> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wasabihosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Install Workshop Mods on Your Unturned Server

> Install Steam Workshop maps and mods on your Unturned server hosting instance — WorkshopDownloadConfig.json, switching maps, plugin frameworks, and updates.

Steam Workshop content is what turns a stock Unturned server into something unique — custom maps, weapon packs, vehicles, cosmetics, and complete overhauls. This guide covers adding Workshop items to your server, switching to a Workshop map, and keeping everything updated.

<Info>
  **Workshop items** (maps, items, vehicles) and **plugins** (RocketMod/OpenMod) are two different systems. Workshop content is game content downloaded from Steam; plugins are server-side code. This page covers Workshop content, with a short plugin overview at the end.
</Info>

## Find the Workshop ID

Every Workshop item has a numeric ID, visible in its Steam Workshop page URL:

```
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2136627083
                                                        ^^^^^^^^^^
                                                        Workshop ID
```

Copy the number after `?id=` — that's what the server needs.

## Add Items to WorkshopDownloadConfig.json

The server downloads Workshop content listed in `WorkshopDownloadConfig.json`, found in your server's folder (next to the `Server` directory that holds `Commands.dat`).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the File Manager">
    In the [Game Panel](https://panel.wasabihosting.com), select your server and open the **File Manager** (or connect via SFTP — see [File Management](/server/file-management)).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit WorkshopDownloadConfig.json">
    Add each Workshop ID to the `File_IDs` array:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "File_IDs": [
        2136627083,
        2483365750,
        1983200271
      ],
      "Ignore_Children_File_IDs": [],
      "Query_Cache": []
    }
    ```

    Separate IDs with commas, but don't leave a trailing comma after the last one — invalid JSON prevents the list from loading. The file also contains ignore/cache lists: `Ignore_Children_File_IDs` lets you skip specific dependencies an item would otherwise pull in, and `Query_Cache` is maintained by the server itself — you normally don't touch it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restart the server">
    Restart from the panel. On boot, the server downloads every listed item (watch the Console for download progress) along with any dependencies the items declare.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Players don't install anything manually — clients **auto-download** the server's Workshop content from Steam when they join. First joins on a heavily modded server take a few minutes.
</Note>

## Switch to a Workshop Map

Downloading a map isn't enough — you also have to tell the server to load it. The map is set by the `Map` line in `Commands.dat` (inside your server's `Server` folder):

```
Map Washington
```

For a Workshop map, use the map's **exact folder name** as shipped by the map author (shown on the Workshop page or visible in the downloaded map's folder), for example:

```
Map Kuwait
```

Restart the server after changing the map. Official map names include `PEI`, `Washington`, `Yukon`, and `Russia` — see the [server configuration guide](/games/unturned/server-configuration) for map-specific settings.

<Warning>
  Switching maps starts players fresh on the new map. Take a [backup](/server/backups) first if you might switch back — each map keeps its own save data.
</Warning>

## Keep Mods Updated

Workshop authors update their content regularly, and outdated server-side content can mismatch what clients download:

* **Restart regularly.** The server checks its Workshop items on boot, so a scheduled daily restart (set one up under **Schedules** in the panel) keeps content fresh.
* **Watch for game updates.** Major Unturned updates occasionally break older Workshop items until their authors update them. If your server misbehaves right after an update, test with mods temporarily removed from `File_IDs`.
* **Prune your list.** Every item adds startup time and memory usage. Remove IDs you no longer use.

## Plugins: RocketMod and OpenMod

Beyond Workshop content, Unturned supports server-side **plugin frameworks**:

* **RocketMod (LDM)** — the classic, battle-tested framework. Most older community plugins (kits, homes, TPA, economy) target Rocket. It's in legacy maintenance mode but still widely used.
* **OpenMod** — the modern, actively developed framework with its own growing plugin ecosystem and support for running many Rocket plugins through a compatibility layer.

Pick one framework and stick with it. Plugin configuration files, Rocket permissions, and example plugin configs are covered in the [server configuration guide](/games/unturned/server-configuration); moderation commands are in [admin commands](/games/unturned/admin-commands).

## Common Issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Server loads PEI instead of my custom map">
    Almost always a **map name typo**. The `Map` value in `Commands.dat` must match the map's folder name exactly. Check the Console at startup — the server logs which map it's loading, and falls back to a default when the name isn't found.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Workshop item won't download">
    The item may be **unlisted, private, or removed** from the Workshop — the server can only download publicly visible items. Open the item's Workshop URL in a browser: if you can't see it while logged out, the server can't fetch it either. Remove the dead ID from `File_IDs`.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Mods list ignored after editing">
    Usually broken JSON — a missing comma, a trailing comma, or stray quotes. Run the file through a JSON validator, fix the syntax, and restart.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Players stuck downloading on join">
    See the workshop troubleshooting entry in [join your server](/games/unturned/join-server). Typically resolved by a client restart or a server restart to re-validate content.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Server got slower after adding mods">
    Large maps and big item packs increase RAM and CPU usage. Trim the mod list or see the [optimization guide](/games/unturned/server-optimization) — and consider a plan upgrade if you're running a heavy modpack (upgrades keep all your files).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Card title="Host your modded Unturned server" icon="rocket" href="https://wasabihosting.com/game-servers/unturned">
  Unturned hosting from **€7.49/month** with NVMe storage for fast Workshop downloads and 24/7 support.
</Card>