Paralives Field GuideParalives Field Guide

Workshop

How to install mods in Paralives

Two ways to add mods and custom content in Early Access — one-click Steam Workshop and manual files from Nexus or CurseForge — plus a troubleshooting checklist for when mods don't show up.

Quick answer

Open the Mods menu from the Paralives title screen. The easiest route is Steam Workshop — browse and subscribe and items download automatically. For mods from Nexus, CurseForge or a creator's page, drop the files into your local Paralives mods folder, then enable them in the in-game My Mods list.

Method 1 — easiest

Install mods with Steam Workshop

Workshop is the official, achievement-safe channel. You never touch a file — everything installs and updates from inside the game.

  1. 1

    Launch Paralives and stay on the main title screen — do not load a save yet. Open the Mods menu from the main control panel.

  2. 2

    Open the Browse / Steam Workshop tab to see community Paras, lots, builds and custom content.

  3. 3

    Click Subscribe on anything you want. Steam downloads it in the background automatically.

  4. 4

    Switch to the My Mods tab and make sure each subscribed item is toggled on (enabled).

  5. 5

    Start or load a save. Workshop furniture and CC appear directly in Build/Buy mode; Paras and lots appear in their browsers.

Method 2 — Nexus, CurseForge & manual files

Install mods manually (Nexus / CurseForge / creators)

Script mods and CC from outside Steam — Nexus Mods, CurseForge or a creator's site — install by placing the downloaded files in your local Paralives mods folder. There is no auto-installer for these yet, so you copy the files yourself.

Default mods folder (Windows)
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Paralives\Paralives

Easiest way to find the exact path on any OS: open the in-game Mods menu and click the folder icon next to a mod — it opens the correct mods folder for your install.

  1. 1

    Download the mod from Nexus Mods, CurseForge or the creator's page. If it is a .zip, unzip it first.

  2. 2

    Open your Paralives mods folder using the folder icon in the in-game Mods menu (or the path above on Windows).

  3. 3

    Copy the mod file or folder into the mods folder. Keep each mod in its own subfolder if the creator ships one.

  4. 4

    Restart Paralives so it scans the folder, then open My Mods and toggle the new mod on.

  5. 5

    Check Build/Buy mode for custom content, or the relevant browser for Paras and lots.

Troubleshooting

Mods not showing or not working?

Mods not showing up in My Mods
Make sure files are in the correct mods folder (use the in-game folder icon to confirm), not in a nested extra folder. Fully quit and relaunch the game so it re-scans. Subscribed Workshop items need Steam to finish downloading first.
Mods installed but not working in-game
A game patch can break older mods — update the mod or remove it until the creator ships a fix. Disable mods one at a time to find a conflict. Make sure the mod is actually toggled on in My Mods.
Game crashes or won't load after adding mods
Disable all mods, confirm the game launches, then re-enable them in small batches to isolate the culprit. If crashes persist, see our crash-fix guide for clean-boot and save-recovery steps.
Can't subscribe / Workshop is empty
Launch Paralives through Steam (not a desktop shortcut that bypasses it), and check that Steam is online. Workshop is only available on the Steam build of the game.

Installing mods — FAQ

How do I install mods in Paralives?
Open the Mods menu from the main title screen. Use the Steam Workshop tab to subscribe to mods (they download automatically), or drop manually-downloaded files from Nexus/CurseForge into your Paralives mods folder and enable them in My Mods.
Where is the Paralives mods folder?
On Windows the default location is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Paralives\Paralives. The reliable cross-platform way is to click the folder icon next to a mod inside the in-game Mods menu, which opens the exact folder for your install.
How do I add Nexus mods to Paralives?
Download the mod from Nexus Mods, unzip it if needed, then copy the files into your Paralives mods folder. Restart the game and toggle the mod on in My Mods. Nexus mods are community files, so verify the source before installing.
Why are my mods not showing up?
Usually the files are in the wrong folder, buried in an extra nested folder, or the game hasn't re-scanned. Confirm the path with the in-game folder icon, fully restart Paralives, and make sure each mod is enabled in My Mods.
Do mods disable achievements in Paralives?
Official Steam Workshop content and console cheats are achievement-safe. Third-party script mods are unsupported and can behave unpredictably — back up your save before installing them.

Keep reading

Related guides

Workshop hub

Overview of Steam Workshop and the Paralives modding ecosystem.

Will Paralives allow custom content?

What CC works in Early Access and what's on the post-EA roadmap.

Build mode guide

Where Workshop furniture and CC show up in Build/Buy mode.

Fix: game crashing

Clean-boot and save-recovery steps when a mod breaks your game.

Cheats & console commands

Achievement-safe console codes that pair well with mods.