Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo use third-party mods with BG3 Mod Manager on Windows, install the mod files according to their authors’ instructions, move the mods you want into the manager’s active list, arrange their load order, and export that order to Baldur’s Gate 3. The export step matters: it writes the active order to the game’s modsettings.lsx file. BG3 Mod Manager is a community tool, separate from Larian’s supported in-game Mod Manager.
Before installing mods
- Run Baldur’s Gate 3 once so the game creates its profile and Mods folder.
- Check the current instructions for each mod, including dependencies, installation location, game-patch compatibility, and any required load order. A general workflow cannot guarantee that mods work with every patch or with one another.
- Download BG3 Mod Manager from its official GitHub repository. The project says it has no separate official website.
- The manager’s README lists .NET 8.0 and the latest C++ redistributable as prerequisites. It describes the application as portable; extract it to a non-protected folder rather than Program Files.
How to install and activate mods with BG3 Mod Manager
1. Add the mod files
Most Baldur’s Gate 3 mods use .pak archives. On Windows, the usual Mods directory is %LOCALAPPDATA%Larian StudiosBaldur's Gate 3Mods, according to Nexus Mods’ technical documentation. Follow the individual mod author’s current instructions instead if the mod specifies a different location or installation method.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Baldur's Gate 3 Deluxe Edition PC Video Game, Stickers & Soundtrack | $154.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Baldur's Gate 3 Unofficial Complete Game Guide and Walkthrough (Latest Update) | $25.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
The Baldur's Gate Collection (EU) | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Baldur's Gate Box Set (Sweden) | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
2. Check the detected game paths
If BG3 Mod Manager does not find the game paths, open Settings → Preferences, set the paths, save, and refresh the manager. Confirm that the game-data path and campaign are set before exporting.
3. Move mods into the active list and set their order
Use the Public profile in BG3 Mod Manager. Move the mods you intend to use into the active list, then arrange them according to their authors’ instructions and dependencies. The manager displays mod descriptions and dependencies; its README notes that a dependency shown in red is missing. There is no reliable universal load-order recipe: the right order depends on the specific mods being used.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute#1 Best Overall
- Immersive RPG Experience: Dive into the highly-anticipated Baldur's Gate 3, a captivating role-playing game set in the iconic Dungeons & Dragons universe.
- Deluxe Edition: This premium edition includes the base game, exclusive stickers, and an official soundtrack to enhance your adventure.
- Epic Storytelling: Embark on an epic journey filled with complex narratives, challenging quests, and memorable characters.
- Tactical Combat: Engage in strategic, turn-based battles that require careful planning and execution of your party's abilities.
- Customizable Characters: Create and customize your own unique heroes, shaping their appearances, abilities, and personalities to fit your playstyle.
4. Export the load order to the game
Select Export Load Order to Game or use File → Export Order to Game. According to the BG3 Mod Manager README, this writes the active order to modsettings.lsx, which the game reads. Adding a mod to the manager alone does not update the order the game receives; export after changing your active list or order.
5. Launch the game and check the result
Start Baldur’s Gate 3 and check that the intended mods appear and work in the relevant save or campaign. If a mod has its own setup steps, follow those as well. Compatibility can depend on the game patch, mod versions, dependencies, and the combination of mods in the load order.
BG3 Mod Manager and Larian’s in-game Mod Manager compared
These are separate tools, and neither universally replaces the other. Use the in-game manager for mods in Larian’s supported catalogue; use BG3 Mod Manager when you need its desktop mod-list and load-order export workflow for third-party mods.
| Workflow | Mod availability | Main task | Support boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larian’s in-game Mod Manager | Mods in Larian’s supported catalogue | Install, toggle, and, when an Update button appears in the Installed tab, update a supported mod | Larian’s support guidance covers supported mods; it does not directly manage or fix player-created third-party mods. |
| BG3 Mod Manager | Third-party mod sources, including the .pak workflow |
Organize a desktop mod list and export its load order to the game | A community tool; third-party mods are recognized by the game but are not officially supported. |
Larian describes its supported mod system as intended to improve compatibility and accessibility, and says supported mods are designed to work wherever Baldur’s Gate 3 is available. That support statement applies to supported mods, not to every third-party mod or load-order combination. See Larian’s official mod support page and Nexus Mods’ technical documentation for the distinction between the supported catalogue and third-party installation.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Baldurs Gate 4 In 1 Compilation.
- Features: Special 4-game DVD-ROM.
- Play the original Baldur's Gate game.
- Includes Tales of The Sword Coast Expansion.
- Explore unseen lands as you take part in an epic conflict that will define your future, and create your legend. Venture into a deadly new dungeon.
Why mods may not show up or the load order may reset
The active order was not exported
After adding or rearranging mods, export the load order to the game. BG3 Mod Manager writes the active order to modsettings.lsx; an unexported change in the manager is not yet the order the game reads.
The game paths or campaign are wrong
Check the configured game-data path and campaign. If the manager did not detect the paths, correct them under Settings → Preferences, save, and refresh.
Rank #4
- Baldur's Gate: Baldur's Gate takes you back to the Forgotten Realms campaign setting on a visually dazzling role-playing adventure, one that brings to life the grand tradition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game through cutting edge art and technology. Immerse yourself in this quintessential medieval fantasy world, where nations hang in the balance of your actions, dark prophecies test your resolve, and heroic dreams can be fulfilled at last.
- Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast: Continue your travels on the Sword Coast with the next set of adventurers in the award-winning Baldurs Gate role-playing game series. Legends of treasures lost and monsters to be defeated abound in the region. Almost all have at least some basis in truth. Are you up to the task?
- Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn: Baldur's Gate II expands the Baldurs Gate world by bringing you a new set of adventures set in the nation of Amn. Baldur's Gate II has a large central, nonlinear plot line which is broken down into 7-8 chapters, with lots of sub quests and small adventures thrown in for variety. The number of item recovery type quests has been greatly diminished and there are be more class- and alignment-specific quests.
- Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal: Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal greatly extends the Baldur's Gate II experience, with approximately 40 hours of additional adventures. Explore the lands of Tethyr as an epic conflict wreaks devastation on a scale never before seen in the Forgotten Realms campaign world
A dependency is missing or a mod conflicts
Check the manager’s dependency display and each mod author’s compatibility notes. A red dependency in BG3 Mod Manager indicates a missing dependency. If the game resets the order, the README says one or more mods may be causing an error; the specific cause depends on the mods and setup.
Files are nested or stale
The manager README says the Mods directory should not contain subfolders. Also check whether a major game update has left third-party mod files that are outdated. Larian advises removing existing mod files, especially after a major update, when troubleshooting third-party mods.
A save crashes, will not load, or has UI or shader problems
Larian lists crashes, save-loading failures, UI problems, and shader issues among problems that can occur with modded saves. For supported mods, try unchecking mods in the in-game manager to see whether the problem persists. For third-party mods, Larian’s guidance is to remove existing mod files, especially after a major update; consult the mod authors’ current instructions before reinstalling or changing a save’s mod setup. See Larian’s mod-issues guidance.
Modded multiplayer requires matching versions
For a multiplayer session using a modded save, every participant needs the exact same mods at the same versions. Before troubleshooting a launch failure, compare both the mod list and the version of every mod across the party.
Quick Recap
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.
