SMAPI & Mods in Stardew Valley: Install, Console Commands & Best Mods

SMAPI is the Stardew Valley mod loader — nearly every real mod requires it, and once it’s installed it also unlocks a console that can do things the built-in debug commands can’t. This page covers the install and the commands that matter.

How do you install SMAPI?

1. Download SMAPI from smapi.io — it’s the maintained, official-adjacent loader
2. Run the installer — it detects your Stardew install (Steam, GOG, or Game Pass) and patches the launcher
3. Launch through the SMAPI executable — the console window opens alongside the game

SMAPI updates itself and warns when your mods are out of date after a game patch. Mods go in the Mods/ folder it creates; download them from Nexus Mods or ModDrop.

What are the most useful SMAPI console commands?

Commands run in the SMAPI console window — the terminal that opens beside the game, not an in-game prompt:

Command	What it does
player_add name "Prismatic Shard" 1 4	Add named item — count, quality (0–4)
player_add (O)74 1 4	Same thing by item ID — see the ID list
world_settime 1800	Set the clock
debug warp Farm 10 10	Teleport
world_downminelevel 40	Jump straight to a mine level
debug event 1	Force an event
debug where	Print your location

The (O) prefix means “object ID” — SMAPI accepts names or raw IDs, and (O)74 is the item-ID form. For the full command reference the wiki maintains the canonical Modding:Console_commands page.

What are the first mods to install?

The consensus starter pack:

• UI Info Suite 2 — the quality-of-life HUD (birthdays, crop timers, luck)
• Lookup Anything — press F1 on anything to get its wiki page
• Chests Anywhere — remote chest access
• Tractor Mod — the classic mid-game unlock
• TimeSpeed — pause/slow the clock
• CJB Cheats / Item Spawner — GUI cheat menus if you don’t want to type commands

None of these disable achievements; modded Stardew is officially supported.

Does SMAPI work on console or mobile?

No — PC only. Consoles don’t allow code injection and mobile doesn’t have a mod-loading path. The platform-independent cheat is the name cheat; PC’s in-game option is the /debug layer.

Frequently asked questions

Is SMAPI safe? Yes — it’s the standard loader, developed alongside the game with ConcernedApe’s blessing. Every major mod requires it.

Do mods break saves? Content mods are safe to remove mid-save; gameplay mods (like a custom machine) may leave orphan items if uninstalled. Back up the save folder first.

Does the console work in multiplayer? Yes — farmhands can run SMAPI too, though some commands only the host can execute.