How to Install and Manage Mods on Your Insurgency: Sandstorm Server

Mods let you change how your Insurgency: Sandstorm server plays, from custom maps and game modes to quality-of-life tweaks and community content. The RiverHosting panel gives you a dedicated area to handle mods without needing to edit files by hand or use any external tools.

This guide walks you through finding, installing, and managing mods on your Insurgency: Sandstorm server from start to finish.

Before you start

• Make sure your server is set up and has started at least once successfully.
• Log in to the RiverHosting panel at panel.riverhosting.com and open your Insurgency: Sandstorm server.
• Have the mod IDs or names ready if you already know which mods you want to install. You can find mod IDs on the mod.io platform, which Insurgency: Sandstorm uses for its mod library.
• It is a good idea to create a backup of your server before making any changes. Go to Backups in the left-hand menu and create one before continuing.

1. How to open the Mods and Maps page

Insurgency: Sandstorm has a dedicated Mods and Maps page in the left-hand menu of your server page. This is the main place to manage everything mod-related.

1. Log in to panel.riverhosting.com.
2. Select your Insurgency: Sandstorm server from your server list.
3. In the left-hand menu, click Mods and Maps.

From here you can see which mods are currently installed and manage them all in one place.

2. How to add a mod to your server

Insurgency: Sandstorm uses mod.io to host community mods. Each mod has a unique numeric ID that you use to tell your server which mods to load.

1. Visit mod.io and search for the mod you want to install.
2. Open the mod page and copy its numeric mod ID. The ID is usually visible in the page URL or listed on the mod page itself.
3. Go back to the RiverHosting panel and open the Mods and Maps page for your server.
4. Enter the mod ID in the mod input field and save your changes.
5. Repeat this process for each mod you want to add.
6. Once you have added all your mods, start your server. It will automatically download and load the mods on startup.

3. How to remove a mod from your server

If a mod is causing problems or you no longer want it, removing it is straightforward.

1. Stop your server using the Stop button at the top of the server page.
2. Open the Mods and Maps page from the left-hand menu.
3. Find the mod you want to remove in the list and delete its entry.
4. Save your changes.
5. Start your server again. The mod will no longer be loaded.

4. How to manage your map rotation alongside mods

If you have installed custom maps as mods, you will also want to update your map rotation so those maps appear in your server's rotation. Insurgency: Sandstorm has a dedicated Map Rotation page for this.

1. In the left-hand menu, click Map Rotation.
2. Add the custom map names from your installed mods to the rotation list.
3. Arrange the order to suit your server's gameplay flow.
4. Save your changes and restart the server to apply them.

5. How to check mod load status in the console

After adding mods and starting your server, you can confirm they loaded correctly by checking the server console.

1. Click Console in the left-hand menu.
2. Watch the startup output as the server loads. You should see log entries mentioning each mod as it is downloaded and initialised.
3. If a mod fails to load, the console will usually show an error message with the mod ID or name involved.

Troubleshooting

• Server fails to start after adding mods: Check the Console for errors. A mod ID that does not exist or a mod that is incompatible with your current server version can prevent the server from starting. Remove the most recently added mod ID and try again.
• Mods are not downloading on startup: Make sure your server has an active internet connection and that the mod IDs you entered are correct. Confirm the mods are still publicly available on mod.io.
• Players cannot see or join the server after a mod is added: Some mods require players to also have the mod installed on their client. Check the mod's page on mod.io for any client-side requirements.
• Custom map is not appearing in rotation: Double-check that the map name in your Map Rotation matches the internal name specified by the mod author, not the display name on the mod page.
• Mod was added but is not loading: Stop the server, confirm the mod ID is saved correctly on the Mods and Maps page, then start the server again. If the problem continues, try removing and re-adding the mod ID.

Need help?

If you run into any issues with mods on your Insurgency: Sandstorm server or are not sure which mods are compatible with your setup, the RiverHosting support team is happy to help.