Articles on: Terraria

How To Add Config Files To Mods In Your Terraria Server

To add config files to mods on your Terraria server, set up each mod config on your computer with tModLoader and upload the files to the ModConfigs folder on the server. Mods only read their config file at startup, so restart the server afterwards.


Before you start


  • Install tModLoader on your computer from the Steam store.


  • Enable the same mods on your PC and on the Terraria server. Players must install those mods to join.


  • Create a backup of your server.


How mod config files work in tModLoader


Each mod config is a small text file stored in the ModConfigs folder. Many tModLoader mods generate their config file the first time they load, so a new server may have none.


tModLoader supports two types of mod configuration. Server-side configs set world and gameplay rules like spawn rates, difficulty or bosses, and the server syncs them with every player. Client-side configs only change what a single user sees on their own client.


Configure your mods on your computer


  1. Launch tModLoader and go to the Manage Mods page under Workshop.\

Manage Mods page in tModLoader


  1. Click the cogwheel next to the mod.\

Cogwheel icon next to an enabled mod


  1. Adjust the mod settings and click Save Config.\

Save Config button in a mod config menu


  1. Close the game when you finish editing.


Locate the ModConfigs folder


On Windows, mod config files live in this path:


text


Documents\My Games\Terraria\tModLoader\ModConfigs


To locate it, open Documents\My Games\Terraria from your user directory.


ModConfigs folder in Windows File Explorer


Stop your server completely


Important: this disconnects every player.


Open the console in Apollo Panel and click Stop. Wait until the server is completely stopped before editing any files.


Stop button in the Apollo Panel console


Upload the config files in Apollo Panel


  1. Open the Files tab.


  1. Navigate to the saves/ModConfigs directory. If the folder is missing, start the server once so the mods create it.\

saves/ModConfigs directory in the file manager


  1. Click Upload and select the server-side files you changed. Files with the same name replace the old ones.\

Upload button in the Files tab


Optional: With many files, zip your local ModConfigs folder, upload it to saves and use Unarchive in the file manager. You can also transfer files over SFTP. Note: use the port in Settings > SFTP Details, not 22.


Unarchive option in the Apollo Panel file manager


Check enabled.json in the mods folder


The server will only load mods listed in this file, inside the mods folder (/mods). Double-check that each mod name appears, separated by a comma:


text


[
  "CalamityMod",
  "BossChecklist"
]


Editing the enabled mods list in the file manager


To add mods, upload their tmod files to this folder first. Your Steam Workshop downloads are in steamapps\workshop\content\1281930 on your computer.


Start the server and test


  1. Click Start and wait for Type 'help' for a list of commands.\

Apollo Panel console showing the server ready


  1. Join the game and check the change in your world, for example, a higher spawn rate.\

In-game check of an updated mod setting


Frequently asked questions


How do I configure mods in Terraria?


Open Workshop > Manage Mods in tModLoader, click the cogwheel next to an enabled mod and press Save Config. Then upload server-side mod config files to the Terraria server.


How do I open a .config file?


tModLoader configs are plain JSON files, so Notepad++ or VS Code can open them. When editing, keep every quote and bracket intact, or the server can’t read the file.


How do I set up a Terraria server with mods?


Create a tModLoader server, upload the tMod files to the mods folder and list them in the enabled file. Then add your configs, restart and play.


Which Terraria mod has god mode?


HERO’s Mod includes a god mode toggle. Server owners typically use it to test builds, not for regular play.


If something goes wrong


The mod uses default values → a formatting error made tModLoader delete the file → fix it and upload the files again. Luckily, one broken file won’t break the whole game.


Changes don’t apply → wrong location → move the file to the saves/ModConfigs directory.


Still stuck → search the console log for the mod’s name. If this tutorial didn’t fix it, open a support ticket with your server ID from Settings > Debug Information and any player feedback.

Updated on: 04/11/2026

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