iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Server-side mods run in the Vintage Story server process and normally do not need to be installed by every player. Client-side mods run only in an individual player’s game client, so that player installs them locally. Universal (both-side) mods run in both processes and can become part of the server’s required mod set. The distinction matters because the server owns shared world rules and saved data, while the client owns local presentation such as HUDs, controls, camera behavior and rendering. A mod that appears fine in single-player can still fail on a real multiplayer connection when the wrong side reads its settings.
The three mod categories
Server-side mods
A server-side mod is loaded by the dedicated server (or the server process embedded in a single-player session). It changes shared simulation: world rules, blocks and items that must exist for everyone, automation, permissions, commands, economy logic or other authoritative behavior. Players generally do not install a separate copy merely to connect; the server performs the work and sends the resulting game state.
“Server-side” does not mean a mod can never contain client code. It is a practical label for a mod whose required execution is on the server. Read the mod’s listing and supported-version notes instead of inferring its category from the name.
Client-side mods
A client-side mod runs only in one player’s game. Typical examples alter a HUD, key bindings, camera, graphics, sounds, map display or other presentation that does not need to change the shared world. Each person who wants that feature installs it in the normal client Mods folder. The server does not automatically provide every client-only utility.
#1 Best Overall
- Powerful Turbo Fan:CAGIWIRU Electric Air Duster have reached speed up to 130000RPM,Can efficient remove dust and debris.With LED light and Three Adjustable Speed to meet with different cleaning tasks.
- With Attached USB C Fasting Charging cable.Charing 3 hours,Enjoy up to 240 minutes of use on the lowest setting, For third speed can use for 25mins.with four charging options to meet with your needs.
- Wide Application: attached 5 different nozzles,making it suitable for a variety of scenes, such as car,pet, pc, keyboards, and other electronic devices. It also serves for office and home clean duster.
- Handy Design & Portable:Cordless air duster electric nozzle is Light weight and small size, design and comfortable to hold and space saving, convenient to carry around. You can put it in your room or inside the car without taking up space.
- Economical &Reusable: Built durable materials with a long-lasting battery,our CAGIWIRU air duster it's a sustainable alternative to disposable air cans.
Universal or both-side mods
A universal mod has code that must run on the server and on each participating client. It is therefore part of the server’s required mod set. A server may make the matching client files available when a player joins a modded game, but the client still has to load a compatible copy. If the server and client versions disagree, the connection can fail even when the file names look correct.
Why the distinction matters
Vintage Story creates one instance of a mod’s ModSystem on the server and another instance on each client. In single-player, those contexts run on the same computer and share a data path, which can conceal an incorrect assumption about where configuration or game state is being read. In multiplayer, the server and every client are separate processes with separate responsibilities.
- Shared state belongs on the server. If a change must be identical for all players or must be saved in the world, it needs server authority.
- Local presentation belongs on the client. A personal HUD, camera aid or key binding can remain client-only.
- Both sides are required when code crosses the boundary. A universal mod may use the server for authoritative data and the client for rendering or input.
The Vintage Story Wiki’s server/client guidance was last verified for Vintage Story 1.19.8. Its broader “1000 or more player-made modifications” figure describes the size of the ecosystem on a page accessed in 2026; it is not a dated market count. With that many projects and mixed architectures, the side label and version requirements on the individual mod page are more reliable than a category guessed from its feature list.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchServer-side versus client-side: a practical comparison
| Question | Server-side | Client-side | Universal / both-side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where does it execute? | Only in the server process. | Only in one player’s client process. | In the server and in each client. |
| Must every player install it? | Normally no; the server supplies the behavior. | Only players who want the local feature install it. | Yes, a matching client component is required for players joining the modded server. |
| What does it control? | Authoritative rules, simulation and persisted world state. | HUD, controls, camera, rendering, audio and other local presentation. | Shared behavior plus the client code needed to display or operate it. |
| Can the server distribute files? | There is no client copy to distribute for a purely server-side mod. | Do not assume a server will distribute a client-only utility. | Since Vintage Story 1.16, joining a server that offers a modded game can automatically set up the server-specific client files. |
| What compatibility matters? | The mod must support the server’s exact Vintage Story version. | The mod must support the player’s exact client version. | The server, client and mod builds must all be compatible. |
| What happens if it is removed? | Removing content that supplied blocks, items, entities or world generation can affect an existing world. | Usually only that player loses the local feature, unless the mod also has a server component. | Removing it can affect both saved world content and the ability to join until every side is consistent. |
How to identify a mod’s side before installing it
- Check the supported Vintage Story version. A mod built for a different game release can refuse to load, crash or prevent a connection.
- Read the listing’s side label. Look for “server-side,” “client-side,” “universal,” “both,” or an explicit client/server requirement. If the listing is unclear, treat it as mixed until the author’s instructions say otherwise.
- Map the feature to ownership. A rule that changes everyone’s world is likely server or universal; a personal display or key-binding change is likely client-only. This is a check, not a substitute for the author’s label.
- Read installation and dependency notes. Some projects package server and client files together, while others publish separate downloads. Install exactly what the author specifies.
Installing server-side and universal mods
1. Prepare the server
Confirm the server’s Vintage Story version, make a current world backup, and ensure you can stop and restart the process. A controlled restart is necessary because a mod is normally loaded when the server starts, not while a world is already running.
2. Put the archive in the server Mods directory
Place the downloaded .zip in the server’s Mods directory—the directory inside the server data path used by your dedicated server. Keep the archive intact unless the mod’s own instructions explicitly require another format. The official adding-mods guidance says to place the ZIP in the Mods folder and not extract it.
Rank #2
- Screen Cleaner is Your Screen’s New Bestfriend! - EVEO is proud to present a screen cleaner that’s perfectly suited for your TV. Meet your new screen cleaner, computer screen cleaner, laptop cleaner, iPad cleaner, Macbook,tv cleaner or any other electronic device. Our screen cleaner spray and wipe along with the included plush microfiber cloth, easily removes dust, fingerprints & other smudges on the screen’s surface. Clean effectively for a streak-free screen
- Gentle on your Screens - Our screen cleaner spray and wipes is compatible to be used even for the most sensitive LCD, LED, CRT, and OLED screens in proper use. Be at ease knowing that this product is compatible with all the major brands: LG, SONY, Samsung, Sharp, iPad, iPhone, Android screens, Kindle, PC monitors - we’ve got you covered! Can be used as LCD screen cleaner, tv cleaner, smart tv screen cleaner, and more
- Premium Super Soft Plush Microfiber Cloth - Included in this efficient screen cleaning kit. This screen cleaner spray and wipe has our signature plush microfiber cloth specially designed to comply with screens and monitors and leave them streak-free. Has been shown to effectively absorbs stubborn stains, zero streaks, and no fiber shedding. Always use this together with our screen cleaner for the best results
- Easy-to-Use Screen Cleaner Kit + microfiber cleaning cloth - The EVEO Screen Cleaning Kit will easily be your new favorite tool when it comes to taking care of the things you love most, quick and easy solution for a streak-free screen. Simply screw on the sprayer gun on the screen cleaner bottle. Spray the cleaning liquid onto the microfiber cloth, then wipe the screen until desired cleanliness & shine is achieved.
- Quality Screen Care Kit Worth Purchasing - Enjoy a convenient Screen Cleaner anytime, anywhere you need it. Your satisfaction is our top priority. We stand behind the quality of our products and that’s why, you shouldn’t be worrying at all. We manufacture the Best Screen Cleaner. and can be used for laptop cleaning kit, laptop screen cleaner, tv screen cleaner for smart tv. MacBook screen cleaner, monitor cleaner or screen cleaner spray for electronic devices with microfiber cleaning cloth
3. Restart and inspect the log
Stop the server cleanly, add or update the file, then start it again. Read the startup log for the mod name, dependency errors, duplicate files and version warnings before announcing that the server is ready. If the server does not start, remove the last change and restore the backup rather than repeatedly adding more files.
4. Tell players what they must have
For a purely server-side mod, players normally need no additional installation. For a universal mod, tell them that a matching client component is required; on supported versions the game can create the per-server client folder automatically when they join.
Installing client-only mods
Install a client-only mod in the normal client data location, not in the dedicated server’s folder. On Windows, the standard location is %AppData%RoamingVintagestoryDataMods. Put the downloaded ZIP there without extracting it, launch the game, and check the client log if the feature does not appear.
A client-only mod is optional from the server’s point of view. Other players can join without it, and the server cannot be expected to send it to them. If a listing calls a mod “client and server,” placing it only in this folder is insufficient: the server copy and the client copy must both be installed or supplied through the server’s mod workflow.
What happens when you join a modded server
Starting with Vintage Story 1.16, joining a multiplayer server that offers a modded game can automatically create a per-server client directory under %AppData%RoamingVintagestoryDataModsByServer. This keeps files associated with one server separate from the ordinary client Mods folder and helps the game use the server’s required versions.
Rank #3
- 【Large size】：Measuring 800 x 300 mm/ 31. 5×12 inches, which is wider and taller than others. Large mouse pad can perfectly fit your keyboard and mouse of any size, and there is also ample space for peripherals such as phones, tablets, etc.
- 【LED backlight mouse pad】：Blade Hawks RGB mouse pad provides 7 static modes and 7 dynamic modes will give you the options you are looking for. Power-off memory function remembers the last lighting mode you selected. The super glow fiber Chroma will give you a colorful gaming setup that you want.
- 【Anti-slip rubber base】：Made from Natural rubber, this gaming mousepad will firmly grip your desktop, allowing you to enjoy the ultimate precision in the games you are most passionate about. It also comes with a texture that enhances this ability even further.
- 【Smooth and waterproof surface】: Micro-textured cloth surface, for extremely precise mouse control and a smooth movement. When liquid splashes on the gaming mouse pad, it forms water droplets and slides down. Will not delay your work or gameplay.
- 【Plug and play】: This mouse and keyboard pad is powered by USB, plug and play, no driver required. One button control light modes. Press one time to change the lighting mode, press twice to change the brightness, press and hold about 3 seconds turn ON/OFF.
Automatic setup is not a license to ignore compatibility. The server still has to offer a mod that supports the game release you are running, and any client-only additions you choose remain your responsibility. If a server administrator replaces a file with a corrected build under the same filename, an old per-server copy can remain cached. Leave the server, delete that server’s subfolder under ModsByServer, and reconnect so the files are downloaded again.
Matching versions and dependencies
Version matching has three parts: the Vintage Story version installed by the player, the version used by the server, and the range declared by each mod. A server update that changes the game version can invalidate an otherwise working mod set. Universal mods add a fourth practical check: the server-side and client-side portions must come from compatible builds.
- Record the exact game version before selecting downloads.
- Read every mod’s required or supported version, including dependency and load-order notes.
- Update a small group at a time, restart, and inspect logs after each change.
- Keep the previous ZIPs and a world backup until the new combination has been tested.
Why single-player can work when multiplayer fails
Single-player runs a server and a client on one machine. A mod can appear functional because the server thread reads a configuration file or performs an operation that, in multiplayer, should have been handled by the client thread. The shared location makes an ownership mistake look harmless.
A reliable local split test
You can reproduce the separation without renting a remote server:
- Create a separate, empty data directory for the test server so it cannot reuse the normal single-player data.
- Launch
VintageStoryServer.exe --dataPath <separate-folder>. Replace<separate-folder>with the path you chose. - Place server-side or universal test copies in the
Modsdirectory under that separate data path. - Keep client-only copies in the normal client data path, including the usual
%AppData%RoamingVintagestoryDataModsfolder. - Start the test server, connect to
localhost, and exercise the feature as a real client.
If the feature fails only in this split test, inspect which side owns its settings, assets and event handlers. A fix that merely makes the single-player server read a client preference has not solved the multiplayer design.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #4
- 【Softer and More Comfortable】Vaydeer wrist rest has unique diamond pattern, which is the combination of softness and aesthetics. The materials of wrist rest are improved into higher quality memory foam and covered with silky smooth lycra. The computer wrist rest makes you as comfortable and cushiony as like rest your wrists on clouds.
- 【Ergonomic Wrist Saver】The wrist rests for keyboard and mouse comes with a 17.32×3.15×0.83 inch keyboard wrist pad and a 5.94×3.15×0.83 inch mouse wrist support. Based on ergonomic design, the unique concave shape is the perfect fit for your wrist joints. The wrist rest pad fits most computer keyboards and laptops, improve hand and wrist posture, release your wrist and arm stress.
- 【Non-Slip Rubber Bottom】Featuring an anti-skid silicone base on the bottom, this wrist keyboard support stays firmly in place on your desk, preventing the padding from sliding around, ensuring stable and consistent wrist support during extended computer sessions.
- 【Better Experience & Pain Relief】Our keyboard arm rest is beneficial to alleviate the soreness caused by direct contact and friction between your arm and a hard desk surface, reducing the risk of wrist fatigue or carpal tunnel. The soft texture of memory foam can evenly distribute the pressure around your wrists and provide good support with just enough give.
- 【Helpful in Multiple Scenarios】Whether you're working, studying, writing, typing, gaming, this keyboard and mouse rest combo is an essential accessory to add comfort and support to your hands and wrists. It’s also a great gift for men, women, family, friend, coworker, gamer, teacher, etc.
Troubleshooting by symptom
Nothing loads
- Confirm the ZIP is in the correct server or client Mods directory, not one level above or in a downloads folder.
- Check that the archive was not extracted when the mod expects the original ZIP.
- Verify the side label and restart the relevant process.
- Read the server or client log for a missing dependency, malformed archive or unsupported game version.
The server starts, but joining fails or the game crashes
Compare the server’s Vintage Story version with the client’s version and with every mod’s supported range. Remove or replace incompatible files, restart the server, and test with the smallest required set. A universal mod with a mismatched client copy is a common cause of handshake or loading failures.
A corrected file with the same filename is not reaching the client
Disconnect from the server, delete that server’s subfolder under %AppData%RoamingVintagestoryDataModsByServer, and reconnect. This forces a fresh server-specific download instead of reusing the cached file.
The mod works alone but not on a populated world
Check whether the change touches saved blocks, items, entities or world-generation data. A mod can load successfully while an existing world contains content that the new version no longer understands. Restore the backup or test the update on a copy before changing the live world.
Only one player sees the problem
That points to a client installation, per-server cache or client-version difference rather than a server-wide rule. Have the affected player compare the game version, clear the relevant per-server folder when appropriate, and inspect the client log while another player tests the same action.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Updating, removing and rolling back mods safely
- Announce maintenance. Ask everyone to leave and record the current game and mod versions.
- Back up the world and configuration. Keep the backup outside the live data directory so a failed rollback does not overwrite it.
- Change one coherent group. Update a dependency and the mods that require it together, but avoid unrelated changes in the same restart.
- Restart and read logs. Do not rely on a successful process launch alone; enter the world and test the affected feature.
- Rollback decisively if needed. Stop the server, restore the previous files and backup, then restart with the known-good combination.
Removing a mod is not always reversible. If it supplied blocks, items, entities or world-generation data, existing chunks or saves may depend on it. Test removal on a copy and follow the mod author’s migration notes before touching a production world.
Best Value
- 【No Drill Mounted】Cable management tray can be assembled in as little as 3 minutes or less-simply. Side clips easily clampe the edge of desk, pass through the holes on the sides, and secure excess cables with baskets. Desk cable management supports inward or outward installation to meet your needs in different scenarios, and provides you with great convenience when collecting and organizing wires.
- 【Rubber Pad Protects Desk】Wire organizer under desk built-in soft rubber pads on the clamp protect your desk from scratches, so you will not damage your furniture or office.
- 【Sturdy and Beautiful】Cord management under desk is made of high-quality carbon steel and holds about 15 lbs. The wire basket has 2 holes on each side of the tray to enable your cables to pass freely. Cable baskets are suitable for desk thickness use from 0.4" to 2.4".
- 【Space Saving & Keep Organized】Desk cable management tray holds all your power cords, outlet strips, USB hubs and computer transformers hidden from your feet, and the data cables will not enter the vacuum cleaner to keep your desk clean and tidy. Desk wire organizer is also suitable for use in the kitchen and outdoors.
- 【Reduce Safety Risks】Cable tray under desk keeps all plugs away from your kids, no more worry about tripping. Using 2 holes wire tray saves extra space, helps you easily cabling and wire protection. The mesh design is not easy to accumulate dust, but avoids safety accidents caused by messy wires.
Choosing a host or server setup for modded play
Whether the server runs on your own machine or a hosting service, the operational requirements are the same. You need access to the server’s Mods folder, a way to select or verify the exact Vintage Story version, restart control, automated or manual backups, and readable startup logs. Without those controls, diagnosing a side or version mismatch becomes guesswork. Confirm those capabilities before moving an established world; the mod classification itself does not guarantee that a particular host exposes them.
For a hosted Vintage Story world, Godlike.Host provides a game panel, SFTP/FTP access and up to three free backups a day with restore, which can help manage modded server files.
A concise decision checklist
- Does the feature change the shared world or rules? Install it on the server; if its listing says both-side, install the client component too.
- Does it change only one player’s display, input, camera or sound? Treat it as client-side and install it in that player’s client Mods folder.
- Does the listing require both sides? Use the server’s required mod set and keep versions synchronized.
- Are you testing in single-player? Repeat the test with a separate data path and a localhost connection before declaring multiplayer support.
- Are you changing a live world? Back up first, restart deliberately, inspect logs and consider the consequences for persisted content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can players with different client-only mods join the same server?
Usually yes, when those mods are truly client-only and do not alter required networking or shared simulation. Every player must still have the server’s required universal files and a compatible game version.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWill the server automatically install every mod a player needs?
No. Vintage Story can set up server-offered mod files for a modded multiplayer game, using the per-server ModsByServer folder from version 1.16 onward. Optional client-only mods are not guaranteed to be distributed.
Where exactly should a dedicated-server administrator look for server mods?
Use the Mods directory inside the data path configured for that dedicated server. If the server was started with --dataPath, use the Mods folder under that separate path rather than the normal single-player data directory.
Is extracting a Vintage Story mod ZIP required?
The official adding-mods guidance says no: keep the downloaded ZIP intact and place it directly in the appropriate Mods folder, unless that particular mod’s instructions explicitly say otherwise.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
