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BD2 Mod Manager supports multiple ways to add mods to your collection. You can drag and drop mods directly into the app, copy them to the mods folder, or install them from compressed archives.

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Installation methods

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Drag and drop

The easiest way to add mods is by dragging and dropping them directly into the Mod Manager window.
1

Locate your mod files

Find the mod folder or archive file you want to install on your computer.
2

Drag into the app

Drag the mod folder or archive file directly into the BD2 Mod Manager window.
3

Wait for installation

The app will automatically validate and install the mod to your staging mods directory.
Drag and drop is not available when using symlink sync method due to Windows restrictions. Use manual folder copying instead.

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Manual folder copying

You can manually copy mod folders into the mods directory used by BD2 Mod Manager.
1

Open the mods folder

Navigate to your staging mods directory (this is set in the configuration).
2

Copy mod folders

Copy or move your mod folders into this directory.
3

Refresh the mod list

The Mod Manager will automatically detect the new mods and add them to your collection.
The staging mods folder is not the same as the BrownDustX mods directory. BD2 Mod Manager uses a separate folder to manage mods before syncing them to the game.

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Supported archive formats

BD2 Mod Manager can automatically extract and install mods from compressed archives:
  • .zip - ZIP archives
  • .7z - 7-Zip archives
  • .rar - RAR archives
  • .tar, .gz, .bz2, .xz - TAR-based archives
1

Download the mod archive

Download the compressed mod file from your source (Discord, etc.).
2

Add to Mod Manager

Drag and drop the archive file into the app, or add it through manual installation.
3

Automatic extraction

The Mod Manager will automatically extract the archive to a temporary location, validate the mod structure, and install it to your staging directory.
Password-protected archives cannot be extracted automatically. You must extract these archives manually first, then add the extracted folder.

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Mod validation

When you add a mod, BD2 Mod Manager performs several validation checks:

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Required files

Every mod must contain a .modfile in its directory structure. This file is required for the mod to be recognized by BrownDustX.

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Folder structure

The Mod Manager automatically detects the correct mod folder within archives. If an archive contains nested folders, it will find the folder containing the .modfile and install only that folder.

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Duplicate detection

If you try to install a mod with a name that already exists in your staging directory, the installation will fail to prevent overwriting existing mods. You must:
  • Remove the existing mod first, or
  • Rename the existing mod before installing the new one

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Handling installation errors

This error occurs when a mod with the same name is already in your staging directory. Remove or rename the existing mod before installing.
The mod folder or archive does not contain a valid .modfile. This may indicate the mod is incomplete or improperly packaged. Contact the mod creator for assistance.
The archive contains multiple mod folders (multiple .modfile files at different locations). Extract the archive manually and install each mod separately.
The archive is encrypted and cannot be extracted automatically. Extract it manually using a tool like 7-Zip or WinRAR, then add the extracted folder to the Mod Manager.
A folder with the mod’s name exists but doesn’t contain a .modfile. This prevents installation. Remove or rename the existing folder.

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After adding mods

Once you’ve added mods to the Mod Manager:
  1. Enable the mods you want to use
  2. Sync your mods to apply changes to the game
  3. Launch Brown Dust 2 to see your mods in action
You must sync your mods every time you make changes (enable, disable, add, or remove mods) for the changes to take effect in the game.

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Recursive search mode

By default, the Mod Manager searches for mods in immediate subfolders of your staging directory (one level deep). If you enable recursive search in the configuration, it will search through all nested subdirectories.
Recursive search can slow down the app if you have many nested folders. Use it only if you organize your mods in complex folder structures.

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