Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run Scan×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

How to Disable Mods in Stardew Valley

Disable one SMAPI mod by adding a dot to its folder name, or temporarily launch Stardew Valley without all SMAPI mods on Windows.
WorldStardew Valley Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

To temporarily play without SMAPI mods on Windows, open the Stardew Valley game folder and launch Stardew Valley.exe instead of the SMAPI launcher. To turn off just one mod but keep it installed, close the game and rename that mod’s folder in Mods so its name begins with a dot, such as .ModName. These methods affect ordinary SMAPI mods; XNB mods require a different fix.

Choose what you want to disable

Goal Method What it does
Test the game without any SMAPI mods On Windows, launch Stardew Valley.exe directly, or temporarily rename the Mods folder. Temporarily bypasses the usual SMAPI mods without uninstalling SMAPI. The direct-launch method does not apply to the Xbox app version.
Turn off one SMAPI mod but keep its files Rename its individual folder inside Mods to begin with a dot, such as .ModName. SMAPI will not load that folder as a mod; rename it back to re-enable it.
Uninstall a mod Delete all folders belonging to that mod from Mods. Removes the mod files; check the mod’s own page for any special uninstall steps.

Temporarily launch without all SMAPI mods on Windows

  1. Open Stardew Valley’s game folder.
  2. Run Stardew Valley.exe directly instead of launching SMAPI. The Windows installation guide documents this as a way to play without mods temporarily.

Alternatively, close the game and rename the Mods folder—for example, to Mods-backup—then restore its original name when you want SMAPI to find the mods again. This does not remove SMAPI. The direct-launch method is not applicable to the Xbox app version; use the platform-specific directions in the Stardew Valley Wiki’s Windows SMAPI guide for launcher and installation details.

Disable one mod without deleting it

  1. Close Stardew Valley.
  2. Open the Mods folder.
  3. Find the folder for the mod you want to disable, then rename that folder so its name starts with a dot, such as .ModName.
  4. Launch the game through SMAPI. To enable the mod again, close the game and remove the dot from the folder name.

The Stardew Valley Wiki’s player guide recommends adding a dot before a folder name to disable it. Rename the mod’s folder itself, not just a file inside it. If Windows refuses a leading dot, the guide notes that adding a dot at the end of the folder name can also work.

Uninstall a mod or remove SMAPI

Remove a mod

Close the game and delete the mod’s folder from Mods. Some mods use more than one folder, so check the mod’s page and remove all folders that belong to it. If you are troubleshooting a problem, the troubleshooting guide recommends accounting for every folder used by the mod.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Stardew Valley (Nintendo Switch)
  • Create the farm of your dreams: build your farm from the ground up on 1 of 5 map layouts suited to your play style!
  • mmaster your branching skills: raise animals, grow crops, start an orchard and build useful machines!
  • become a part of the local community: get to know all 30+ residents of Pelican town!
  • customize your farmer: there are hundreds of character customization options to choose from!
  • settle down and start a family: share life on the farm with 1 of 12 characters you can date and marry, and even have children with!.explore vast, mysterious caves! Encounter dangerous monsters and valuable treasures!.spend a relaxing afternoon at one of the local fishing spots: the waters are teeming with seasonal varieties of delicious fish. Craft bait, bobbers, and crab pots to help you in your journey toward catching every fish and becoming a local Legend!.

Uninstall SMAPI

Uninstalling SMAPI is different from temporarily playing without mods. On Windows, rerun the SMAPI installer and choose its uninstall option. If you changed Steam or GOG launch settings to start SMAPI, undo those settings too. Xbox app instructions differ; consult the relevant platform section of the installation guide.

Switch between mod groups

If you regularly switch between sets of mods, SMAPI supports separate mod directories rather than requiring you to keep renaming folders. The player guide describes platform-specific setup, while the SMAPI technical documentation documents the --mods-path argument for a relative or absolute path and the SMAPI_MODS_PATH environment variable for Linux and macOS. Follow the instructions for your operating system; Windows launcher commands should not be assumed to work unchanged on other platforms.

Check whether the mod is an XNB replacement

Ordinary SMAPI mods are folders inside Mods. XNB mods instead replace files in the game’s Content folder, so launching without SMAPI mods or renaming Mods does not undo them. The XNB mod guide describes this older approach, which is no longer recommended.

To remove an XNB mod, restore the original game files or reset the game files through your platform. Back up your save and remove custom content before uninstalling an XNB mod; the guide says save corruption is uncommon, not impossible. For troubleshooting XNB changes, see the Wiki’s instructions for resetting game files.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Stardew Valley - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
  • You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life.
  • Now with Multiplayer! Invite 1-3 players to join you in the valley! Players can work together to build a thriving farm, share resources, and build relationships with townspeople or each other.
  • New Single Player Content! Including the new Winter Market Festival, more collectibles, added character cut-scenes and even hats for your horse!
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Protect your save when changing mods

Removing a mod is not guaranteed to be safe for every save: the reviewed guides do not establish that every arbitrary SMAPI mod can be removed without consequences. Before uninstalling a mod, read its own page for save-related or other removal instructions, and keep a backup of important saves. For XNB mods specifically, the Wiki advises backups and removing custom content before uninstalling.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Stardew Valley (Nintendo Switch)
Stardew Valley (Nintendo Switch)
become a part of the local community: get to know all 30+ residents of Pelican town!
$33.99
Bestseller No. 4
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures; Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
$29.83
Rank #4
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
  • Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
  • Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
  • Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
  • Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
  • Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. How to Turn On Vibrant Visuals in MinecraftMinecraftBlog3min
  2. Best Multiplayer Games for Low-End PCsBlog4min
  3. Minecraft: How To Use And Install OptiFineBlog5min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.