Stardew Valley multiplayer mods: what to install

In Stardew Valley multiplayer, each player can have their own mods, and you can even mix players with and without mods. But there’s one key rule: global mods, the ones that add items, areas or NPCs or change the world, must be installed by every player, in the same version. Local mods, like UI mods, only affect the player who installs them. Here’s what to do with each mod in our directory, how to sync versions and the most common problems.

Stardew Valley multiplayer mods: global and local

According to the game’s official wiki:

• Global: custom items, areas or NPCs and changes to the world or time. Every player must have them, in the same version.
• Local: UI, NPC maps and efficiency tweaks. They only affect the player who installs them.
• Content Patcher packs and visual changes: it depends on the case. Check what each pack’s page says.
• Host only: mods that change time only work if the host installs them, and only the host can build buildings added by mods.

First of all, every player needs a working SMAPI. If someone doesn’t have it yet, they should follow our guide on how to install Stardew Valley mods.

Which mods everyone needs and which only the host needs

Every player

• SpaceCore: its page says everyone must have it.
• Farm Type Manager: everyone too. If only the host has it, the others may see errors or be unable to interact with some items and monsters, and only the host’s settings count.
• Stardew Valley Expanded, Ridgeside Village, East Scarp and Sword and Sorcery: every player needs the mod and therefore its dependencies. In practice, that means Content Patcher and Farm Type Manager in every case.

Host only

• Automate: it’s enough for the host to install it; it’s optional for farmhands. It also works in split-screen.

The host, plus each farmhand who wants to use it

• NPC Map Locations: the host needs it, plus each farmhand who wants to see villagers on their map.
• Tractor Mod: the host and any farmhands who want to use the tractor.

Only whoever wants to use it

• Lookup Anything: works even if the other players don’t have it. Farmhands can’t see NPC schedules.
• Chests Anywhere: works in multiplayer, but farmhands only see chests in synced areas, basically the farm, its buildings and wherever they are.
• UI mods like UI Info Suite 2, CJB Show Item Sell Price, Experience Bars, Data Layers, Ladder Locator or Better Crafting: their pages say they work in single-player and multiplayer, and as local mods they only affect the player who installs them.
• Generic Mod Config Menu: works in single-player and multiplayer. Each player uses it to configure their own mods.
• Gift Taste Helper Continued x2: supports local multiplayer (split-screen) since 1.2.0; its page doesn’t mention online multiplayer.

Saves with expansions: same mods, same versions

If your group is going to play with SVE, Ridgeside Village or East Scarp, our recommendation is simple: everyone should use exactly the same mods in the same versions. It’s the safest approach. Expansions pull in several frameworks, and a single mismatch is enough for something to break.

Also keep in mind what they require from the save. SVE’s author recommends starting a new one, and among its optional farms is Immersive Farm 2 Remastered, designed for multiplayer. Ridgeside Village, on the other hand, has a progressive mode for adding it to an existing save. If you’re looking for more expansions or mods for your group, check out our pick of the best Stardew Valley mods.

How to sync versions between players

1. Same game and SMAPI version. The latest on PC is 1.6.15 and SMAPI is at 4.5.2 (as of October 2026). Many mods already require 1.6.15, so the whole group should have it. The list of mods compatible with Stardew Valley 1.6 helps you choose.
2. A shared list. The host puts together the mod list with each exact version and shares it. What the SMAPI console shows at startup lets each player check what loaded.
3. The same file for everyone. Several mods have different files for 1.5.6 and for 1.6, like Ridgeside Village. Everyone should download the main one for 1.6.
4. Updates at the same time. SMAPI tells you in the console when new mod versions are out. When one comes out, the whole group should install it before playing again, especially if it’s a global mod.
5. Translations in the same version. If the group uses Spanish translations published separately, make sure they match the mod’s version.
6. A mod profile for multiplayer. If you use other mods when playing solo, you can keep a separate set with --mods-path "Mods (multiplayer)" on Windows and macOS, or with SMAPI_MODS_PATH on Linux. Stardrop also has mod profiles.

Common problems

• A farmhand sees errors or can’t use items or monsters. This typically happens when only the host has Farm Type Manager, or an expansion that uses it. Everyone has to install it.
• A farmhand disconnects when using the tractor. With Tractor Mod, a high watering distance (5 or more) can disconnect farmhands. Lower it in the settings.
• A farmhand can’t see villagers on the map. In UI Info Suite 2 only the host sees them properly; its own page recommends NPC Map Locations, installed on the host and on each farmhand who wants to use it.
• A farmhand can’t build a building from a mod. Only the host can build buildings added by mods.
• A time mod does nothing. It only works if the host installs it.
• Chests Anywhere doesn’t show all chests to a farmhand. That’s normal: farmhands only see the ones in synced areas.
• The Sword and Sorcery boss is locked. The Duskspire boss fight is locked so only one player can take it on at a time.
• On Steam Deck with Proton, the save doesn’t sync to the cloud. Steam Cloud doesn’t store modded saves in that case, so make backups manually.

If something fails and it’s not on the list, each player should check the SMAPI console. If it’s still unclear, upload the log to smapi.io/log and compare it with another player’s: it usually becomes obvious which mod or version doesn’t match. And if someone plays on mobile, check our guide to mods on Android and consoles first: on Android, SMAPI is an unofficial port that lags behind the PC version.

Stardew Valley quick facts: Steam Deck · price and whether it’s free · system requirements · file size · consoles.

Frequently asked questions

Do all players need the same mods?

Not all of them, but they do need the global ones: those that add items, areas or NPCs or change the world, in the same version. With expansions, the safest bet is for everyone to have exactly the same mods.

Can I play with mods if my friends don’t have them?

Yes, with local mods like Lookup Anything, which works even if the others don’t have it. With content mods like SVE, no: everyone must have them.

Does everyone have to install Automate?

No. It’s enough for the host to install it; it’s optional for farmhands.

How do I keep different mods for solo and multiplayer?

With a separate mod profile: --mods-path "Mods (multiplayer)" on Windows and macOS, SMAPI_MODS_PATH on Linux, or Stardrop’s profiles.