LaughingLeader’s BG3 Mod Manager is a portable Windows tool for organizing third-party Baldur’s Gate 3 mods and exporting their load order to the game. To use it, download it from the project’s GitHub repository, extract it outside protected folders, add compatible mod files to the game’s Mods folder, arrange them in the active profile, and export the order.
BG3 Mod Manager and Larian’s in-game Mod Manager are different tools
BG3 Mod Manager is a third-party community project maintained in LaughingLeader’s GitHub repository. Larian’s separate in-game Mod Manager supports mods through the game’s own interface; Patch 7 introduced that feature and Larian’s modding Toolkit. The available sources do not establish that either manager supports every mod or is universally better, so check the individual mod’s instructions and platform availability before choosing a workflow. BG3 Mod Manager project README; Larian Studios: Official Mod Support.
Install BG3 Mod Manager
- Run Baldur’s Gate 3 once. If it has never been launched, start it before setting up the manager. The project says this creates the game profile and Mods folders.
- Install the required runtimes. The project README specifies .NET 8.0 and the latest C++ redistributable. These are BG3 Mod Manager dependencies, not the Toolkit’s system requirements.
- Download the latest release from the project’s GitHub repository. The project identifies that repository as its only official source and says it has no separate official website. Avoid third-party download mirrors: BG3 Mod Manager README and releases.
- Extract the portable download to a non-protected folder. The project specifically says not to extract it into Program Files.
- Launch
BG3ModManager.exe. It should detect the game’s data and executable paths. If it does not, open Settings → Preferences, set the paths, save, and click Refresh. The Game Data Path should point to the folder containing the game’s.pakfiles.
Add mods and export the load order
Put mod files in the right place
For the common external .pak workflow, download a mod from its author’s page and read its current requirements and compatibility notes. Extract the archive as instructed, then place the .pak in the Mods folder under your local Larian data directory. If it does not appear in BG3 Mod Manager, click Refresh. Mod-specific instructions take priority, especially when a mod is not a .pak archive. See the BG3 Wiki’s mod installation guide for community installation guidance.
Activate, arrange, save, and export
- In BG3 Mod Manager, move the mods you want from the inactive pane to the active pane in the Public profile.
- Arrange dependencies and load order according to the mod authors’ instructions. You can drag and drop to reorder mods; the manager also displays descriptions and dependencies. Missing dependencies are indicated in red.
- Use the save control beside Mod Order to save the manager’s current order.
- Separately export the active order to the game using the first Export button or File → Export Order to Game. The project says this updates
modsettings.lsx, which the game reads. Saving the manager’s list or merely putting files in the Mods folder is not the export step.
You can also save load orders to JSON for backup or sharing, or import an order from a save file. There is no single load order established as correct for every collection; follow the instructions for the mods you use. BG3 Mod Manager project README.
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When to use Larian’s in-game manager instead
Larian’s in-game Mod Manager is the game’s supported interface for its mods. When an Update button appears in its Installed tab, Larian says you can use it to update an installed mod. BG3 Mod Manager is a separate utility for organizing external files and exporting a load order; the sources do not establish that every mod is available through both tools. Check the mod’s author instructions and platform availability. Larian Studios: Official Mod Support.
Troubleshoot common problems
- A mod does not appear: Check that the archive was extracted as intended and the
.pakis in the correct Mods folder, then click Refresh. Some mods use other file types or locations; follow their authors’ instructions. - The load order resets: The project warns that subfolders inside the Mods folder can cause
modsettings.lsxto reset. It also notes that a mod error may cause the game to clear the order. - The game has menu or campaign-loading trouble: Verify the Game Data Path and check that a campaign, such as Main, is selected and exported.
- A dependency is missing: Check the manager’s dependency details and the mod’s requirements. The manager marks missing dependencies in red.
- A mod uses non-
.pakfiles: Do not install it as though it were an ordinary.pak. Some replacement files go into gameDataorbinlocations; use the mod author’s directions. - You need Script Extender: The community installation guide documents an option at Tools → Download & Install the Script Extender. Check whether your mod currently requires it before installing. BG3 Wiki: Installing mods.
Multiplayer, platforms, and Toolkit requirements
For multiplayer with modded saves, Larian says every player needs the exact same mods at the same version. For cross-saves, Larian advises checking whether the mods you install are available on the other platform; do not assume third-party mods work across platforms. Larian Studios: Official Mod Support.
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BG3 Mod Manager’s README documents a Windows-oriented executable and Windows runtime dependencies. Separately, Larian says its modding Toolkit is PC-only, requires a 64-bit processor and operating system, is unavailable on console and Mac, and needs 160 GB of available space. That 160 GB figure applies to installing the Toolkit, not to running BG3 Mod Manager.
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