How to Install Addons and Gamemodes Manually on Your Garry's Mod Server

Some addons and gamemodes are not on the Steam Workshop, or you want to edit their files yourself. This guide shows how to put them on your Garry's Mod server by hand with the file manager.

1Prepare the Download

• Download the addon or gamemode to your computer. It is usually a .zip file.
• Open it and check what is inside. An addon is a folder with lua, materials or models inside. A gamemode is a folder with a gamemode folder and a .txt file inside.
• If the zip holds a folder inside a folder, you want the inner folder that contains lua or gamemode.

2Open the File Manager

• Log in to your game panel and click your Garry's Mod server.
• Open Files in the left menu.
• Open the garrysmod folder.
• For an addon, open the addons folder. For a gamemode, open the gamemodes folder.

3Upload the Files

• Click New folder and give it the name of the addon or gamemode. Open it.
• Click Upload and choose your .zip file.
• Click the menu next to the uploaded file and choose Unarchive.
• Check the folder structure. The addon folder must hold lua or materials directly. The gamemode folder must hold gamemode directly.
• Delete the .zip file when it is unpacked.

4Restart the Server

• Go to the Console page and click Restart.
• Wait until the status reads RUNNING.
• For a new gamemode, open Game Settings, choose Other... under Gamemode, type the gamemode folder name. The panel saves it by itself. Then restart again.

Good to Know

• Large uploads are faster over SFTP. The browser upload is fine for small files. For big addons use the FTP Details page and read how to use FileZilla.
• Players need the content too. Files in garrysmod/addons are not sent to players automatically. Addons with models or materials are best put on the Workshop, or players will see missing textures and errors.
• Folder names matter. Use simple names without spaces, for example my_addon.
• Read more about the file manager. See how to manage your files using the file manager.
• Make a backup first. If an addon breaks the server, you can go back. See how to create a manual backup.

Finished

Your addon or gamemode is now installed by hand. Next, make yourself superadmin so you can manage it in the game.