Getting Started: Installing Cyberpunk

Install the core requirements for Cyberpunk2077 modding, decide how to manage your mods, and set up a mod manager

Summary

While it is possible to install mods by hand (and many modders do in fact exactly that), we recommend using a mod manager.

This guide will walk you through installing and configuring your game. If you have already done that, you can configure the mod manager of your choice:

• How to install mods with Vortex Mod Manager

• How to configure MO2 (Mod Organizer 2)

To learn about how to install mods at all, check Using Mods

Prerequisites

• You have on the platform of your choice (Steam, GOG or EPIC)

• You have the following things:

  • Visual C Redistributable 2022

  • .NET 6.0+

• You have updated the following things:

  • Your graphics card driver

  • The latest Windows Update for your operating system (checkout Modding on Linux if that's what you're doing)

Installing the Game

If you already have the game installed, you can skip this section and proceed with #configur

In order to set up your game to be best suited for mods, you'll want to keep a few things in mind:

TL;DR: If possible, install Cyberpunk 2077

• on an SSD to speed up load time

• outside of Program Files to keep Windows from "protecting" your files

For the purpose of this guide, we will assume the following install paths:

Game install	C:\Games\Cyberpunk 2077
Mod download and staging	C:\Games\Mods

Performance

Like everything else, Cyberpunk will run significantly faster from an SSD rather than a HDD.

Permissions

Folder permissions can cause problems down the line, especially for Windows users. Most users never run into these, but you can prevent them altogether by installing your game to a folder like C:\Games rather than C:\Program Files.

By default, all three platforms (GOG, Steam, and Epic) want to install the game to their own install location, which defaults to C:\Program Files. That wouldn't be a problem if not for Windows and what it will permit there, which is not much.

This can (but doesn't have to) cause problems in two different spots by "protecting" the Cyberpunk install dir from modding tools such as mod managers (like our recommendation Vortex) or even CDPR's own REDmod launcher. But hey, at least things are very secure.

You likely won't run into any of these problems, but you can rule them out altogether by installing Cyberpunk to a directory other than C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files(x86), like C:\Games\Cyberpunk 2077

Now we will go through the install options to use on each platform to accomplish this, and the recommended settings for modded Cyberpunk 2077.

Installing Cyberpunk: GOG

Open GOG Galaxy, click on "Owned Games" in the left sidebar, and scroll until you find Cyberpunk. Single click on its picture to display the main Cyberpunk page.

1. Click the button at the top of the page labeled "Install".

2. In the pop-up window, choose your install location:

   • Click the drop-down box

   • select "browse"

   • browse to the target folder (we're assuming C:\Games)

   You don't need to create a subfolder for Cyberpunk, as GOG will do that for you.

3. Optional: Select a game language other than English

4. Optional: Create a desktop shortcut by ticking the first box "Create desktop shortcut"

5. Optional, but recommended: Disable auto-updates by unchecking the second box "Keep this game up to date automatically"

How the window should look for recommended install.

1. Press "Install"

2. Wait until GOG has done it's thing, then proceed to the next section.

Installing Cyberpunk: Steam

If you already have the game installed, you can skip this section and proceed with Configuring Cyberpunk

To be done

Installing Cyberpunk: Epic

If you already have the game installed, you can skip this section and proceed with Configuring Cyberpunk

To be done

Configuring the game

Configuring Cyberpunk: GOG

Once the game has installed, we want to make it run with mods. Click the button to the right of the play button (formerly the install button) pictured below.

The Cyberpunk 2077 main page on GOG, with the sidebar open on the left

From there, select "Manage Installation" and then "Configure". A window will pop up where you can change your desired settings:

1. Installation (first tab): Disable auto-updates

2. DLC (third tab): Select at least Cyberpunk 2077 REDMod

You may select any additional settings you like, but these are the minimum recommended options.

1. Click the OK button to return to the game's page.

2. Click Play on the game's page

3. Click the Settings button and Enable mods

   • If you can't enable mods, that means REDmod is not installed. Go back and repeat step 2.

4. Click Play (Do not skip this)

That's it, you are done with your install of the game! You can now move on to Starting to mod!

Configuring Cyberpunk: Steam

1. Navigate to Cyberpunk 2077

2. Click Play

3. Click the Settings button and Enable mods

   • If you can't enable mods, that means REDmod is not installed. Check the game's DLCs and make sure to get it.

4. Click Play (Do not skip this)

That's it, you are done with your install of the game! You can now move on to Starting to mod!

Configuring Cyberpunk: Epic

1. Navigate to Cyberpunk 2077

2. Click Play

3. Click the Settings button and Enable mods

   • If you can't enable mods, that means REDmod is not installed. Check the game's DLCs and make sure to get it.

4. Click Play (Do not skip this)

That's it, you are done with your install of the game! You can now move on to Starting to mod!

Starting to mod

You now have the following options:

• If you feel insecure about modding, follow the extremely detailed guide under Vortex Mod Manager

• Otherwise, you can head to Using Mods and start reading on how to do this