Stardew Valley SMAPI errors: causes and fixes

Almost every SMAPI error in Stardew Valley comes down to one of these five causes: the game or SMAPI is out of date, a mod is missing a dependency, the mod folder is in the wrong place, the mod isn’t compatible with version 1.6, or your antivirus or Steam launch options are blocking startup. The first step is always the same: open the SMAPI log, upload it to smapi.io/log and read which mods were skipped and why. In this guide we tell you where that file is, what each common error means and how to fix it without losing your save. If you don’t have SMAPI yet, start with the guide to installing mods in Stardew Valley.

First things first: check your versions

Most problems go away once everything is up to date. Check these three things before touching any mod:

• Game version. The latest PC version is 1.6.15. You can see it on the title screen by clicking the «?» button: it shows up in the bottom-left corner. If you use Steam, also make sure you’re not on the 32-bit beta branch or the compatibility branch, which SMAPI doesn’t support.
• SMAPI version. It appears on the first line of the console. Version 4.5.2 needs Stardew Valley 1.6.14 or later and works on Windows, macOS, Linux and Steam Deck. To update, run the new version’s installer: it removes the old one by itself.
• Mod versions. At startup, SMAPI flags mods that have a new version. According to the official wiki, you should update all of them, even the ones that seem to work fine.

Several widely used mods require minimum versions: Content Patcher 2.9.1 requires 1.6.15, so does SpaceCore 1.28.4, and Lookup Anything 1.55.0 requires SMAPI 4.3.1 or later. If your game is stuck on an older version, those mods won’t load.

Where the SMAPI log is and how to share it

SMAPI saves everything that happens at startup in a text file. If the game crashed, look for SMAPI-crash.txt; if it doesn’t exist, use SMAPI-latest.txt. These are the paths listed on smapi.io:

To ask for help, drag the file onto the smapi.io/log parser page, upload it and share the link it gives you. If the file is too big, the wiki recommends copying from the beginning up to the first errors and parsing just that part. The first lines of the log list the mods that have pending updates.

The most common SMAPI errors

This table sums up the most frequent symptoms. Below it you’ll find each case in more detail.

Mods skipped due to missing dependencies

This is the most common error. When loading finishes, SMAPI lists the mods it couldn’t load («Skipped mods») with the reason next to each one. Often the mod needs another one you don’t have. The big expansions are the typical example:

• Stardew Valley Expanded 1.15.11 requires Content Patcher and Farm Type Manager. It no longer uses Json Assets, SpaceCore or Shop Tile Framework.
• Ridgeside Village also requires Custom Companions and SpaceCore.
• East Scarp needs seven requirements, including MEEP, HxW Tilesheets and both Lumisteria tilesheets.
• Json Assets doesn’t work without SpaceCore and Expanded Preconditions Utility.
• Mods by bcmpinc, such as Bigger Backpack or Wear More Rings, need StardewHack.

The fix is to download the dependency named in the log from its official page and put it in Mods. If the reason is that the mod requires a newer version of SMAPI or the game, update that first. You’ll find an explanation of what each framework is for in the Stardew Valley frameworks section.

«Skipped ‘…’ because it doesn’t have a manifest.json»

According to the wiki, this warning means that folder isn’t a SMAPI mod. It can happen for two reasons:

• Badly extracted folder. Each mod needs its own subfolder with its manifest.json. If the download extracts into a folder with numbers (for example, ModName-1234-1-0), go inside and move the actual mod folder into Mods. The wiki advises extracting outside Mods first so you don’t leave loose files behind.
• Not a SMAPI mod. Some old mods replace the game’s .xnb files. One example is Lili’s Portraits, which is copied into the Content\Portraits folder and not into Mods. Follow the author’s instructions.

Nested folders to organize your mods are allowed: SMAPI searches inside each folder until it finds the mod’s files.

SMAPI won’t open or the window closes instantly

The official wiki suggests these steps, in this order:

1. Check your Steam launch options. On Windows they must match what the SMAPI installer tells you. On Linux and macOS, with SMAPI, leave them empty.
2. Delete the startup_preferences file from the game’s data folder.
3. Update your graphics card drivers and close programs that hook into the game, such as MSI Afterburner or RivaTuner.
4. On Linux, if your terminal isn’t supported, install xterm.
5. To see the error, open a terminal in the game folder and run .\StardewModdingAPI.exe on Windows or ./StardewModdingAPI on Mac and Linux.

If Steam says «missing executable», the problem is also in the launch options. If you uninstall SMAPI, that box must be left completely empty.

Your antivirus blocks SMAPI or a mod

The wiki explains that it’s usually a false positive: SMAPI is open source and maintained by Pathoschild. Add an exception for SMAPI, the game and its folder. Since version 4.5, SMAPI also includes its own detection of malicious files in mods. If the installer opens and closes, run install on Windows.bat from a command prompt window to see the error.

«Could not load file or assembly» or the game is still on an old version

This usually points to corrupted files or two copies of the game installed. Restore the files from Steam, GOG Galaxy or the Xbox app (the verify or repair option). If you have two installations, the wiki recommends saving your Mods folder, uninstalling, deleting both folders, reinstalling the game and SMAPI, and copying the mods back.

A content pack does nothing

Mods with the [CP] prefix are Content Patcher packs and don’t work on their own. Check in the console that Content Patcher loaded without errors. The same goes for Alternative Textures, Fashion Sense or Farm Type Manager packs: if their framework fails, the pack has no effect.

Very slow loading, stuttering or running out of memory

• On Windows, if the console shows «Select», click on it and press Enter a few times, as the wiki says.
• Very long mod lists can take several minutes to load. That’s normal.
• If the console keeps repeating the same error nonstop, that mod is the one causing the stutter.
• On PCs with two graphics cards, assign StardewModdingAPI.exe to the dedicated GPU («High performance») in Windows graphics settings.
• On Linux and Steam Deck, the wiki suggests setting ListenForConsoleInput to false in smapi-internal/config.json.
• If you get an OutOfMemoryException, remove content mods you don’t use.

Errors during gameplay

Some bugs don’t stop the game from launching but show up while you play. The most common ones:

• Stuck events. Event Repeater includes an emergency skip (Ctrl + S) for events that hang. Many character mods already require it.
• A pet event that keeps repeating. The wiki attributes this to the pet sharing a name with an NPC, often from Stardew Valley Expanded. Rename your pet.
• Multiplayer errors. Every player needs Farm Type Manager and SpaceCore. If only the host has them, the others may see errors. More details in the multiplayer mods guide.
• Broken items after uninstalling. Before removing Json Assets, its author asks you to remove the items it added from the game. With SVE, if you donate the Galdoran Gems to the museum, turn on the option that lets you move them.

How to find the mod causing problems

If the log doesn’t point to a specific mod, narrow it down yourself. Before anything else, back up your saves folder.

1. Disable half of your mods. To disable one without deleting it, put a dot in front of its folder name (for example, .Automate).
2. Launch the game. If the error goes away, the culprit is in the half you disabled. If it’s still there, it’s in the other half.
3. Repeat with the suspect half until you’re down to a single mod. Always keep the dependencies of the mods you’re testing enabled.

Once you find it, do a clean reinstall: delete its folder, download it again and check on the author’s page whether it’s compatible with your version. The compatibility list at smapi.io/mods shows which mods are broken with the current version. SMAPI disables most incompatible mods on its own.

Tools that prevent errors

• Stardrop: a mod manager with profiles (for example, one for solo play and another for multiplayer), warnings about incompatible mods and update checks through SMAPI. Its interface is available in Spanish.
• Generic Mod Config Menu: change mod options in-game. That way you don’t have to edit config.json by hand, which is another source of errors. If you do edit it, do it with the game closed and keep the quotation marks intact.
• Skip Intro: skips the startup logos. It’s handy if you’ll be restarting a lot while testing.

More Stardew Valley guides: how to install mods with SMAPI, the best mods for 1.6, expansion mods and mods on Android and consoles.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see what error SMAPI is giving me?

In the SMAPI console itself and in the SMAPI-latest.txt file (or SMAPI-crash.txt if the game crashed). On Windows with Steam it’s in %appdata%\StardewValley\ErrorLogs. Upload it to smapi.io/log to read it in a clean format.

Why does SMAPI say a mod was skipped if I have it installed?

Because it’s missing a dependency, it requires a newer version of SMAPI or the game, or its folder doesn’t contain a manifest.json. The reason appears next to its name in the «Skipped mods» list.

Will I lose my save if a mod throws an error?

Usually not: if a mod doesn’t load, your save is still there. The risk is saving without a mod that added items or areas. Back up your saves folder before changing or removing mods.

Can I use SMAPI on Switch, PS4 or Xbox?

No. SMAPI only works on Windows, macOS, Linux and Steam Deck. On Android there’s an unofficial, experimental port, which isn’t the same program.

How do I update SMAPI without breaking anything?

Download the new installer from smapi.io and run it: it replaces the previous version. Your mods stay in the Mods folder. Then launch the game and update the mods the console flags as outdated.