Most Squad mod problems come from a mod that no longer matches the game or the server. To fix them, relaunch Squad so it updates to the latest build, force-update the broken mod, then verify your game files. If Squad still crashes or loops, unsubscribe from all Workshop mods, delete the steamapps\workshop\content\393380 folder and clear the SquadGame folder in LocalAppData. However, a server that runs an old mod version causes a file mismatch you cannot fix yourself, because the host has to update and restart the server.
Summary: Squad Mods Not Working Fix
- Cause: mods that are out of date for the current game version, or out of sync with the server’s mod version.
- Current build: Squad update 10.6 and Hotfix 10.6.1 arrived in early October 2026, and the developers say installed mods may cause issues after an update.
- First fixes: relaunch to update, force-update the mod, then verify the integrity of the game files on Steam.
- Full reset: unsubscribe from all Workshop mods, delete the 393380 Workshop content folder, and delete the SquadGame folder in LocalAppData.
- Mismatch loop: a server with an older (or newer) mod version causes it, and only the server host can fix that.
- Not confirmed: whether every mod has updated for 10.6, since each mod author controls that.
Why Squad mods stop working
Squad loads each Steam Workshop mod from your Steam library, and the game checks that your copy matches the server’s copy. Several things can break that link:
- A game update. Offworld Industries warns that installed mods may cause issues after a release, and it recommends disabling them until their authors update them. Update 10.5, for example, raised the mod version number and required every mod to be recooked. If you hit an infinite loading loop afterward, the studio told players to unsubscribe from Workshop mods until their creators updated them.
- A checksum problem. The studio explained that Unreal Engine 5’s storage format let checksum errors go undetected, so the game missed outdated Steam mods. The result was Network object failure errors and frequent disconnects, and Hotfix 10.5.3 fixed those checksum and signature issues.
- A stricter server check. Update 10.6 fixed a bug that let players join a modded server even when their mod files differed. As a result, you may now see a mismatch where an old copy used to slip through.
- A server out of sync. The mod version on the server and the version on your PC have to match.
Because Squad 44 is a separate game with its own Workshop, this guide covers Squad only, which uses Steam app ID 393380.
Fix order: work through these steps
Start at the top and stop when your mods work. Each step is more disruptive than the last.
| Step | What to do | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Relaunch Squad so it downloads the latest build | You updated recently or the server did |
| 2 | Force-update the broken mod | One mod fails or shows a mismatch |
| 3 | Verify the integrity of the game files | The game crashes or files look damaged |
| 4 | Unsubscribe from all mods and delete the 393380 Workshop folder | The game will not start or loops on loading |
| 5 | Clear the SquadGame folder in LocalAppData | Settings or cached data look corrupt |
| 6 | Re-subscribe one mod at a time | You need to find the bad mod |
Step 1: Relaunch to update
The developers ask you to relaunch the game so it downloads the newest build and syncs with the updated servers. Do that first, because a client and a server on different versions cannot connect.
Step 2: Force-update a single mod
The official wiki gives a simple method:
- Find the mod’s Workshop page and note the number at the end of its web address. That number is the mod ID.
- Open your Steam library folder at steamapps\workshop\content\393380.
- Delete the folder that matches the mod ID.
- Unsubscribe from the mod, then subscribe again to force a fresh download.
If you are unsure where the folder lives, right-click Squad in Steam, choose Manage, then Browse local files, and go up to the steamapps folder to find workshop\content.
Step 3: Verify the integrity of the game files
In Steam, right-click Squad, open Properties, choose Installed Files and click Verify integrity of game files. The developers recommend this after any update that causes trouble, so it is a safe move.
Step 4: Unsubscribe from all mods and delete the Workshop folder
This is the broad fix when Squad will not launch or keeps loading forever. The official support article describes it:
- Open the Squad Workshop page in Steam and go to Your Files, then Subscribed Items.
- Click Unsubscribe From All and confirm.
- Delete the steamapps\workshop\content\393380 folder. This removes every mod from Squad.
- Restart Steam or your PC if the problem continues.
That article is an older support page. Even so, community guides still recommend the same sequence.
Step 5: Clear the cached user data
Press the Windows key and R, type %localappdata%, and delete the SquadGame folder. Players report this fixes crashes on startup and settings corruption. It also wipes your keybinds and video settings, so save your key bindings as a preset first.
Step 6: Add mods back one at a time
Subscribe to one mod, launch the game, and test. Repeat until the problem returns, and you will know which mod causes it. Mods that were not updated for the current version are the usual cause.
Server version mismatch and the file mismatch loop
A file mismatch message does not always mean your PC is wrong. The same error appears when your mod is newer than the server’s, and in that case the server owner has to update the mod and restart. Likewise, a server that skipped a restart after a mod update keeps serving the old version, and players with the new one bounce off.
Here is what you can do:
- Check the server’s mod list. Click the wrench icon next to a server in the browser to see which mods it uses.
- Use the download button. If the game says mods are missing or out of sync, choose Download All.
- Update through Steam. A community moderator advises checking mods in the Steam client rather than the in-game manager, because Steam is more consistent.
- Pick another server. If the host never restarts, you cannot fix it from your side.
Players who have the latest mod on an outdated server often wait on the host. That is annoying, but it is the correct behavior.
For server owners
If players keep bouncing, check three things. First, confirm the Workshop ID sits in your server’s mod list, because the server loads only the mods you list. Second, restart the server after a mod author ships an update. Third, watch for removed mods, since a pulled mod can stall a server that still references it.
When you update through SteamCMD, the official wiki says to download the item and then copy the mod folder from steamapps\workshop\content\393380 into SquadGame\Plugins\Mods on the server.
Local mods and where they live
Manually installed mods go in SquadGame\Plugins\Mods inside your Squad install folder. Each one needs a Content folder, a plugin file and a modinfo file. If a local mod stops working after an update, the author has to update it, just like Workshop mods.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not skip the relaunch. An old client causes many mismatches by itself.
Do not delete the wrong folder. The Workshop mod folder is steamapps\workshop\content\393380, and the settings folder is SquadGame inside LocalAppData. They fix different problems.
Save your keybinds before clearing the cache. The reset deletes them.
Do not blame your PC for every mismatch. Many are the server’s fault.
Do not reinstall everything at once. Add mods back individually so you can find the culprit.
If you play other games with Workshop-style mods, our Deadlock Mod Manager guide shows how a dedicated manager handles installs and backups.
What could change
Each mod author decides when to update for a new Squad version, so mod support changes day by day. Everything here is accurate as of October 14, 2026, based on the official update notes, the support article and the community guides cited. Check the update notes and the known issues list on Steam after each patch.
Conclusion
Squad mods break when they fall out of step with the game or the server. Relaunch, force-update the failing mod and verify your files, then escalate to the full Workshop and cache reset if the game still will not start. If the server is the problem, only its host can fix it, so switch servers while you wait.
FAQs
Why do my Squad mods stop working after an update?
A new build changes the mod version, so each mod needs its author to update it first.
How do I delete the Squad Workshop folder?
Delete steamapps\workshop\content\393380 in your Steam library, after you unsubscribe from all mods.
Where is the SquadGame folder in LocalAppData?
Press Windows key and R, type %localappdata%, and look for the SquadGame folder.
Can I fix a file mismatch myself?
Sometimes. Update the mod and relaunch, but if the server runs an old version, the host must restart it.
Do I lose my settings if I clear the cache?
Yes. It deletes keybinds and video settings, so save a keybind preset first.
Does verifying game files delete my mods?
It checks Squad’s own files, and mods in the Workshop folder are a separate step.
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