How to Install Arma Reforger Mods

The fastest way to install Arma Reforger mods on a server is the in-panel LPV5 Mod Manager, which lets you search the Workshop, add mods, and write them into config.json without editing JSON by hand. Reforger mods live on the official Workshop and are identified by a 16-character mod ID. This guide covers the Mod Manager, adding hidden and unlisted mods by ID, building shareable mod presets, dependency handling, and hot-reloading mods so you can iterate without long downtime.

How Arma Reforger Mods Work

Every Arma Reforger mod is published to the official Workshop and carries a unique 16-character hexadecimal mod ID, for example 5AAAC70D754245DD. A server loads mods by listing those IDs in the game.mods array of config.json. When the server starts, it downloads each listed mod and any mods that mod depends on, then every connecting player downloads the same set automatically. There is no manual file copying on the client side.

Tip: Keep a written record of your modlist with IDs so you can rebuild it quickly

Note: A mod ID is 16 hexadecimal characters and is shown in the Workshop URL and on the mod page

Note: The server, not the player, decides the modlist; clients sync to match

Installing Mods with the LPV5 Mod Manager

The LPV5 Mod Manager is the recommended way to install mods. It runs inside the panel, browses the Workshop, and writes valid entries into config.json for you, so there is no risk of a JSON syntax error breaking the server.

1. Open the Arma Reforger section of the LPV5 panel and select the Mod Manager
2. Search for a mod by name in the Workshop browser
3. Click to add the mod to your server
4. Repeat for every mod you want
5. Save so the Mod Manager writes the entries into the game.mods array
6. Restart the server and watch the console download the mods

Tip: Because the Mod Manager writes the JSON, you avoid the missing-comma errors that come with hand editing

Tip: Installed mods show their version and update status in the panel

Adding Hidden and Unlisted Workshop Mods by ID

Some mods are hidden or unlisted on the Workshop, often private faction packs, in-development mods, or community-internal tools. They will not appear in a name search, but they install perfectly well if you have the mod ID. The Mod Manager lets you add a mod directly by its 16-character ID.

1. Obtain the 16-character mod ID from whoever shared the hidden mod, or from the Workshop URL
2. Search the Workshop browser by the mod’s 16-character ID; hidden mods still resolve by ID even though they do not appear in a name search, then click to install
3. Alternatively, use the Mod Importer to paste a config.json or mods block that includes the ID
4. Add it to your collection and save
5. Restart and confirm the console downloads the hidden mod

Tip: Mod IDs are case-insensitive hex, but copy them exactly to avoid typos

Warning: Hidden mods can be unpublished or made private by their author at any time, which can break a server start until you remove the entry

Building and Sharing Mod Presets

A mod preset is a saved, named modlist. Presets make it easy to keep separate setups, for example one for a Conflict night and one for a Game Master night, and to share an exact modlist with another admin or another server. A shareable preset means a teammate can reproduce your modlist without copying IDs one by one.

1. Build your modlist in the Mod Manager
2. Save it as a named preset, for example Conflict Night or WW2 Eastern Front
3. Toggle Share to the gallery on your saved collection to publish it
4. Other admins find it in the Modset Gallery (search by modset, author, or mod) and apply the whole modlist to their server in one click
5. Apply a collection to swap the entire modlist in one action

Tip: Keep one preset per recurring event so you can switch the entire server theme instantly

Tip: Sharing a preset is the cleanest way to keep a second server identical to the first

Mod Load Order and Dependencies

Reforger resolves mod dependencies automatically: if a mod requires another mod, the server downloads that dependency for you, so you do not list dependencies by hand. Load order still matters when two mods touch the same content, because the later mod can override the earlier one.

Tip: Do not manually add dependency mods; the server pulls them in automatically

Tip: Place framework or base mods before the mods that build on them

Tip: If two mods conflict over the same content, adjust which one loads last to control the override

Note: Most modlist breakage after an update is a dependency that itself updated; recheck the console log after Workshop updates

Applying Mod Changes (Restart Required)

Reforger applies a changed modlist on a server restart, not a live hot-reload. When you change mods in the Mod Manager and restart, the server validates the modlist and downloads only the new or changed mods, then reloads the scenario, usually in under a minute. It is the fast iteration loop for testing a modlist.

1. Make your change in the Mod Manager, such as adding or removing a mod
2. Save your collection
3. Press Restart in the Console
4. Watch the console download only the new or updated mods
5. Rejoin to confirm the modlist applied

Tip: Restarting is quick because only new or changed mods are fetched; you are not waiting on a full cold setup each time

Tip: Announce restarts to players, since they will be dropped and need to rejoin and resync

Warning: Any modlist change forces every connected player to redownload the changed mods on their next join

Testing a Modded Server Before Going Live

A modded Reforger server should always get a real join test before you announce it. Mods interact in ways that are hard to predict, and a single bad entry can stop the server or break a scenario.

1. Start the server and confirm the console shows every mod downloaded with no errors
2. Join the server yourself and confirm the scenario loads
3. Test the headline features the mods are supposed to add
4. Check for script errors or missing assets in-game
5. Only then share the connection details with your community

Tip: If the server fails to start after a mod change, remove the most recently added mod first and retest

Common Mod Problems and Fixes

Most mod issues come down to a small number of causes: a mistyped mod ID, a mod that was unpublished, a Workshop update that changed a dependency, or two mods fighting over the same content. The console log names the failing mod, which makes diagnosis quick.

Tip: Remove the suspect mod, restart, and confirm the server boots, then reintroduce mods one at a time

Tip: Keep mods on auto-update by leaving version fields empty so you stay current with dependencies

Warning: A wrong or unpublished mod ID will stop the server from starting; the log identifies which entry failed

Warning: A modlist that worked yesterday can break after a Workshop update to one of its mods

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get Arma Reforger mods?

All Arma Reforger mods come from the official Bohemia Interactive Workshop. Each mod has a unique 16-character mod ID. You add mods to a server by listing those IDs in config.json, or by using the LPV5 Mod Manager, which writes the entries for you.

How do I install a mod that does not show up in search?

Hidden or unlisted Workshop mods will not appear in a name search, but they install fine if you have the 16-character mod ID. In the LPV5 Mod Manager, use the add-by-ID option and paste the exact mod ID, then save and restart.

Do players need to download mods manually?

No. The server defines the modlist, and every connecting player downloads the same mods automatically before joining. A large modlist simply means a longer first join while the client syncs.

What is a mod preset and why use one?

A mod preset is a saved, named modlist. Presets let you keep separate setups, such as one for Conflict and one for Game Master, and switch the whole server theme in one action. A shareable preset lets another admin reproduce your exact modlist.

Do I need to add mod dependencies myself?

No. Arma Reforger resolves dependencies automatically. If a mod you list requires another mod, the server downloads that dependency for you. You only list the mods you actually want; the rest is handled on server start.

Can I change mods without fully rebuilding the server?

Yes — you do not reinstall the server. Change mods in the Mod Manager, save, then Restart. The server downloads only the new or updated mods and reloads the scenario, usually in under a minute. Connected players are dropped and rejoin to resync.

Why did my Reforger server stop after I added a mod?

The usual causes are a mistyped mod ID, a mod that was unpublished or made private, or a hand-edited config.json with a JSON syntax error. The console log names the failing entry. Remove the suspect mod, restart, and reintroduce mods one at a time.

Are modded Reforger servers visible to Xbox players?

Arma Reforger supports crossplay, but many mods are PC-only. If your modlist contains PC-only content, the server is effectively PC-only. A vanilla or crossplay-safe modlist can serve both PC and Xbox players.