder name to be different, so do not infer the setting from the directory name.

3. Fix Workshop package discovery

The server cannot enable a package it never finds. By default, place Workshop packages in a directory named Mods/Workshop beside the dedicated-server executable. Each package gets its own folder, and Info.json must be directly inside that folder.

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Correct folder shape

PalServer.exe
Mods/
  Workshop/
    ExampleFolder/
      Info.json
      ...package files...

A common mistake is one extra level of nesting, such as Workshop/ExampleFolder/ExampleFolder/Info.json. In that arrangement the server may scan the outer folder, fail to see metadata at the expected level, and never make the package available for activation.

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When the packages are stored elsewhere

You have two supported ways to point the server at a different Workshop directory.

  1. Open Mods/PalModSettings.ini. Under the [PalModSettings] section, set WorkshopRootDir to the absolute path.
  2. Alternatively, add the launch argument -workshopdir="<absolute path>" to the server’s startup command.

Use one deliberate location and make sure the path is readable by the account that launches the server. A relative path, a typo in the drive letter, or quoting a path incorrectly can leave the server looking in an empty directory.

Check the generated configuration file

PalModSettings.ini is generated automatically after the server has been launched once. If you cannot find it, start the Windows dedicated server normally, stop it cleanly, and then inspect the Mods directory. Do not create several competing copies in different locations; edit the file associated with the executable you actually launch.

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4. Enable the package with the correct settings

Discovery and activation are separate. A package can appear in the correct Workshop directory and still remain disabled.

Required settings

In Mods/PalModSettings.ini, confirm that global mod loading is enabled and list every intended package:

[PalModSettings]
bGlobalEnableMod=true
ActiveModList=PackageNameFromInfoJson

Use one ActiveModList entry for each mod you want enabled. The value must match PackageName in that mod’s Info.json, including capitalization and punctuation. The physical folder can have an entirely different name.

Look for a global disable flag

Inspect the command or script used to start the server. The -NoMods launch argument forcibly disables all mods, regardless of the settings file. Remove it, save the startup configuration, and restart the server. Check service wrappers, scheduled tasks, batch files, and hosting-panel startup fields—not only a shortcut—because any of them may supply the active arguments.

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Avoid editing while the server is running

Stop the server before changing PalModSettings.ini or its launch arguments. A running process can overwrite the file on shutdown or continue using values already loaded in memory. Make one change at a time so the next restart tells you which correction mattered.

5. Restart and verify managed deployment

Enabling a package does not apply it to a running process. Restart the dedicated server after changing the platform-independent settings above. During startup, Palworld processes the package’s install rules and creates managed deployment data.

Where to look

For an enabled package named PackageName, inspect:

Mods/ManagedMods/PackageName/InstallManifest.json

The manifest records the managed deployment, while the actual destination is determined by the package’s install rules. The presence of a Workshop folder alone is not proof that the mod was installed. Confirm that the expected managed directory and manifest were created after the restart.

Prerequisites can block an otherwise valid package

Some mods require prerequisite mods or other components. Install every dependency specified by the mod author and enable required prerequisite packages as instructed. If the main package is present but its prerequisite is not, deployment or runtime behavior can fail even though the main package’s own Info.json is valid.

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Use a controlled restart

  1. Stop the server and wait until its process exits.
  2. Confirm the edited settings and startup arguments are saved.
  3. Start the same executable or service you normally use.
  4. After startup completes, inspect Mods/ManagedMods/<PackageName>/InstallManifest.json and the destination described by the install rules.
  5. Test the specific feature documented by the mod author rather than assuming that a created folder means every feature loaded correctly.

6. Update or remove a stale package cleanly

Palworld tracks the package version in Info.json. When the Version value changes, restarting the server automatically removes the old version and deploys the new one. This makes a clean restart the first update step; manually copying new files over old managed files can leave a mixture of versions.

Disable without deleting

Remove the package’s PackageName from ActiveModList, save the file while the server is stopped, and restart. This leaves the Workshop package available if you need to re-enable it later.

Remove a package completely

If a package remains stale or you no longer need it, delete its Workshop package folder and restart after removing its identifier from ActiveModList. Keep a backup if the package author provides a rollback procedure or if the server world depends on the mod’s data.

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7. Troubleshoot UE4SS only when the mod requires it

UE4SS is an additional loader layer, not a universal requirement for Palworld server packages. Follow this branch only when the mod’s current documentation explicitly names UE4SS.

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Check the loader log

Look for UE4SS.log in the location specified by the loader installation. The log can distinguish a loader that never started from a mod that loaded but failed later. Record the game/server version, the UE4SS build, and the first relevant error before changing files.

Do not apply community warnings universally

A community UE4SS guide warns that certain mod managers may install UE4SS incorrectly for Palworld and that obsolete builds or signatures can cause failures. Treat those points as loader-specific guidance, not as a requirement to install UE4SS for every server mod. Use the mod author’s current instructions and confirm compatibility with your Palworld version before replacing a loader.

Separate package errors from loader errors

If the package never produces a managed deployment manifest, return to the platform, metadata, path, and activation checks. If deployment succeeds but the UE4SS-dependent feature does not load, investigate the loader and its log instead of repeatedly changing ActiveModList.

Normal package path versus UE4SS path

Diagnostic point Standard server package UE4SS-dependent package
First check Windows platform, IsServer, path, and activation All standard checks, then loader requirements
Primary deployment evidence InstallManifest.json under Mods/ManagedMods Managed deployment plus a usable UE4SS.log
Common wrong turn Assuming the folder name is the package identifier Replacing UE4SS before confirming the mod actually requires it
Best next action after deployment succeeds Test the mod’s documented feature Check loader version, installation method, and first relevant log error
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Symptom-based troubleshooting branches

Observed symptom Most useful check Corrective action
No mods load at all Platform and startup arguments Confirm Windows dedicated server support and remove -NoMods if present.
One package is ignored while others work Info.json and package identity Verify InstallRule.IsServer, copy the exact PackageName, and check prerequisites.
The package is in Workshop but no deployment appears Directory nesting and configured root Put Info.json directly in the package folder or correct WorkshopRootDir/-workshopdir.
Settings seem to have no effect Executable and file in use Stop the server, edit the PalModSettings.ini generated beside the launched server, then restart that same instance.
An update leaves old behavior behind Version and managed files Stop, verify the new version in Info.json, restart, and inspect the managed deployment manifest.
Only a UE4SS-dependent feature fails UE4SS.log and loader compatibility Use the mod’s current UE4SS instructions and replace obsolete or incorrectly installed loader components only when the evidence points there.

What to collect before asking the mod author for help

  • Whether the server is the Windows dedicated-server edition.
  • The Palworld server/game version and the mod’s version.
  • The complete InstallRule section from Info.json, including the server-use flag.
  • The package’s PackageName and its actual folder path.
  • The relevant PalModSettings.ini lines, with private paths redacted if necessary.
  • The exact startup arguments, including whether -NoMods or -workshopdir is present.
  • Whether Mods/ManagedMods/<PackageName>/InstallManifest.json was created after a restart.
  • Any prerequisite packages listed by the author.
  • UE4SS.log when the mod explicitly depends on UE4SS.

This information lets an author distinguish an unsupported platform from a discoverability problem, an activation typo, a missing prerequisite, and a loader failure without asking you to repeat every installation step.

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When moving to a Windows host is the practical fix

If your current server is not the Windows dedicated-server edition, the documented workflow cannot be used as an officially supported fix. A Windows dedicated-server hosting category may be appropriate, but verify the host’s actual Windows Palworld support, access to the dedicated-server files, startup-argument controls, and ability to edit PalModSettings.ini before committing. No host is interchangeable merely because it advertises Palworld hosting; the required mod controls must be available to you.

Fast final checklist

  1. Use the Windows dedicated-server edition.
  2. Open each mod’s Info.json and confirm InstallRule contains "IsServer": true.
  3. Place the package under Mods/Workshop beside the executable, with Info.json directly inside its folder, or set an absolute WorkshopRootDir/-workshopdir.
  4. Set bGlobalEnableMod=true.
  5. Add the exact PackageName from Info.json to ActiveModList.
  6. Remove -NoMods from every startup mechanism.
  7. Stop and restart the server.
  8. Verify the managed deployment manifest and all prerequisites.
  9. For UE4SS-dependent packages only, inspect UE4SS.log and follow current loader guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Palworld server mods work on Linux?

Pocketpair’s official guide says server-side mods currently work only on the Windows edition of the dedicated server. The documented Windows workflow therefore does not establish official Linux support.

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Why does a mod work in single-player but not on my server?

Check Info.json. The package must have "IsServer": true inside InstallRule. A client-only package is not made server-compatible by copying it into the Workshop folder.

Can the Workshop folder use any name?

The package folder can use a different name, but Info.json must be directly inside that folder and the server must scan its parent directory. Activation uses PackageName, not the folder name.

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Where does PalModSettings.ini come from?

The file is generated after the Windows dedicated server has been launched once. Stop the server cleanly, then edit the copy associated with the executable or service you actually start.

Why are my settings ignored after I edit the file?

Make sure the server is stopped while editing, that you changed the generated file beside the active server instance, and that the startup command does not include -NoMods. Restart the same executable or service afterward.

How do I know whether a mod deployed?

After a restart, check Mods/ManagedMods/<PackageName>/InstallManifest.json. The manifest confirms managed deployment; the final destination is determined by the package’s install rules.

Should I install UE4SS for every Palworld server mod?

No. UE4SS is relevant only when the mod’s current instructions require it. For those packages, inspect UE4SS.log and verify loader compatibility instead of installing or replacing UE4SS blindly.

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What happens when a mod version changes?

When the Version value in Info.json changes, restarting the server automatically removes the old version and deploys the new one. A restart is safer than manually merging files.

The Bottom Line

Start with the support boundary: use a Windows dedicated server. Then verify IsServer, place Info.json at the expected Workshop depth, activate the exact PackageName, remove -NoMods, restart, and confirm InstallManifest.json. Only after those checks should you investigate prerequisites or UE4SS. This sequence separates an unsupported platform from a path, configuration, deployment, or loader problem without destructive guesswork.

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