Fix: Total War WARHAMMER 3 No Mods Found or Mods Not Working

The Total War: WARHAMMER 3 community has discussed this problem on several different platforms. An experienced modder on Reddit admits confusion despite their familiarity with the ins and outs of installing mods and keeping their game up to date.

The popular online gaming service Steam is home to similar complaints from Total War fans. There seems to be a general agreement among players that mods are not working. That so many people share this view demonstrates how pervasive the problem is.

Players vent their frustrations even on the canonical Modern WARHAMMER forum, showing the widespread nature of the issue. Neither the launch nor any testing with a single suitable mod has been successful, leaving players stuck at the error screen.

All these forums and complaints only add to the number of users facing the issue. If you are also facing a similar issue, you are in the right place. In the next section, we will share a list of solutions that will help you fix the issue. Make sure to try them all.

Fix 1: Run WARHAMMER 3 As Administrator

First, try starting WARHAMMER 3 as an administrator. This will grant the game the privileges it needs to function properly. The game will now have the access it requires to run smoothly, thanks to this patch.

Many players have found that elevating their account to administrator status has fixed mod-related problems, allowing them to play uninterrupted. Follow the steps below:

Open your game library or desktop and look for the Total War: WARHAMMER 3 icon.
Right-click on the icon and select “Run as administrator.”
If asked if you want to allow the game to make changes to your device, select “Yes” from the User Account Control (UAC) window.

Fix 2: Relocate Mod Files

To relocate mod files, you must first determine where in the game’s directory you want to put them. This allows the game to access and use the mods in the correct manner.

Many players have reported success after making this one easy change, which causes the game to detect and activate the mods. Follow these steps to relocate mod files to resolve the issue:

Use Windows Explorer to get to the game’s installation folder (often C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Roaming\The Creative Assembly\WARHAMMER3\). Don’t forget to change “%UserName%” to your actual username. Also, change the drive letter to match the location of your game’s installation.
Locate the “used_mods.txt” file in the game’s directory; it lists the mods you’ve installed.
To move a mod, open the “used_mods.txt” file and copy the path between the quote marks.
Just paste the mod’s path into File Explorer’s address bar and press Enter.
Locate the mod-related files in the search results and copy them.
Now, go back to the WARHAMMER 3 directory and paste the files into the “data” folder.
Start the game up and see if the mods are now working properly.

Fix 3: Fix the Launcher

A solution that prioritizes keeping the launcher up-to-date with the game is switching to the launcher’s release candidate. This may solve the problem of incompatible mods by keeping the game and its mods in sync. Users who have tried this method have found it effective. Follow the steps below:

Launch the Steam client and go to the “Library” tab.
Select “Total War: WARHAMMER 3” in your library.
Now, right-click on it and choose “Properties.”
Navigate to the “BETAS” tab.
From the “Select the beta you would like to opt into” menu, select “launcher_release_candidate.”
Steam will immediately begin downloading the chosen update. Please wait until the download finishes.
Start the game using Steam after the download is complete.
Check to see if your mods are compatible with the game’s current version, and if they are, use them in-game.

You can also delete and restart the launcher to see if that helps:

Close the WARHAMMER 3 launcher before continuing.
Launch File Explorer and go to the following location: C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Roaming\The Creative Assembly. Don’t forget to change “%UserName%” to your actual username. Also, change the drive letter to match the location of your game’s installation.
Find the “Launcher” folder inside “The Creative Assembly” and delete it.
Start the launcher again and see if the mods are now working.

Fix 4: Fix Corrupted Files

You can fix any corrupted mod files by renaming and activating local copies of the files. The smooth operation of the game depends on these files being in excellent shape and having appropriate names. Users have reported that this patch successfully addresses problems with mods not functioning as intended. Follow the steps below:

Go to your Steam installation folder, which is typically located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam.
Navigate to Workshop > Content under Steam > Steamapps.
Every folder is a different subscribed mod. Choose the mod’s directory where you think corrupted files may be hiding.
There should be a “data” subdirectory in the mod’s directory.
The “data” folder contains a number of files with the ‘.pack’ extension; copy all of them and save them in a different location.
Replace the period at the beginning of the filename with “_v2” for all the ‘.pack’ files you copied.
Go ahead and open up the game’s mod management.
Find the option that allows you to use local copies of mods and turn it on.
Look for “proper” or similar mod labels and turn off those mods to avoid any conflicts.
Try starting up the game again and seeing if the problems you were having were due to corrupted files.

Fix 5: Clear Download Cache

A cluttered download cache will slow down your data transfers in the same way that a cluttered workstation would impair your productivity. By clearing the cache, you make room for new content to download faster and get rid of any hiccups that prevent you from playing the game as intended. Just follow the steps below:

Launch the Steam client.
Select “Steam” from the main menu at the top.
From the drop-down menu, select “Settings.”
When the Settings window loads, select “Downloads” from the left-hand menu.
Click on “CLEAR DOWNLOAD CACHE” at the bottom.
Be sure you want to proceed by selecting “OK.”
Now, click “Steam” and then “Exit” to close Steam.
Launch the Steam client again and see if the mods are now working as expected.

Fix 6: Use Big Picture Mode

If you’re having trouble with Steam’s mod integration, try switching to Big Picture Mode. In this setting, the game’s UI and mod compatibility are fine-tuned so that you may enjoy your customized experience without any hiccups.

According to user feedback, using Big Picture Mode improves the mod experience and can help with troubleshooting. Follow the steps below to use Big Picture mode:

Open the Steam client and make sure you are logged in.
You can access “Big Picture Mode” in Steam by clicking the button in the top right corner of the main window. It has the appearance of a square with an arrow inside of it.
Once you’ve entered Big Picture Mode, you can move around with the use of the keyboard, mouse, or other controller.
To leave Big Picture Mode, either press the “A” button on your controller or click the “Exit” button. You can also press ALT + Enter to do the same.

Fix 7: Change your Download Region

Sometimes, modifying the download zone can help fix problems with mods. If you tweak this option, the game may be better able to download and use mods. There have been reports of this fix working for some players, suggesting it can improve mod performance.

Launch the Steam client.
Select “Steam” from the main menu at the top.
From the drop-down menu, select “Settings.”
When the Settings window loads, select “Downloads” from the left-hand menu.
Under “Download Region,” select a different region from the drop-down menu.
Click “OK” to save the changes.

Fix 8: Verify Game Files on Steam

Checking the game’s files through Steam to make sure they’re intact is a must if you want to play the game without any hiccups. By comparing the game’s files to the versions available on Steam, this can identify and resolve any inconsistencies, ensuring that mods work as intended. This is a tried and true approach for fixing problems with mods, according to numerous users. Follow the steps below to verify the game files:

Launch the Steam client and go to the “Library” tab.
Select “Total War: WARHAMMER 3” in your library.
Now, right-click on it and choose “Properties.”
Navigate to the “Local Files” tab.
Click on the “Verify Integrity of Game Files” option. Steam will begin checking the game’s files. Wait a few moments while this happens.
Once the verification is complete, Steam will report which files were discovered to be corrupt and prompt you to re-download them.
Do as directed and see if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 9: Remove D3D11 From Launch Options

Launcher Options are designed to disable mods by default. Fixing or deleting the launcher will help enable all the mods that you have installed for WARHAMMER 3. Users who have tried this method have found it effective, so you might as well give it a try. Follow the steps below:

Launch the Steam client and go to the “Library” tab.
Select “Total War: WARHAMMER 3” in your library.
Now, right-click on it and choose “Properties.”
Now, go to “General” and then “Launch Options.”
Find the “-D3d11” or similar launch command and delete it.
You should also delete the “-dx11” command, as suggested by many users.

Fix 10: Disable Anti-Virus Software

If your anti-virus program is causing problems, you can fix this by adding the game and Steam to its exclusion list. Users can efficiently fix mod-related bugs and enjoy smoother gaming by removing anti-virus roadblocks from the game’s path. Follow the steps below:

Open your anti-virus program by clicking on its icon in the system tray or on your desktop.
Look for settings, options, or preferences within the anti-virus software interface.
Search for a section related to exclusions, exceptions, or allowed items.
Include Steam with the apps we won’t be blocking. Selecting the Steam executable file (such as “Steam.exe”) from a file browser will usually accomplish this.
You can follow the same procedure to whitelist the game’s executable (the.exe file, for example).
Close the options or settings window after making changes and saving them.

If you are unable to find the allowlist options, then you can simply disable the anti-virus temporarily. Follow the steps below:

Locate your anti-virus icon in the system tray that is located in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar.
Right-click on the antivirus software and select “Stop,” “Disable,” or a similar option.
Check if the mods are now working.
You can enable the anti-virus again after you are done.

Fix 11: Check for Windows Updates

Maintaining a fully patched Windows installation is crucial for smooth gaming. Bugs and other issues, such as mod compatibility issues, may appear in games while using outdated versions.

You can perhaps fix these compatibility issues and improve their gaming experience by checking for updates. Simply follow the steps below:

Press the Windows key + I keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
Now, select Windows Update from the left menu.
Click on “Check for updates.”
If there are any available updates, click on “Download & install.”
Restart your PC once the update is installed.
After the update is installed, check to see if the mods are working properly now.

Fix 12: Update the Graphics Drivers

Fixing graphical issues in games usually requires updating the drivers for the graphics card. When games malfunction due to outdated graphics drivers, mods may not work properly.

By keeping drivers up-to-date, players can reduce the likelihood of experiencing hiccups due to incompatible mods and take pleasure in a more fluid gaming experience. Follow the steps below:

Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard.
Select Device Manager from the list of options.
Now, click on the tiny arrow next to “Display adapters” to reveal all your graphics drivers.
Right-click on your GPU driver and select “Update driver.”
Now, click on “Search automatically for drivers.” Windows will automatically search the latest drivers for your GPU and install them on your PC.
Once the update is installed, restart your PC and see if the mods are now appearing.

Fix 13: Re-install the Graphics Drivers

If the issue persists, you can try to disable and re-enable the driver. If that, too, doesn’t help, you can re-install the drivers. Follow the steps below:

Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard.
Select Device Manager from the list of options.
Now, click on the tiny arrow next to “Display adapters” to reveal all your graphics drivers.
Right-click on your GPU driver and select “Disable device.”
Restart your PC and select “Enable device.”
To re-install the drivers, follow the same steps and click on “Uninstall device.”
Restart your PC, and Windows will automatically search the latest drivers for your GPU and install them on your PC.

If the issue still persists, you should install the drivers manually. Follow the steps below:

Download the latest drivers for your GPU from the respective website: NVIDIA or AMD.
Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard.
Select Device Manager from the list of options.
Now, click on the tiny arrow next to “Display adapters” to reveal all your graphics drivers.
Right-click on your GPU driver and select “Update driver.”
Now, click on “Browse my computer for drivers” and select the driver that you downloaded in the first step.
Once the update is installed, restart your PC and see if the mods are now appearing.

Fix 14: Re-install the Game

The only other option is to re-install the game and any mods from scratch. You can avoid any potential conflicts or corruptions that could affect mod functionality by starting from scratch.

Numerous users have experienced success after trying this, making it a viable alternative when other solutions have failed. Follow the steps below:

Launch the Steam client and go to the “Library” tab.
Select “Total War: WARHAMMER 3” in your library.
Now, right-click on it and choose “Manage.”
Select “Uninstall.”
Confirm your selection if prompted.
Go to the game’s Steam Workshop page and remove all the mods you’ve subscribed to there.
Additionally, remove any mod management software you may be using.
Any residual game files can be removed by going to the installation directory (often Steam > Steamapps > Common) and erasing them there.
If you need to re-install the game, simply return to your library, right-click the game, and select “Install.”
Return to the Steam Workshop to subscribe to your desired mods after the game has been installed.

Start playing and check if the mods are working now. If you’re having trouble with the game or its mods, you can start over with a clean installation by following these instructions.

Fix 15: Use a Third-party Mod Manager

The use of a third-party mod manager, such as Kaedrin’s Mod Manager, can drastically alter the course of play. This utility streamlines the process of managing mods, fixing any conflicts and making sure everything is working properly.

Users have stated that this method has helped them, especially with certain mods that were the source of the issue. If you want to use Kaedrin’s Mod Manager, you’ll need to download and install some additional software on your computer. You can also use any other third-party mod manager as well.

This manager helps you keep track of, install and activate game-specific modifications, and it may fix mods that stop working after a game update. Users have reported success in resolving issues with mods thanks to the tool’s streamlined management.

Final Words

That’s it, folks! This was an extensive guide on how to fix the Total War: WARHAMMER 3 “No Mods Found” or “Mods Not Working” issue on your PC. Make sure to try all the solutions before coming to a conclusion. Now, if none of the solutions work, you should get help from a professional.

Which solution worked for you? Do you know of any other solutions that could possibly fix the issue? Let us know in the comments section below. Thanks for reading till the end! Share this article with your friends who are facing the same issue and help them out.