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Arma Reforger mod failures usually belong to one of five layers: a client that cannot download or activate content, an invalid server game.mods list, a missing dependency, a stable/experimental branch mismatch, or a storage and write-permission failure. Identify the layer first, then repair the smallest possible scope. Rebuilding the mod list in Mod Manager, checking every dependency and version, and testing from a known-good baseline resolves far more cases than deleting every mod blindly.

This guide separates download errors from server-start and join errors, gives a repeatable repair sequence, and shows what to collect when a host or mod author must investigate.

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Start by identifying where the failure occurs

The same on-screen message can be produced by different causes. Use the first symptom you can reproduce and begin in that layer.

Observed symptom Likely layer First action
A mod stays at “downloading,” fails to update, or disappears from the client list Client download, cache, storage, game version, or backend Restart the game and retry; then check free space, branch, and the Mod Manager status
The dedicated server exits during startup after a mod was added Server JSON, unavailable required addon, malformed entry, or dependency chain Read the server log and validate the complete game.mods array
The server starts, but a player cannot join because content does not match Different mod version, branch, required flag, or incomplete client download Compare the server list with the joining client’s Workshop versions and branch
ADDON_LOAD_ERROR appears or a scenario breaks after one addition Conflicting or incompatible addon Disable the newest or suspect addon, restart, and re-enable entries one at a time
Large addons fail on a dedicated host or container Temporary directory, disk space, or write permissions Verify writable download paths and configure an addon temporary directory

Fix client download and activation failures

Restart the Mod Manager before changing files

Close Arma Reforger completely, start it again, and let the Mod Manager retry the download or update. Interrupted transfers and temporary backend faults can leave an addon in a pending state even though the Workshop entry is healthy. Do not repeatedly launch the scenario while an update is still in progress; wait until the Mod Manager reports completion.

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Check game version and available storage

Bohemia Interactive support identifies version mismatches, incomplete downloads, limited storage, and recent game updates as common causes of mod problems. Confirm that the game has finished updating before judging a mod to be broken. Check the drive that holds the game and its addon data, not just the drive where screenshots or saves are stored. Leave enough free space for a fresh download and its temporary files; a nearly full volume can fail without a useful in-game message.

Clear only the affected download state

If one addon repeatedly retries while others work, note its Workshop GUID and displayed version, then remove or unsubscribe from that single entry through the normal Mod Manager controls and add it again. This is safer than deleting the entire addon cache, because a full purge forces every player to redownload unrelated content and makes it harder to identify the original fault. If the same addon fails for several clients while other mods download normally, record that pattern for the mod author or host.

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Repair a server that will not start

Read the first meaningful error in the server log

Open the dedicated-server log and find the earliest addon or configuration error, rather than the final shutdown line. A later “server stopped” message is usually a consequence. Record the exact text, the addon GUID, and any version printed beside it. A required addon that cannot be downloaded or loaded can prevent startup; an optional addon may be removed with a warning instead, depending on the server configuration.

Regenerate the list from Mod Manager

Use the game’s Mod Manager as the source of truth:

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  1. Subscribe to, or otherwise add, every Workshop addon intended for the scenario.
  2. Activate the same set in Mod Manager.
  3. Open the Mod Manager’s JSON view and copy the generated game.mods array.
  4. Replace the server’s existing array with that generated list, preserving the surrounding server configuration.
  5. Save the file, validate its JSON syntax, and restart the server.

Each entry contains a Workshop GUID, an optional version, and a required flag. Compare every GUID against the corresponding Workshop page. Treat names as labels only: two similarly named addons can have completely different identifiers.

Validate syntax and exact spelling

  • Keep the property names and capitalization exactly as generated. The official server-configuration reference treats configuration values as case-sensitive.
  • Remove trailing commas, unmatched braces, smart quotes, and comments inserted into the JSON file.
  • Delete duplicate entries. A duplicate can mask which version the server actually resolves and complicate log output.
  • Replace stale GUIDs left by deleted or republished Workshop items.
  • Check that the file being edited is the file the running service loads. Containers and hosting panels often mount configuration in a different path from the one opened in an interactive shell.

Decide whether to pin a version

Use an explicit version when you need reproducible content for an event or a known-compatible server build. If the version field is omitted, the server resolves the latest available version. That convenience can produce a client/server mismatch after an author publishes an update. Pinning reduces surprise updates, but it also means you must deliberately change the pin when a dependency or game update requires a newer release.

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Resolve missing and transitive dependencies

Inspect the complete dependency chain

A scenario, vehicle pack, faction, terrain, or weapon addon can depend on shared core content. Installing only the top-level scenario is not enough. If addon A requires B, and B requires C, the server and joining clients need A, B, and C. This is a transitive dependency: the second-level requirement is easy to miss because it may not be obvious from the scenario’s title.

  1. Open the Workshop page for the scenario or addon that fails.
  2. List every required item shown in its dependency information.
  3. Open each dependency and repeat the check until no new required items appear.
  4. Put the complete set into Mod Manager and regenerate the server JSON again.
  5. Confirm that every dependency is available on the same branch as the scenario and server.

Do not mark a dependency optional merely to make startup continue. If the scenario calls it at runtime, clients may still fail to load the mission or may be kicked for mismatched content.

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Use load errors to find the missing link

When the log names one addon but the scenario fails only after loading, inspect that addon’s own dependency list. A missing shared core can surface as an apparently unrelated scenario error. Capture the named GUID and version before changing the list, then add the missing item and retest with the same scenario.

Align stable and experimental branches

Confirm the branch for all three participants: the dedicated server, the administrator’s client used to build the list, and every joining client. Bohemia’s publishing documentation states that experimental and stable Workshops are separate; content published to one is not visible in the other. A player can therefore have the correct addon name but still lack the branch-specific package the server requests.

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  1. Check the branch selector or installation channel on the server host.
  2. Check the branch selected in the administrator’s game installation.
  3. Ask a joining player to verify the same branch before troubleshooting individual mods.
  4. After a game update, allow every addon to finish updating on that branch before starting the server.

Do not mix a server built from experimental Workshop entries with clients on stable and then attempt to solve the mismatch by changing required flags. Branch alignment must be fixed first.

Repair storage, download, and write-permission failures

Check every path involved

A dedicated server may use separate locations for installed addons, temporary downloads, logs, and the service account’s home directory. Verify that each path exists, has free space, and is writable by the account that launches the server. A directory writable by your interactive user may still reject writes when the service runs under a restricted account.

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Understand curl code 23

Official hosting documentation describes curl code 23 when a container cannot write a downloaded large mod. The error points to a local write problem, not proof that the Workshop item is corrupt. Check ownership, permissions, mounted-volume capacity, and container quotas. Configure a writable temporary directory with the server’s -addonTempDir option, then restart the download. Ensure the temporary directory is on a volume with enough space for the largest addon and that it is not cleared while an update is in progress.

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Retry in a controlled order

  1. Stop the server or client process that is holding the incomplete download.
  2. Confirm free space and write access on the addon and temporary paths.
  3. Remove only the incomplete file or failed download record if the host documentation permits it.
  4. Start the process and let the Mod Manager or server redownload the addon.
  5. Check the log for a successful write and completed extraction before attempting a join.

Isolate conflicts without destroying the working setup

If the error is ADDON_LOAD_ERROR, or the behavior changed immediately after adding a mod, return to a known-good baseline scenario. Keep that baseline list unchanged so you can distinguish a global server problem from a conflict limited to one content pack.

  1. Stop the server and note the current mod list in a separate copy.
  2. Disable the most recently added addon, or the addon named near the first load error.
  3. Restart and test the baseline scenario with the remaining list.
  4. If the error disappears, re-enable one disabled addon at a time, restarting and testing after each change.
  5. When the failure returns, compare the failing addon’s version and dependencies with the last working state.
  6. Test the suspected addon by itself with only its complete dependency chain. This reveals whether the problem is intrinsic or an interaction with another addon.

Bohemia Interactive’s official mod guidance recommends disabling mods one by one until the game runs without errors. The method is slower than a full purge, but it preserves evidence and identifies the smallest change that caused the failure.

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Make client and server content match

Compare GUIDs, versions, and required flags

For a player who cannot join, export or copy the server’s game.mods array and compare it with the client’s active Mod Manager entries. Check all three fields:

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  • GUID: the Workshop identifier must be identical.
  • Version: a pinned server version must be available and installed on the client; an unpinned server may have advanced to a newer release.
  • Required: a required entry must be present and loadable before the client can join.

Have the client restart the download rather than repeatedly selecting Join. After the Mod Manager reports completion, restart the game so the new package is mounted before testing again.

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Test with a vanilla or minimal server

Start a temporary server with no third-party addons, or with only the game’s built-in content, and test a local join. If that works, networking and the base installation are probably functioning; return to the addon list and add the known-good set incrementally. If even the minimal server fails, focus on branch, game files, permissions, and the server installation instead of individual Workshop items.

Choose the least disruptive remedy

Remedy Best use Reversibility Operational burden
Restart and retry the download Interrupted transfer or temporary backend issue Immediate; no content removed Low
Regenerate game.mods Startup failure, stale GUID, malformed list, or wrong version High if the old file is backed up Low to moderate
Add the full dependency chain Scenario or addon reports missing content High; remove only the added entries if needed Moderate
Align branches and finish updates Content mismatch after a game or Workshop update High, but every participant must change channel Moderate
Fix storage and writable paths curl code 23, failed extraction, or large-download errors High; preserve incomplete files until identified Moderate to high on containers
Disable and re-enable one addon at a time Conflicts and ADDON_LOAD_ERROR High; keep a copy of the full list Moderate to high

Prepare a useful escalation report

When self-hosted repair or a mod update does not solve the problem, send a compact, reproducible packet to the host or mod author. Include:

  • The exact error text, including capitalization and codes such as ADDON_LOAD_ERROR or curl code 23.
  • UTC timestamp and the relevant server-log excerpt beginning with the first meaningful error.
  • Server, administrator client, and joining-client game branches.
  • Scenario name and whether a vanilla or minimal server allows a join.
  • Every affected Workshop GUID and displayed version.
  • The complete game.mods array, including each required value.
  • The dependency chain for the scenario or addon that fails.
  • Operating environment details that affect paths, such as a container, service account, mounted volume, or custom -addonTempDir.

This information lets another operator reproduce the exact state instead of guessing which addon, branch, or file path was involved.

Prevent the next mod outage

  • Keep a dated copy of the last known-good game.mods array and scenario name.
  • Record whether each version is intentionally pinned or allowed to follow the latest Workshop release.
  • Review dependency changes before adding a new top-level scenario.
  • Apply game and mod updates during a maintenance window, then test a client join before announcing the server.
  • Monitor free space on addon and temporary volumes, especially in containers.
  • Use one controlled change at a time when expanding a stable mod set.
  • Tell players which branch the server uses so they do not troubleshoot a branch mismatch as a corrupt download.

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