DayZ Server: How to Install Steam Workshop Mods
DayZ uses the Steam Workshop for mod distribution. Installing mods on a dedicated server is a four-step process: subscribe locally, copy mod IDs to the server, format them correctly in the launch config, restart. Clients must subscribe to the same mods or they can't join.
Console players in your group? Workshop mods are PC-only. See our Is DayZ cross-platform? guide for what consoles can and cannot share with PC servers.
Step 1: Find the Mod IDs You Want
- Browse the DayZ Workshop at steamcommunity.com/app/221100/workshop.
- Click into a mod's detail page.
- The Workshop ID is the long number at the end of the URL:
...filedetails/?id=1559212036. - Note the mod's display name (you'll need it as
@ModName) plus the numeric Workshop ID.
Step 2: Install the Mod on the Server
Option A — Hosted Server with Workshop Button
Most providers (us included) expose a Steam Workshop button in the panel:
- Open your server panel and click Steam Workshop.
- Search for the mod by name or paste the Workshop ID.
- Click Install. The provider downloads the mod into the server's mod directory.
- Most panels expose a second view called Steam Workshop (installed) — verify the mod shows there.
Option B — Self-Hosted via SteamCMD
- Run SteamCMD with the DayZ server credentials.
- Use
workshop_download_item 221100 <workshop_id>. - Symlink or copy the resulting folder from
steamapps/workshop/content/221100/<id>into your DayZ server's root as@ModName. - Repeat per mod. (Hosted panels do this automatically.)
Step 3: Add Mods to Your Server Launch Config
Your server panel's Command Line Manager (or the equivalent start.sh / start.bat) has a Mods field. Format mod IDs as a semicolon-separated list of @ModName entries:
@CF;@Community-Online-Tools;@Dabs-FrameworkCommon gotchas:
- Each mod prefixed with
@— no spaces. - Separator is a semicolon — not a comma.
- Load-order matters. Framework/dependency mods first (e.g.
@CF,@Dabs-Framework), then dependents. - Capitalization in the mod folder name must match what you write here.
Step 4: Restart the Server
After saving the new mod string, perform a full restart, not a soft restart. The server only re-scans the mod list on cold boot.
Step 5: Tell Your Players to Subscribe
Critical: every player who wants to join must subscribe to the same mods through the Steam Workshop in their DayZ Launcher (the launcher, not the in-game menu). Mismatched mod sets cause connection failures with vague errors.
- Send your players the list of Workshop IDs (or links).
- They click Subscribe on each.
- In the DayZ Launcher, the mods appear under the Mods tab.
- They tick the mods, hit Play — the launcher merges mods into the game launch.
Updating Mods
Most server panels have a Steam Workshop (updates) button. Click it and run Update All. Most providers also auto-update Workshop mods on server restart, but a manual sweep is the safest default after a Steam mod-author push.
Common Mistakes
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Server starts but mods aren't active" | Mod IDs in launch config don't match folder names exactly. Capital-A vs lowercase-a kills the load. |
| "Server runs but clients get 'session lost' on join" | Client mod set doesn't match server's. They need to subscribe in the DayZ Launcher. |
| "After update, mods broke" | Workshop author pushed a breaking change. Roll back: in Steam Workshop, choose previous version, or wait for the mod's dependent mods to update. |
| "Comma-separated list doesn't work" | DayZ uses ; not ,. Replace. |
| "Mod folder is named differently than @ModName" | Rename the folder to exactly match — case-sensitive on Linux servers. |
Recommended Foundation Mods
| Mod | What It Does |
|---|---|
| @CF (Community Framework) | Dependency for many other mods. Load first. |
| @Community-Online-Tools | Admin teleport, ban, spawn-item UI. Essential for moderation. |
| @Dabs-Framework | Used by many large mods (BBP, FX, etc.). |
| @SchanaModParty | Group/party system for friend coordination. |
Run a modded community without launcher headaches. Host a DayZ server with Supercraft and one-click install Workshop mods from the panel.