In this section, I will show you where and how to download mods, as well as useful programs for easier mod installation.

Mod Installation
For some reason, many people think installing mods is complicated, but it's actually quite simple! 🙂

Before installing mods, I highly recommend backing up your worlds to the cloud, especially if you moved them to your PC. This is a precaution to prevent accidental world corruption. Also, before downloading a large number of mods, make a backup of your world. If a mod conflict occurs, it could affect your save and ruin your experience.

1. Where to Download Mods?
You can get mods from NexusMods[www.nexusmods.com] and ThunderStore[thunderstore.io]. Both sites have their own mod managers, but I recommend ThunderStore.

2. Installing Mods
If you use ThunderStore, everything is much easier: just browse, download what you need, and play.
If not, you will need to download BepInEx[thunderstore.io] and place all mods into its "plugins" folder.

That’s it! Not too complicated, right? But keep in mind that some mods require dependencies—other mods that are necessary for them to work. Always read the mod descriptions carefully to avoid issues! 🙂

3. Playing with Friends
But wait, that’s not all! You thought you could just invite your friends and play? Not quite.
At first, everything may seem fine, but later, you might run into issues like:

High ping near your base

• Lag for the host or other players
  
• Other players' buildings not appearing until a relog
  
• Dropped items disappearing
  
• To avoid these issues, you need to set up a dedicated server using Valheim Dedicated Server,

which you can download from Steam. I’ll explain how to configure it in the next section.

After that, open ThunderStore, go to the "Servers" tab, find the Valheim server, and launch it with mods.
Keep in mind that not all mods work in multiplayer, and some require configuration in their settings files. Read the mod descriptions carefully!

With the mod I mention below, a dedicated server may not even be necessary. However, if you experience bugs, it’s best to use one.

If you’ve installed the networking mod (which I will mention below), a dedicated server might not be necessary.

This part isn’t difficult, but you’ll need to think carefully and follow the steps.
We have three configuration files to edit (only one if you're playing without mods).

1. Editing start_headless_server.bat
Inside this file, edit the following parameters:

• -name "" → Server name (set it to whatever you like).
  
• -world "" → The world you want to play in:

If you're moving a world to your PC, find it in Valheim’s save folder.
You can also type any name here—if the world doesn’t exist, the game will create a new one.

• -port 2456 → Keep this as is.

If you want to open ports, forward 2456, 2457, and 2458 in your router’s WAN settings.

• -password "" → A required setting—without a password, you won't be able to join the server.
  
• -public and -crossplay →

Disable crossplay (-crossplay 0), or you won’t be able to join.

• -public 1 → The server will be visible in the community list.
  
• -public 0 → The server will be private.

Note: If your ports are closed, the -public setting won’t matter!

2. Editing start_server_bepinex.sh
This file exists in two locations:

In the server folder
In ThunderStore, under profiles\Valheim\Default (or your custom profile name)
Edit this file the same way as the .bat file, adjusting the settings as needed.

3. Final Notes

• Make sure to configure mods properly if they require it!

• If you're not using ThunderStore, there will only be one start_server_bepinex.sh file in the server folder.

• If you are using ThunderStore, you must edit both copies of the file!

For a more stable connection, I strongly recommend port forwarding instead of using Radmin VPN or Hamachi.
Port forwarding varies by router, but you can find it in your WAN settings.

Additionally, if you live in the same house as other players, you may need to assign a static MAC address in the DHCP settings.
This helps prevent disconnects. If you’re unsure how, ask ChatGPT or check YouTube tutorials.

Also, if you're experiencing disconnects:

• Ensure Valheim has full firewall permissions.
  
• If that doesn't work, disable your firewall temporarily while playing.

That’s it from me! Thanks for reading, warriors! May you find your way to Valhalla! 🔥

• Don’t forget to copy all mods and config files into the server’s root folder!

• I highly recommend installing Server Sync Fix—this can help with synchronization issues.

• Valheim Plus was an amazing mod, but sadly, it hasn’t been updated for two years and is now abandoned.

• With Valheim Plus, modded servers worked perfectly, but unfortunately, those days are gone.

Updated Information:
I’ve found a new networking mod that works perfectly with no bugs! 🔗 BetterNetworking for Valheim[thunderstore.io]

Make sure to increase the data transfer limit in the mod’s config file to the maximum allowed value!

Final Thoughts
As of January 31, 2025, this guide and mod are fully up-to-date and should remain relevant for the next few years—or possibly forever.
Who knows? Maybe the developers will rewrite the game, but I doubt it.

Hopefully, this is the last time I need to update this guide—unless I made a mistake or need to add something new. 🙂

Good luck, warriors of Valhalla! 🔥