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How to Add Mods to Your Insurgency: Sandstorm Server

Mods for Insurgency: Sandstorm are provided via mod.io. The server logs in with its own mod.io account and downloads the mods that this account has subscribed to in the mod.io web portal. The login is done once via a security code.

Changed with update 1.20

With update 1.20 (Operation: Clear Sight), mod.io changed the mod process. Mods are now loaded via a dedicated server account and a one-time security code. The previous methods (access token in GameUserSettings.ini, Mods.txt / -ModList) no longer work.

Warning

The server needs its own separate mod.io account with its own email address — not the same account you use as a player in-game. With a shared account the server will not download any mods.

Step 1: Create a mod.io account

Create a new mod.io account exclusively for your server and remember the email address you used. mod.io does not use passwords but logs you in via an email code.

Step 2: Subscribe to mods

  1. Sign in to the web portal
    Sign in with the server account on mod.io.

  2. Subscribe to mods
    Open the Insurgency: Sandstorm section and subscribe to every mod the server should load.

    Note

    Mods are controlled exclusively via the subscriptions of the server account. Adding and removing mods is only possible through the mod.io web portal.

Step 3: Request the security code

On the first launch, the server has to authorize itself with mod.io once using a security code.

  1. Open PowerShell
    Open PowerShell on your PC.

  2. Request the code
    Run the following command and replace YOUR_EMAIL with the email address of your server account:

    powershell
    curl.exe -s -L -X POST "https://g-254.modapi.io/v1/oauth/emailrequest?api_key=bbf3af200848aef28418c032a601e7a2" -H "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded" -H "Accept: application/json" -d "email=YOUR_EMAIL"
    curl.exe -s -L -X POST "https://g-254.modapi.io/v1/oauth/emailrequest?api_key=bbf3af200848aef28418c032a601e7a2" -H "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded" -H "Accept: application/json" -d "email=YOUR_EMAIL"
  3. Get the code from the email
    You will then receive a 5-digit security code by email.

Step 4: Authorize the server once

  1. Open dashboard
    Open the dashboard and navigate to the Settings.

  2. Enter the security code
    Enter the code you received by email in the Security Code field (replacing the default value none) and save the setting.

  3. Start the server
    Start your server. It authorizes itself once with the code and downloads the subscribed mods.

Step 5: Reset the security code

The security code is one-time and is used up after the first launch. Set the Security Code field back to none afterwards and restart the server.

Tip

The Security Code field defaults to none, and -Mods is already active in the Additional Parameters field. You only enter the code for the one-time first launch and set the field back to none afterwards.

Load a modded map

To make the server travel directly to a modded map after the download, add the following in the Additional Parameters field:

-ModDownloadTravelTo=MAP?Scenario=SCENARIO
-ModDownloadTravelTo=MAP?Scenario=SCENARIO

The exact MAP and SCENARIO values are listed in the map mod's description on mod.io.

Warning

The Map/Scenario set as the boot map must be a vanilla map — a modded map cannot be used as the start map because it has not been downloaded yet at startup. The server boots on the vanilla map, downloads the mods and only then travels to the modded map via -ModDownloadTravelTo.

Troubleshooting

If the server does not download any mods, check the following:

  • The server account is its own account (not your player account).
  • The server account has subscribed to the desired mods in the web portal.
  • -Mods is set in the Additional Parameters field.
  • Message "Security code has already been redeemed": the code has already been used — set the Security Code field to none (the server is already authorized then).
  • Persistent download problems: delete the mod.io cache (folder mod.io/254/) via SFTP and re-authorize the server with a new code.

Note

Players must also subscribe to the mods (e.g. custom maps) with their own mod.io account to be able to join the server. The download starts in the background when connecting and is not always shown with a progress bar.

Migrating from the old method

If you previously set up the server with an access token in GameUserSettings.ini: remove the [/Script/ModKit.ModIOClient] section from that file. The current method uses the security code exclusively.

Mutators

Some mods additionally require enabled mutators. To learn how to enable them, see the Add Mutators guide. Some mods also require entries in Game.ini — check the mod's description on mod.io for this.