SyncCrate
Stardew Valley guide · Updated
Same Stardew mods on every farm hand's PC.
Co-op with mods only works when everyone runs the same set. SyncCrate copies the host's SMAPI Mods folder to each friend, and after the first time only the mods that changed.
FreeOpen sourceNo cloudWin · macOS · Linux
// 01 Why
Why modded Stardew co-op falls apart
Most content mods, like new crops, NPCs, expanded maps or recipes, need to be installed for every player in a multiplayer farm. When a farmhand is missing one, items turn into errors, maps don't match and the game can crash when someone walks into the wrong building.
Mods like Stardew Valley Expanded come with a list of framework mods (Content Patcher, SpaceCore and others), each with its own version. Keeping four PCs on the same versions by hand is how co-op nights turn into troubleshooting nights.
With SyncCrate the host's Mods folder is the one that counts. Friends sync from it, only the differences are copied, and they see the list before anything changes.
// 02 What syncs
What SyncCrate syncs for Stardew Valley
| Folder | Path in the game folder | Files |
|---|---|---|
| SMAPI Mods | Mods/Every mod folder, with its manifest.json, content files and the configs mods create. Each friend gets exactly the host's set. | All files |
| Saves | %APPDATA%/StardewValley/Saves/Outside the game folder. Mac and Linux: ~/.config/StardewValley/Saves/ | All files |
// Where it looks
- Steam
steamapps/common/Stardew Valleyin every Steam library, on every drive- Anywhere else
- Point SyncCrate at the folder yourself, once
Built in for Stardew Valley
- Script warnings.
.dllfiles run code on your PC, so they're flagged for you to review before they sync. - SMAPI check. Warns when SMAPI isn't installed on a PC, because the synced mods can't load without it.
- No per-file on/off switch. Mods for this game can't be turned off one file at a time, so SyncCrate syncs them as they are.
- Game-running warning. SyncCrate warns you before syncing while Stardew Valley is still open.
- Undo and history. Undo the last sync in one click, and put back any single file a sync replaced or deleted.
// 03 How it works
Sync Stardew Valley in three steps
Install and add the game
Install SyncCrate on every PC and add Stardew Valley in the Game Browser. Its folder is found automatically.
One PC hosts
The PC with the setup everyone should have clicks Start Hosting. The others pick it under Scan for Hosts on the same network, or paste its join code from anywhere.
Compare and sync
Check the list of new, changed and conflicting files, then Sync Now. Only the files that differ are copied, PC to PC.
TipEach PC needs SMAPI installed once with its installer. SyncCrate copies the mods but not SMAPI itself, and warns you if SMAPI is missing.
// 04 Common problems
When Stardew Valley mods don't match
A farmhand is missing a mod
Content mods add items, maps and characters that every player's game needs to know about. A missing one shows up as error items, broken maps or crashes.
Everyone syncs the host's Mods folder before joining, so every farmhand has the same mods in the same versions.
Framework mods out of date
Content Patcher packs, SpaceCore and other framework mods often need a newer version after an update, and one outdated framework can stop a whole chain of mods from loading.
Check for updates asks SMAPI's update service about every mod that lists an update key, for the game version you play, and links to each new version. The host updates, everyone else syncs.
SMAPI not installed
Mods in the Mods folder do nothing when the game is started without SMAPI, and it's easy to forget on a new PC or after reinstalling.
The mod health check warns when SMAPI isn't installed and links to smapi.io.
Folder names tell you nothing
Mod folders are named whatever the author chose, and after a few dozen it's hard to tell what you have.
The Content page reads each mod's
manifest.jsonand shows its real name, version, author and description, and search finds mods by name.
// 05 Stardew Valley
Good to know
- Saves sync too. Stardew keeps them outside the game folder, and SyncCrate finds it on its own. To take turns on a farm, share it with your crew under Shared saves on the Dashboard: whoever loads it plays its main farmer, so hand a co-op farm to whoever hosts it next. Friends connect from Crews or with the join code, not over the local network.
- Mods are whole folders. SyncCrate syncs each mod folder as it is and can't switch single mods off file by file. Remove a mod on the host and friends can remove it with their next sync.
- Mods with code (
.dllfiles) are flagged before they sync, and nothing changes until you approve the list. Only sync with people you trust. - Steam, GOG or Xbox app: SyncCrate finds Steam installs in every library on every drive. For others, point it at the game folder once.
// FAQ
Stardew Valley questions
Do all players need the same mods in Stardew Valley multiplayer?
For most content and gameplay mods, yes. Some purely visual or UI mods only matter on your own PC, but the simplest rule is that everyone uses the host's set, which is exactly what SyncCrate does.
Where is the Stardew Valley Mods folder?
In the game folder, created by SMAPI: steamapps/common/Stardew Valley/Mods on Windows and Linux, and inside Contents/MacOS on a Mac. SyncCrate finds it in every Steam library.
Does SyncCrate install SMAPI?
No. Each player installs SMAPI once from smapi.io. SyncCrate keeps the mods in sync and warns you when SMAPI is missing.
Can I use SyncCrate with Stardew Valley Expanded?
Yes. Install SVE and its required mods on the host, and everyone else gets the whole set, frameworks included, with one sync.
Does it work between Windows and Mac?
Yes. SyncCrate runs on both and SMAPI mods are the same files on each, so a Windows host can sync to a Mac farmhand.
// Related game guides
All games · SyncCrate supports 100 games.
// Free · Open source · Windows, macOS, Linux
Same Stardew Valley setup on every PC.
Install SyncCrate on each PC, one of you hosts, everyone else joins. No accounts, no cloud, nothing uploaded anywhere.