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The Workshop title is not the value used by +gamemode. Garry’s Mod selects the folder under garrysmod/gamemodes/, or the corresponding gamemodes/ directory inside an addon, including a Workshop addon.
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What you need before installing a gamemode
Have these details ready before changing the server command line:
- A Garry’s Mod dedicated-server installation made with SteamCMD, using application ID
4020. - Access to the server’s startup command or launch script. A setting that must exist when the process starts cannot reliably be added later in
server.cfg. - The gamemode’s folder name, not merely its Workshop display title.
- The map filename the gamemode expects, written without the
.bspextension. - Every required dependency, including maps or other addons named by the project author.
- A public or unlisted Steam Workshop collection if you are using collection-based installation.
Do not assume that two gamemodes use the same convars, map list, or dependency arrangement. Keep mode-specific settings in the project’s own instructions and in the appropriate server configuration file.
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Install the Garry’s Mod dedicated server
Windows
Use SteamCMD to install application 4020 into the server directory. Start the server by launching srcds.exe. The launch command needs a game, a map, and the selected gamemode. A minimal test command is:
srcds.exe -game garrysmod +map gm_construct +gamemode sandbox
gm_construct is the map used in Facepunch’s basic example. Replace it with the map required by your selected mode once the base server starts correctly.
Linux
Install the same application with SteamCMD, then start the server from the Garry’s Mod directory with:
./srcds_run -game garrysmod +map gm_construct +gamemode sandbox
Keep the launch command in the script or service definition that actually starts the process. Editing a configuration file after launch will not substitute for switches that the engine or Workshop system reads during startup.
Find the gamemode folder name
The critical value after +gamemode is the directory name. It is normally found in one of two places:
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garrysmod/gamemodes/FOLDER_NAME/on the server.- An addon’s
gamemodes/FOLDER_NAME/directory, including an addon downloaded from Workshop.
For example, the command +gamemode sandbox works because sandbox is the folder name. A Workshop page may have a long, capitalized title while the actual folder is a short lowercase name. Use the name supplied by the author or inspect the installed directory rather than guessing from the title.
Some gamemode metadata also contains a title, maps, category, menusystem, and an optional workshopid. The workshopid identifies the associated Workshop file; it does not replace the folder name required by +gamemode.
Choose an installation method
There are three practical ways to put a gamemode on a dedicated server. Choose the one documented by the project author; some projects combine methods by putting the gamemode in a collection while keeping private Lua changes in a local addon.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop collection | Add the gamemode, maps, and dependencies to a public or unlisted collection, then pass +host_workshop_collection COLLECTION_ID at startup. |
Workshop downloads and mounts the collection at startup; collection membership controls what is retrieved. | Files are mounted from Workshop content; edit the project locally only when the project supports that arrangement. | Published projects with Workshop releases and several related dependencies. |
| Workshop individual-ID file | Put individual Workshop IDs in garrysmod/cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt using the documented key/value format. |
Individual files are downloaded and mounted through the server’s Workshop configuration. | You control the IDs in the configuration file instead of maintaining a collection. | Servers that need a precise list of Workshop items; available in Garry’s Mod version 2026.09.22 and newer. |
| Manual addon or gamemode files | Copy the project into the layout specified by its author, normally an addon or a gamemode directory. | You manage dependencies, replacement files, and updates yourself. | Lua, configuration, and other files can be edited directly when the project license and instructions permit it. | Non-Workshop releases, private modifications, or projects whose author requires a custom layout. |
Install a gamemode from a Workshop collection
1. Create or select the collection
Make a Steam Workshop collection that contains the gamemode, its required maps, and every dependency named by the author. The collection must be public or unlisted; a private collection cannot be retrieved by the dedicated server.
Record the collection’s numeric ID. Do not use the gamemode’s individual Workshop file ID in the collection parameter. The startup switch expects the collection ID.
2. Add the collection to the launch command
Append +host_workshop_collection COLLECTION_ID to the command that starts the server. For example:
srcds.exe -game garrysmod +map gm_construct +gamemode sandbox +host_workshop_collection 1234567890
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On Linux, the same parameters follow ./srcds_run -game garrysmod. Replace 1234567890 with the actual collection ID and replace sandbox with the selected folder name.
3. Include the map and dependencies
A gamemode can load while still failing in practice if its map, materials, models, or supporting addon is missing. Put every required Workshop item in the collection unless the author explicitly instructs you to install it another way. If the mode uses custom maps, pass one of those map filenames with +map after the collection is configured.
4. Restart and watch the console
Workshop collections are downloaded and mounted when the server starts. Restart after changing the collection, and look for Workshop download and mount messages in the console. Confirm that the expected gamemode and map are selected before inviting players.
Use the individual Workshop-ID file
Garry’s Mod version 2026.09.22 introduced a documented file-based method for downloading individual Workshop IDs. This is useful when you do not want to maintain a collection or need a tightly controlled list of items.
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garrysmod/cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txt. - Enter the Workshop IDs using the key/value format documented for that file. Copy each ID exactly; do not substitute the collection ID.
- Save the file in the server’s
garrysmod/cfg/directory. - Keep the gamemode’s folder name in the startup command with
+gamemode FOLDER_NAME. - Pass a compatible map with
+map MAP_NAME, restart, and verify the download and mount messages.
The file method controls which individual Workshop items are requested, while the gamemode selection still depends on the folder name. If a project’s documentation requires a collection, use the collection method instead of converting its instructions to individual IDs.
Install a non-Workshop gamemode manually
Manual installation is not one universal copy-and-paste procedure. Garry’s Mod’s filesystem guidance expects custom content to be packaged as an addon or gamemode, but each project can require a different directory structure and dependency set.
- Read the project’s installation instructions and identify whether it is an addon, a gamemode, or a package containing both.
- Copy the files into the exact server-side layout requested by the author. A gamemode normally ends up below
garrysmod/gamemodes/; an addon may contain its owngamemodes/directory. - Install every dependency in the same manner. Do not place a map, shared library, or supporting addon in an arbitrary folder simply because its archive has a similar name.
- Locate the resulting gamemode folder and use that name after
+gamemode. - Put the required map in
garrysmod/maps/or in the addon’smaps/folder, as specified by the project. - Restart the server and inspect the console for Lua errors, missing files, or a different mode being selected.
Manual files give you direct access to Lua and configuration, but they also make you responsible for updates and dependency consistency. Keep a record of the versions you installed so you can remove or replace one project without disturbing unrelated addons.
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Set the map and gamemode together
The map and gamemode are separate startup choices. A successful gamemode installation can look broken if the server is still running an incompatible map, and a valid map can load under the wrong mode if +gamemode was omitted or misspelled.
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At startup
Use both parameters:
+map MAP_NAME +gamemode FOLDER_NAME
Leave off the .bsp extension. If the file is rp_example.bsp, pass +map rp_example.
On a running server
Change the map with:
changelevel MAP_NAME
This changes the current level without changing the gamemode folder selected at launch. When testing a new mode, set the intended gamemode in the startup command and then use changelevel only to move between compatible maps.
Where maps can live
Maps may be in garrysmod/maps/ or in an addon’s maps/ directory. Workshop collections can provide maps automatically; manual projects require you to follow the author’s placement instructions.
Verify that the installation worked
Use this order so a bad map does not hide a bad gamemode:
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- Stop the server cleanly.
- Confirm the launch command contains
-game garrysmod, a valid+map, and the intended+gamemodefolder name. - Confirm the collection parameter or individual-ID file is present if the project uses Workshop content.
- Start the server and wait for Workshop download and mount messages to finish.
- Read the console for the selected map and gamemode. A server that starts in a default mode is not successfully using the requested folder.
- Connect with a client that has access to the same Workshop content and check for missing textures, models, scripts, or maps.
- Change to another compatible map with
changelevel MAP_NAMEonly after the initial mode has been confirmed.
Do not treat a process that reaches the console as proof that every dependency loaded. The useful evidence is the combination of mounted content, the selected gamemode, the selected map, and a client that can join without missing required files.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a gamemode that does not load
The server starts in Sandbox or another default mode
- Check the spelling and capitalization of the folder after
+gamemode. - Compare the value with the actual directory under
garrysmod/gamemodes/or the addon’sgamemodes/directory. - Do not use the Workshop title, collection name, or individual Workshop ID in place of the folder name.
- Make sure the switch is in the command that launches the server, not only in a configuration file read later.
- Restart after correcting the command; changing a file while the process is running does not retroactively select another mode.
Workshop content does not download
- Verify that the collection is public or unlisted.
- Confirm that you supplied the collection ID to
+host_workshop_collection, not an item ID. - Check the console for download or mount errors and confirm that the server can reach Steam Workshop.
- If using the individual-ID method, verify the path
garrysmod/cfg/srcds_workshop_ids.txtand the documented key/value syntax. - Restart after every collection or ID-file change so the server requests the updated list.
The gamemode loads but its map is missing
- Pass the map filename without
.bsp. - Confirm the map is in
garrysmod/maps/or the addon’smaps/directory. - Add the map to the Workshop collection if the project distributes it through Workshop.
- Check the project instructions for a required map pack or mounted Source content.
- Test first with a known compatible map, then use
changelevel MAP_NAMEto isolate the map from the gamemode.
Players cannot join or see broken content
Usually, the server has mounted only part of the project. Recheck every dependency, map, and supporting addon named by the author. A collection may contain the gamemode but omit a required map or dependency. If automatic Workshop updates are disabled, the server can also retain stale content while clients receive a different version.
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Find out whether an addon is the cause
Run an isolated test with the launch switches documented for this purpose:
-noaddonsdisables folder and legacy addons.-noworkshopdisables Workshop addons.
These are diagnostic switches, not permanent fixes. If the server works with -noaddons, inspect manually installed content. If it works with -noworkshop, inspect the collection or Workshop items. Remove the diagnostic switch when you want the target gamemode to load again.
Control Workshop updates carefully
host_workshop_autoupdate 0 disables automatic Workshop updates at startup. That can provide a stable file set for controlled maintenance, but it also leaves the server on an older map or addon version. When the server and clients have different versions, players may be unable to join or may encounter missing content.
If you disable automatic updates, establish your own update procedure: identify the intended Workshop versions, update the server deliberately, restart it, and test the gamemode and maps before opening the server to players. If you leave updates enabled, review the console after restarts so an upstream change does not go unnoticed.
Keep gamemode configuration in the right place
Gamemode-specific convars belong in the project’s documented configuration location. Do not copy settings from another mode merely because both projects use similar names. Some modes expose settings through their own Lua files or menus, while others expect server configuration entries.
Launch switches and runtime commands have different timing. Parameters such as +gamemode, +map, and +host_workshop_collection must be present when the server starts. Runtime commands such as changelevel act on a server that is already running.
Workshop versus manual installation: practical trade-offs
Workshop collection
- Downloads and mounts the collection at startup.
- Groups the gamemode, maps, and dependencies in one published list.
- Requires a public or unlisted collection and a startup parameter.
- Reduces manual copying, but the collection’s contents and Workshop updates become part of your operational process.
Individual-ID file
- Lets you list individual Workshop IDs in the server configuration directory.
- Avoids maintaining a collection when the project supports this method.
- Requires Garry’s Mod 2026.09.22 or newer and the documented file syntax.
- Keeps selection precise, but you must maintain the ID list and verify dependencies yourself.
Manual files
- Works for projects that are not published on Workshop or require private changes.
- Provides direct access to Lua and configuration files.
- Requires the author’s exact addon or gamemode layout.
- Leaves dependency installation, updates, and rollback under your control.
Final installation checklist
- SteamCMD installed Garry’s Mod application
4020. - The server starts with
-game garrysmod. +gamemodecontains the real folder name.+mapcontains a compatible map filename without.bsp.- Workshop collections are public or unlisted.
- The collection parameter or individual-ID file is configured before startup.
- Manual files follow the author’s documented addon or gamemode layout.
- Required maps and dependencies are installed or mounted.
- The console confirms Workshop downloads, mounts, map selection, and gamemode selection.
-noaddonsand-noworkshopare available for isolation tests if loading fails.- Any update policy, including
host_workshop_autoupdate 0, is intentional and documented for the server team.
A managed Garry’s Mod host can remove much of the SteamCMD maintenance by keeping the server process and files persistent, but you still need to verify that the provider supports Workshop collections, custom startup parameters, the required geography, and the gamemode’s dependency model. The installation logic remains the same: mount the content, select the folder name, choose a compatible map, and verify the result in the console.
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