Guide/Mod Manager

Last updated for version `1.8.0-BETA-7`

*Main article:* Guide/Installation

You should **never** manually install Horizon (or any FO4 mods.) Always use a mod manager, and follow the Horizon installer menus to choose the proper modules.

**Mod Mananger 2 (MO2)** is the recommended mod manager to use with Horizon. It allows you to easily sort your load order, which is 100% REQUIRED for Horizon.

If you don't sort your load order, your Fallout 4 will not work properly.

## Preface

Installing mods in Fallout 4 is not as easy as with non Bethesda games, due to how Bethesda games store game data. Mods that alter data, may alter data that has nothing to do with the mod itself. This is due to the fact that most patches only have 1 record. Want to install a lighting mod and a location altering mod? They may require a patch to work together. This issue means that alot of people have mod lists that are far more conflicting than they realize.

Sorting and ordering mods correctly is far more severe than people realize. That's why some mod managers advertise to sort mods automatically. Unfortunately, this is only possible to a limited extent and once an undetermined number of mods is reached, this inevitably leads to problems when sorting. Thus, the user faces the same problem that originally led to the installation of a mod manager, which was believed to solve this problem (automatically). So what to do?

Consequently, there is no way around sorting mods manually and possibly patching them (especially important with Horizon). Which absolutely leads to the recommendation of MO2, which enjoys advantages through its extensive use of the Horizon community and its clear sorting options that no other mod manager has offered so far.

## Enable Modding

*Main article:* Guide/Modding Horizon

In order to load loose files, enable modding in general, the following lines need to be injected into the `Fallout4Custom.ini`:

* Navigate to folder: `📁...\Documents\My Games\Fallout 4`
* Open `Fallout4Custom.ini` with a text editor or use a third party tool like Mod Organizer 2 and add:

```
[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=
sResourceDataDirsFinal=
```

## Comparison

* Graphical UI/UX
* Uses a virtual file system (`Fallout 4\Data` is untouched)
* Contains an INI editor
* Allows to switch between mod profiles and INI files
	+ See: Root Builder
 Vortex | * Graphical UI/UX
* Automatically sorts load order
* Native support for mods that install outside of the `Fallout 4\Data` folder
* Manual sorting is possible but tricky to find out
* Higher performance impact than other mod organizers
 Nexus Mod Manager(NMM)
* Requires mods to be installed in a specific order
* Known issues with archives
* Leaves uninstalled mod files in `Fallout 4\Data` folder
* Can break mods and game
* No longer officially supported

## Vortex

*See: Vortex*

Vortex is **not** recommended with Horizon at all, unless you are an expert at using it. It is very difficult to sort your load order, especially if you're a new player.

If you aren't an expert at using the Vortex "rules" to sort your mods, you will have hours of problems and headaches with Fallout 4.

The short answer is: Use MO2 instead. Save yourself time.

## Mod Organizer 2

*See: Guide:Mod Organizer*
Mod Organizer 2 uses a standalone virtual file system which is not tied to a specific drive location, folder etc. MO2 doesn't require to be installed in the same folder such as FO4 and doesn't require mods to be installed into the root folder of FO4. Avoiding many problems normally caused by installing/uninstalling mods. MO2 requires to read the load order guide to understand the basics on sorting Horizon and mods.

The following sections explain how to;

* Install MO2
* Add mods to MO2
* Migrate (move) mods from other mod managers to MO2

### Vortex to MO2

A more detailed version can be found on GitHub: Migrating between Vortex and Mod Organizer 2

1. Clean installation of *Fallout 4*
2. Download and install Mod Organizer 2 (see above).
	* https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6194 or
	* https://github.com/ModOrganizer2/modorganizer/releases
3. Move eventual mod archives from Vortex downloads folder into MO2 downloads folder
	* File > Manage Instances > Base folder > Downloads
4. Uninstall Vortex (double check, if you have a clean game folder), search your operating system if folders named "Vortex" maintain.
5. Install mods from the download tab on the Right Pane (see above).
6. Activate your mods using the ✅ check mark button on the Left Pane.
7. Enable modding to allow your game to use mods, click the Puzzle Icon > INI Editor > `Fallout4Custom.ini` and add
`[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=`
8. Done!

## See Also

* Guide/Installation
* Guide/Load Order
* Guide/Modding Horizon
* Guide/INI Settings
* Guide:Mod Organizer by stepmodifications.org
* Modding Guides by sowerjuice
* Kezyma's Root Builder for Mod Organizer

## References

1. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/FalloutMods/comments/ppdadp/fo3fnvfo4\_root\_builder\_v412\_manage\_root\_game/