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Project Zomboid guide

How to add Steam Workshop mods to a Project Zomboid server

Mods are a big part of Project Zomboid. On a Warp Hosting server you add them from the Steam Workshop in the dashboard, and the server works out the mod IDs and map folders for you.

Updated 25 October 2026

Add a mod

  1. Open the Mods tab. Select your server in the dashboard and open Mods. It's also under Quick actions on the Overview.
  2. Find the mod. Type in the box that says "Search the Workshop, or paste a link" and press Search, or paste the mod's Steam Workshop link or item number and press Add mod.
  3. Add it. Press Add on the mod you want. If it needs other Workshop items, they're added for you, ahead of it in the list.
  4. Wait for Ready, then restart. The server downloads and checks each mod. When every mod shows Ready, restart the server: a server only loads mods that are Ready when it starts.

Workshop items, mod IDs and maps

One Workshop item can hold several mods. Warp reads each mod's ID, and any map folders, from the item itself, so you never type Mod IDs or map names. Each item lists its mods with a tick box: untick one to switch it off from the next restart.

Map mods go to the front of your map list automatically. The list is in your server's Settings, under Map, where Muldraugh, KY is the standard map.

Load order

Items load from the top of the list down. Use the ↑ and ↓ buttons to change the order; the new order applies at the next restart.

Build 42 mods only

Warp Hosting servers run Project Zomboid Build 42. A mod made only for Build 41 can't load, even when the Mods tab shows it as Ready, so check that the mod's Workshop page is tagged Build 42 before you add it. If a mod isn't working in game, that's the first thing to check.

Updates and players

Players don't need to subscribe to anything: their game downloads the server's mods when they join, and it must have the same version of each mod as the server.

When a mod updates on Steam, Warp fetches and checks the new version within about 30 minutes. Wait until the mod shows Ready again, then restart the server: until then the server won't start with the older version, and players on the new version can't join.

Mod settings

Many mods add sandbox options. To set them, upload your servertest_SandboxVars.lua to the config folder in Files. It's copied in at every start, and your dashboard settings are applied on top.

Project Zomboid questions

Good to know.

How many mods can a server have?

Up to 120 Workshop items, each up to 3 GB.

Why isn't a mod loading?

Check that it shows Ready, that you restarted after it did, and that it's made for Build 42. A mod can also need another mod switched on: if you've unticked a mod inside an item, a mod that needs it won't load.

Do players need to install the mods?

No. Players' games download the server's mods when they join.