How to Install and Manage Mods on Your The Forest Server

Mods can add a lot to your The Forest server, from quality-of-life tweaks to entirely new gameplay features. The RiverHosting panel gives you a dedicated Mods page so you can manage your server's mods without touching any configuration files by hand.

This guide walks you through finding, installing, and managing mods on your The Forest server from start to finish.

Before you start

• Make sure your The Forest server is set up and has been started at least once before adding mods.
• Your server will need to restart after adding or removing mods, so let your players know in advance if the server is currently active.
• Some mods require all players connecting to the server to also have the same mod installed on their own game client. Check the mod's documentation before installing it.

1. How to open the Mods page

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel at panel.riverhosting.com.
2. Click on your The Forest server from the server list.
3. In the left-hand menu, click Mods.

The Mods page is where you can view, add, and remove mods for your server. This is the recommended way to manage mods rather than uploading files manually.

2. How to install a mod

1. On the Mods page, browse or search for the mod you want to install.
2. Click on the mod to view its details, including a description and any compatibility notes.
3. Click the Install button next to the mod.
4. Wait for the panel to confirm the mod has been installed. You will usually see a status message or the mod will appear in your installed mods list.
5. Once the install is complete, restart your server so the mod loads properly. You can do this by clicking Restart from the top of your server page.

3. How to remove a mod

1. Go to the Mods page in the left-hand menu.
2. Find the mod you want to remove in your installed mods list.
3. Click the Remove or Uninstall button next to it.
4. Confirm the removal when prompted.
5. Restart your server so the change takes effect.

4. How to upload a mod manually using the File Manager

If a mod is not available through the Mods page and you have downloaded the files yourself, you can upload them using the File Manager instead.

1. In the left-hand menu, click Files to open the File Manager.
2. Navigate to the folder where your server's mods are stored. For most The Forest server setups, this will be inside your main server directory. Look for a folder named Mods or similar.
3. Click Upload and select the mod file or files from your computer.
4. Wait for the upload to complete.
5. Restart your server from the top of your server page.

5. How to check if mods are loading correctly

1. After restarting your server, click Console in the left-hand menu.
2. Look through the startup messages for any references to your installed mods. A successful load will usually show the mod name being recognised.
3. If you see error messages mentioning a specific mod, that mod may be incompatible or incorrectly installed. Try removing it and restarting again.

Troubleshooting

• The server is not starting after installing a mod. Open the Console and look for error messages. The error usually names the problem mod. Try removing that mod and restarting.
• Players cannot connect after adding a mod. Some mods require the player's own game client to have the mod installed too. Check the mod's instructions and ask players to install the matching client-side version.
• A mod is installed but does not seem to be working. Make sure you restarted the server after installation. If it still does not work, check the Console for any related error messages.
• The Mods page is not showing a specific mod. Not every community mod is listed in the panel. If yours is not there, use the manual File Manager upload method described in section 4.
• You want to go back to a clean server without mods. Remove all mods through the Mods page, then restart. If issues persist, restore a backup you made before the mods were installed.

Need help?

If you are having trouble installing mods or your server is not behaving as expected after making changes, the RiverHosting support team is happy to help.