Conan Exiles Updated April 27, 2026

Installing and Managing Mods

How to install, order, and manage mods on a Conan Exiles dedicated server using pak files and modlist.txt.

Conan ExilesModsmodlist.txtWorkshop

Mod Directory

All mod files must be placed in:

ConanSandbox/Mods/

Mods are distributed as .pak files. Each mod from the Steam Workshop downloads as a single .pak file, sometimes accompanied by a metadata file.

modlist.txt

The server reads its active mod list from:

ConanSandbox/Mods/modlist.txt

Each line represents one mod, prefixed with an asterisk:

*Pippi.pak
*Fashionist.pak
*WYSIWYG_Decor.pak

The order in modlist.txt is the load order. Mods listed first load first. Dependencies must appear before the mods that require them.

If modlist.txt does not exist, create it manually. The file must use Unix line endings (LF) or Windows line endings (CRLF) — both are accepted.

Adding a Mod

  1. Download the .pak file from the Steam Workshop or obtain it from the mod author.
  2. Upload the .pak file to ConanSandbox/Mods/ via SFTP or the panel file manager.
  3. Add a new line to modlist.txt with the format *ModName.pak.
  4. Stop the server and restart it. The new mod will load on next startup.

A server restart is required every time modlist.txt is changed. Editing the file while the server is running has no effect until the next start.

Client-Side Mod Delivery

When a client connects to a server that has mods listed in modlist.txt, the server sends the mod manifest to the client. If the client is missing any mods, the game will attempt to auto-download them from the Steam Workshop before completing the connection.

This means:

  • Clients do not need to manually install mods for Workshop mods.
  • Non-Workshop (private) mods must be distributed manually to clients.
  • Large mods can cause long connection delays on first join — inform your players.

Load Order

Load order matters when mods modify the same base game assets. If two mods conflict over the same resource, the mod listed later in modlist.txt wins. General guidance:

  • Framework/utility mods (e.g., Pippi) should load first.
  • Content mods should load after frameworks they depend on.
  • Map mods should typically load last.

Consult each mod's documentation for specific load order requirements.

Removing a Mod

  1. Stop the server.
  2. Remove the corresponding line from modlist.txt.
  3. Optionally delete the .pak file from ConanSandbox/Mods/.
  4. Start the server.

Removing a mod that added items or structures to the world will cause those objects to disappear or become corrupted in the save database. Back up game.db before removing any content mod from an active server.

Troubleshooting Mod Issues

If the server fails to start after adding a mod, check the log:

ConanSandbox/Saved/Logs/ConanSandbox.log

Look for lines containing [Mod] or Error. Common causes:

  • Incorrect filename in modlist.txt (case-sensitive on Linux/Wine).
  • Corrupt or incompatible .pak file.
  • Missing dependency mod not listed before the dependent mod.
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