How to Install Steam Workshop Mods on Your Project Zomboid Server

MANAfuel Team

5 min readMay 27, 2026Updated May 2026

Project Zomboid Steam Workshop mod installation on MANAfuel

Add Steam Workshop mods to your MANAfuel Project Zomboid server with automatic downloads, mod ID configuration, and load order management.

Find Workshop Mod IDs
Browse the Steam Workshop for Project Zomboid mods. Each mod has a Workshop ID in its URL — the number after id= in the address bar. Popular mods include Brita's Weapons, Hydrocraft, Authentic Z, and Filibusters Used Cars. Copy the Workshop IDs for every mod you want to install. You need both the Workshop ID and the Mod ID (found in the mod's description or mod.info file).
Add Mod IDs to Server Configuration
Open the File Manager in your MANAfuel dashboard. Edit the server INI file (usually in Server/servertest.ini or your named server config). Add Workshop IDs to WorkshopItems (semicolon-separated list of Workshop IDs) and Mod IDs to Mods (semicolon-separated list of mod folder names). Both fields must be populated — WorkshopItems handles downloads, Mods handles loading.
Restart and Verify Downloads
Save the config and restart your server. On startup, the server downloads each Workshop mod automatically. Check the server log in your dashboard for download progress and completion messages. First-time downloads may take several minutes for large mods. Bob monitors the download process and alerts you if any mod fails to download — usually caused by a typo in the Workshop ID.
Manage Load Order
The Mods field in your server config determines load order — mods load left to right. Most mods work in any order, but some overhaul mods require specific positioning. Place base libraries and frameworks first, then content mods, then patches and compatibility mods last. If two mods conflict, the one loaded later takes priority for overlapping items.
Keep Players in Sync
Players must subscribe to every Workshop mod your server uses before connecting. Share your mod list as a Steam Workshop Collection — create a collection containing all your mods and share the link. When players connect with missing mods, the server displays which mods are required. Mismatched mod versions cause connection failures — Bob logs version mismatch details for your review.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between WorkshopItems and Mods in the config?

WorkshopItems contains Workshop IDs (numbers) that tell the server which mods to download from Steam. Mods contains the mod folder names that tell the game which mods to actually load. Both must be populated for mods to work. A mod's Workshop ID and its mod folder name are different values.

Do I need to wipe the world after adding mods?

It depends on the mod. Mods that add new items, weapons, or vehicles can usually be added to an existing world. Mods that change world generation or map layouts require a new world to take full effect. Check each mod's description for compatibility notes.

How many mods can a Project Zomboid server handle?

Most servers run 20 to 50 mods comfortably on the Gamer plan (4 GB). Large overhaul collections with 100+ mods may need the Creator plan. Performance impact depends more on the specific mods than the count — map mods and mods adding many vehicles have the highest memory impact.

Troubleshooting