Arma Reforger downloads a lot of mods. Join a few modded servers and the folder holding them can grow to tens of gigabytes, which is a real problem when the game is on a small system drive. The folder is also not where most people look for it, because Reforger keeps downloaded mods under your Documents folder rather than in the game install. This guide covers where the addons folder actually lives, how to move it to another drive properly, and the mistake that makes the game re-download everything the next time you connect to a modded server.
Where the Addons Folder Actually Is
By default, Arma Reforger looks for mods in two places:
| Location | What is in it |
|---|---|
Documents\My Games\ArmaReforger\profile\addons | Everything downloaded from the Workshop, which is almost certainly what is using your disk space |
The addons folder inside the game install directory | Mods that shipped with or were placed next to the executable |
The first one is the one that matters. It sits on whichever drive holds your Documents folder, which for most people is the system drive, which is exactly why it becomes a problem.
Alongside addons in that same profile folder you will also find logs and your profile data, which is where the game keeps your settings and your crash logs.
Note: Downloaded Workshop mods live under Documents, not in the Steam install folder. That is why searching your Steam library for them finds nothing
Tip: The
logsfolder in the same place is what you want when a server owner asks you for a crash log
Moving Mods to Another Drive
Reforger supports this properly through startup parameters, so you do not need symbolic links or folder junctions. The parameter you want is -addonDownloadDir, which tells the game and the Workshop where to put downloaded content.
-addonDownloadDir "D:\ArmaReforgerMods"
Downloads then land in an addons subfolder inside the directory you named, so the example above produces D:\ArmaReforgerMods\addons. You do not need to also set -addonsDir, because the game already looks in the download directory.
To set it on Steam:
- Right click Arma Reforger in your Steam library and choose Properties
- Find the Launch Options box on the General tab
- Paste the parameter, including the quotes if your path contains spaces
- Close the window and start the game
Warning: A path with spaces must be wrapped in quotes, or the parameter is ignored and mods quietly keep downloading to the old location
Tip: Use an absolute path such as
D:\ArmaReforgerModsrather than a relative one, it is the recommended form and avoids surprises
Moving Mods You Have Already Downloaded
Setting the parameter changes where new downloads go. It does not move what you already have, and this is where people lose an evening to a re-download.
- Close the game completely
- Set
-addonDownloadDirto your new location as above - Start the game once and then close it, so the new folder structure is created
- Move the contents of the old
profile\addonsfolder into the newaddonsfolder - Start the game and join a modded server to confirm it does not re-download
If you skip step four, the game finds an empty folder and pulls everything down again from the Workshop.
Warning: Move the existing
addonscontents across, otherwise the game re-downloads every mod on your next modded server joinNote: Move the files rather than copying them, or you have two copies and have saved no space at all
The Other Addon Parameters
Three related parameters exist, and knowing which is which saves confusion when you read advice online.
| Parameter | What it does |
|---|---|
-addonDownloadDir | Sets where downloaded addons are stored. This is the one you want for moving mods off your system drive |
-addonsDir | Adds extra directories the game should search for mods, comma separated. Useful for a folder of mods you manage yourself |
-addonTempDir | Sets where temporary content goes during downloads |
-addons | Loads a specific list of mod IDs at startup, given as GUIDs from each mod’s project file |
Most people only ever need the first. -addonsDir is for pointing the game at an additional location without moving downloads there, which is a different job.
Tip:
-addonsDiraccepts several directories separated by commas, so you can keep a hand-managed mod folder alongside Workshop downloadsNote: For
-addons, mod GUIDs are the preferred identifier, and they come from the mod’s own project file
Clearing Out Mods You No Longer Need
The addons folder does not clean itself up. Mods from servers you played once a year ago are still there. If you are trying to reclaim space rather than move it, deleting the contents of the addons folder is safe: the game re-downloads whatever a server needs the next time you join it. You lose time on your next connection, not data.
Warning: Only delete inside the
addonsfolder. Deleting the wholeprofilefolder also removes your game settings and keybindsTip: If disk space is the real problem, deleting is faster than moving. The only cost is a re-download when you next join those servers
This Is All Client Side
Everything above applies to your own PC. It has no effect on a server, because a Reforger server does not use your folders and does not care where your mods live.
On a server, mods are declared in the server’s own configuration and downloaded by the server itself. On a Loafhosts Arma Reforger server that is handled by the Mod Manager in the LoafHub panel, where you add mods, set the order they load in, save modlists as presets, and pin versions, all of which writes the server’s config.json for you. When a player joins a modded server, their client downloads whatever that server declares, into the client folders described above.
Note: Changing your own addon folder does not change anything about a server you run or play on
Tip: If a server owner adds a mod, every player downloads it on their next join, which is why a big modlist makes joining slow the first time
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Arma Reforger install mods?
Downloaded Workshop mods go to Documents\My Games\ArmaReforger\profile\addons. The game also looks in an addons folder inside the game install directory. The Documents location is the one that grows large.
How do I change the Arma Reforger mod folder?
Add the -addonDownloadDir startup parameter with an absolute path, for example -addonDownloadDir "D:\ArmaReforgerMods", in Steam’s Launch Options. Downloads then land in an addons subfolder inside that path. Move your existing addons across afterwards, or the game re-downloads them.
Why does Arma Reforger keep re-downloading mods?
Almost always because the download directory changed but the existing mods were left behind in the old folder. The game finds nothing in the new location and pulls everything again. Move the old addons contents into the new addons folder while the game is closed.
Can I delete the Arma Reforger addons folder?
Yes, the contents are safe to delete and the game re-downloads what a server needs when you next join. Do not delete the whole profile folder, because that also holds your settings and keybinds.
What is the difference between addonDownloadDir and addonsDir?
-addonDownloadDir sets where downloaded mods are stored, which is what you want when moving mods to another drive. -addonsDir adds extra folders for the game to search without changing where downloads go. You do not normally need both.
Does moving my mod folder affect my server?
No. This is entirely client side. A server declares its own mods and downloads them itself. On Loafhosts, server mods are managed from the Mod Manager in the panel, which writes the server’s configuration for you.
Where are my Arma Reforger crash logs?
In the logs folder next to addons, under Documents\My Games\ArmaReforger\profile. That is the folder to zip up when a server owner or support asks for logs after a crash.