How to Update Mods Without Losing Data
Updating mods can feel tricky—like walking a tightrope. You want the new features, but you don’t want to lose your progress. We get it. Nobody desires to begin anew from the ground up simply because a new patch arrived. So let‘s take it one step at a time and go through the ways to update mods without losing your data.
1. Back Everything Up First (Seriously)
Before you go and touch anything, back it up. Always. Copy your save files, your mod directory—whatever the game utilizes. Save it in a safe place. Cloud, USB, second drive. Doesn‘t matter. Just don‘t skip this. If anything does happen to go wrong, you‘ll be happy you did.
2. Know What Breaks Mods When Games Update
Game updates are the #1 reason mods go haywire. Why? Because when developers change the game’s code, mods might not recognize the new structure. Textures might not load. Scripts might throw errors. Whole mods can stop working.
So if you’ve ever wondered what breaks mods when games update, it’s usually a mismatch between the game’s new files and the mod’s old expectations. Sometimes it’s a tiny change. Sometimes it’s massive. Either way, understanding this helps you prepare.
3. Check for Mod Updates First
Before releasing the newly updated game, head directly to the mod creators‘ pages. Nexus Mods, Steam Workshop, GitHub—wherever the mod resides. Check to see if there is a new version. If so, pick it up. If not, do some patience waiting. Some mods must be updated prior to being usable with the newest version of the game.
4. Use a Mod Manager (If Possible)
Tools like Vortex, Mod Organizer 2, or Forge (for Minecraft players) can help organize things for you. They also make it simple to enable/disable mods without tampering with core files. And rolling back or updating gets simpler. These tools are your friend.
5. Make Sure to Update Your Mods Carefully
When you’re ready to update, do it one mod at a time. Don’t rush. Install the new version, check your game, and see if your save still works. If it does—great! Move on to the next mod. If not, you’ve found the culprit.
Oh, and pro tip: keep a changelog. Just a simple text file with what mods you’ve updated and when. It helps more than you think.
6. Test Your Save
Load up your game with your saved game now that you’ve updated everything. See how things work out. Do they all work? Are there textures missing, strange things happening, or crashes? If so, roll back to your backup and test. If not—sweet, you did it correctly.
Final Thoughts
Updating mods isn’t always smooth, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Take it slow. Be methodical. Most importantly, make sure to update your mods only after backing up your data and confirming compatibility.
Game updates are exciting. Mods make them better. With a little care, you can have both—without losing anything.
