Install Guide

Install Guide

This guide explains how to install Faded Mods without using Steam Workshop.

Faded Mods uses direct download installation. That means players download mod files from this website, extract them, and place them into the correct Project Zomboid mods folder.

Important Notice

Always close Project Zomboid before installing, updating, or removing mods.

Always back up your server before changing mods on a dedicated server.

Only download Faded Mods from official Faded Mods links or verified Faded Realms sources.

Faded Mods is an independent Project Zomboid modding site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Indie Stone.

Method 1: Using the Faded Mod Installer

The Faded Mod Installer is planned as the easiest non-Steam way to install, update, verify, and remove Faded Mods.

Status:
Coming Soon

How It Will Work

  1. Download the Faded Mod Installer ZIP from the Downloads page.
  2. Extract the ZIP file.
  3. Run the Faded Mod Installer.
  4. Confirm your Project Zomboid mods folder.
  5. Select the mod you want to install.
  6. Click Install.
  7. Wait for the installer to download and place the mod files.
  8. Launch Project Zomboid.
  9. Open the Mods menu.
  10. Enable the installed mod.
  11. Restart the game if required.

Default Windows Mods Folder

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods

Correct Install Example

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods\FadedExampleMod\mod.info
C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods\FadedExampleMod\media

Wrong Install Example

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods\FadedExampleMod.zip

Wrong Install Example

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods\FadedExampleMod\FadedExampleMod\mod.info

Safety Notice

The installer will only place approved Faded Mods files into your local Project Zomboid mods folder.

The installer will not modify Project Zomboid base game files, Steam files, Workshop files, or unrelated system files.

Method 2: Manual ZIP Install for Players

Use this method if you want to install a mod yourself without the Faded Mod Installer.

Step 1: Download the Mod ZIP

Go to the Downloads page and download the ZIP file for the mod you want.

Step 2: Extract the ZIP

Right-click the ZIP file and choose:

Extract All

After extracting, you should see a normal mod folder.

A proper Project Zomboid mod folder usually contains:

mod.info
poster.png
media

Step 3: Move the Mod Folder

Move the extracted mod folder into your Project Zomboid mods folder.

Default Windows location:

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods

Example:

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods\FadedExampleMod\mod.info
C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods\FadedExampleMod\media

Important:
Do not place the ZIP file directly into the mods folder. The ZIP must be extracted first.

Step 4: Enable the Mod In Game

Launch Project Zomboid.

Go to:

Mods

Find the mod.

Enable the mod.

Restart the game if required.

Method 3: Updating a Manual ZIP Mod

To update a manually installed Faded Mod:

  1. Close Project Zomboid.
  2. Download the newest ZIP from the Downloads page.
  3. Extract the ZIP.
  4. Delete the old version of the mod from your Zomboid mods folder.
  5. Move the new extracted mod folder into the mods folder.
  6. Launch Project Zomboid.
  7. Confirm the mod is still enabled.
  8. Restart if required.

Important:
Do not merge new files over old files unless the mod page specifically says to do so. Deleting the old version first helps prevent leftover files from causing errors.

Method 4: Removing a Manual ZIP Mod

To remove a manually installed Faded Mod:

  1. Close Project Zomboid.
  2. Open your mods folder:

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods

  1. Find the mod folder.
  2. Delete the mod folder.
  3. Launch Project Zomboid.
  4. Check the Mods menu to confirm it is gone.

If you are removing a mod from an existing save or server, back up your save first. Some mods may leave world data, items, traits, recipes, or server data behind.

Method 5: Non-Steam Dedicated Server Install

Dedicated server setup can vary by host, but the core non-Steam process is the same:

  1. Stop the server.
  2. Download the mod ZIP from FadedMods.com.
  3. Extract the ZIP on your computer.
  4. Upload the extracted mod folder to the server’s Zomboid mods folder.
  5. Add the mod ID to the server’s mod list.
  6. Save the server settings.
  7. Restart the server.
  8. Make sure every player installs the same mod version manually.

Important:
For non-Steam style installation, the server and every player must have the same mod files installed.

Manual mods do not automatically download to players through Steam Workshop.

Common Dedicated Server Mod Folder Locations

Your host may use a path similar to one of these:

/home/container/Zomboid/mods

/home/username/Zomboid/mods

/Zomboid/mods

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods

The exact folder depends on your server host.

The correct final structure should look like:

Zomboid/mods/FadedExampleMod/mod.info
Zomboid/mods/FadedExampleMod/media

Not like:

Zomboid/mods/FadedExampleMod.zip

Not like:

Zomboid/mods/FadedExampleMod/FadedExampleMod/mod.info

PingPlayers Non-Steam Install Notes

  1. Log into your PingPlayers control panel.
  2. Stop the Project Zomboid server.
  3. Open File Manager or connect through FTP.
  4. Locate the server’s Zomboid folder.
  5. Find or create the mods folder.
  6. Upload the extracted Faded Mod folder into the mods folder.
  7. Open the server settings file or server configuration panel.
  8. Add the mod ID to the server’s Mods setting.
  9. Save the configuration.
  10. Restart the server.
  11. Test joining with a client that has the same mod manually installed.

Important:
If players do not have the same mod files installed locally, they may not be able to join or may experience missing content.

Indifferent Broccoli Non-Steam Install Notes

  1. Log into your Indifferent Broccoli server panel.
  2. Stop the server.
  3. Open File Manager or FTP.
  4. Locate the server’s Zomboid folder.
  5. Upload the extracted Faded Mod folder to the server mods folder.
  6. Edit the server configuration.
  7. Add the mod ID to the server’s Mods setting.
  8. Save changes.
  9. Restart the server.
  10. Test the server with a manually installed client copy.

Important:
If your host has a Steam Workshop manager, do not use that for direct ZIP-only Faded Mods unless the mod page specifically provides a Workshop ID. Use file upload or FTP instead.

BisectHosting Non-Steam Install Notes

  1. Log into the BisectHosting control panel.
  2. Stop the Project Zomboid server.
  3. Open File Manager or FTP access.
  4. Locate the Zomboid server folder.
  5. Upload the extracted Faded Mod folder into the server mods folder.
  6. Open the server configuration file or settings panel.
  7. Add the mod ID to the Mods setting.
  8. Save the changes.
  9. Start the server.
  10. Confirm the mod loads correctly.

If the server fails to start, check for:

  • Wrong folder structure
  • Missing mod.info
  • Incorrect mod ID
  • Missing dependencies
  • Client and server version mismatch

Other Hosting Panels

These general steps also apply to many other Project Zomboid hosts, including:

GTXGaming
Nitrado
Apex Hosting
Host Havoc
Survival Servers
Nodecraft
Shockbyte
Self-hosted Windows servers
Self-hosted Linux servers

General hosted server process:

  1. Stop the server.
  2. Use File Manager or FTP.
  3. Upload the extracted mod folder to Zomboid/mods.
  4. Add the mod ID to the server’s Mods setting.
  5. Save.
  6. Restart.
  7. Have players install the same mod manually.

Self-Hosted Windows Dedicated Server

Server Side

  1. Stop the dedicated server.
  2. Download the mod ZIP.
  3. Extract the ZIP.
  4. Place the extracted folder into:

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods

  1. Open your server configuration.
  2. Add the mod ID to the Mods setting.
  3. Save the configuration.
  4. Restart the server.

Client Side

Each player should install the same mod version into:

C:\Users\YourName\Zomboid\mods

Then enable the mod in the Project Zomboid Mods menu if needed.

Self-Hosted Linux Dedicated Server

Server Side

  1. Stop the dedicated server.
  2. Download the mod ZIP.
  3. Extract the ZIP.
  4. Upload or move the extracted mod folder into:

/home/username/Zomboid/mods

or:

/home/container/Zomboid/mods

  1. Confirm the mod folder contains mod.info directly inside the first folder.
  2. Add the mod ID to the server’s Mods setting.
  3. Save the configuration.
  4. Restart the server.

Client Side

Each player must manually install the same version of the mod into their local Project Zomboid mods folder.

Understanding Mod ID

Every Project Zomboid mod has a Mod ID.

The Mod ID is the internal name Project Zomboid uses to load the mod.

You can usually find it inside the mod.info file.

Example:

id=FadedExampleMod

For non-Steam installation, the Mod ID is what matters most for server settings.

A direct-download mod may not have a Steam Workshop ID.

Client and Server Matching

For multiplayer, the server and players need matching mod files.

If the server has a Faded Mod installed manually, players should install the same Faded Mod version manually before joining.

Mismatch problems can cause:

  • Failed connection
  • Missing items
  • Missing recipes
  • Broken textures
  • Lua errors
  • Server/client desync
  • Players being kicked

Common Mistakes

Mistake:
The ZIP file was placed directly into the mods folder.

Fix:
Extract the ZIP first.

Mistake:
The folder structure is doubled.

Wrong:

Zomboid\mods\FadedExampleMod\FadedExampleMod\mod.info

Correct:

Zomboid\mods\FadedExampleMod\mod.info

Mistake:
The server has the mod but the player does not.

Fix:
Install the same mod version on both the server and every player’s client.

Mistake:
The player has an older version than the server.

Fix:
Download the newest version from FadedMods.com and update both sides.

Mistake:
The wrong Mod ID was added to the server settings.

Fix:
Open mod.info and use the value listed after id=

Mistake:
A dependency is missing.

Fix:
Install all required dependency mods listed on the mod page.

Troubleshooting

If the mod does not appear in the Mods menu:

  • Make sure the ZIP was extracted.
  • Make sure mod.info is directly inside the mod folder.
  • Make sure the mod folder is inside the correct Zomboid mods folder.
  • Restart Project Zomboid.
  • Check that the mod supports your Project Zomboid build.

If the server will not start:

  • Check the server console.
  • Confirm the mod folder structure is correct.
  • Confirm mod.info exists.
  • Confirm the correct Mod ID was added.
  • Confirm required dependencies are installed.
  • Confirm the mod supports multiplayer if used on a server.

If players cannot join:

  • Make sure the player has the same mod version.
  • Make sure the server has the same mod version.
  • Make sure both sides use the same folder structure.
  • Check for missing dependencies.
  • Check for load order issues.
  • Check the server console for errors.

Support

Need help installing a Faded Mod?

Join the Discord:

https://discord.gg/GXCuQC2QS

When asking for support, please include:

  • Mod name
  • Project Zomboid build/version
  • Singleplayer or multiplayer
  • Server host, if applicable
  • Screenshot of the error
  • Console log, if available
  • Full mod list, if it may be a compatibility issue
  • Screenshot of your mod folder structure

Disclaimer

Faded Mods is an independent Project Zomboid modding site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Indie Stone. Project Zomboid and related trademarks belong to their respective owners.