API Key Setup

The Collections Manager needs your Nexus Mods API key to download mods automatically.

How to Get Your API Key

  1. Go to nexusmods.com/users/myaccount?tab=api
  2. Log in if needed
  3. Scroll down to Personal API Key
  4. Click Request an API Key if you don't have one
  5. Copy the key (it's a long string of letters and numbers)

Entering the Key

  1. Open Collections Manager in MO2
  2. Go to the Options tab
  3. Paste your API key in the Nexus API Key field
  4. The key is saved automatically
Your API key is stored locally in MO2's plugin settings. It is never shared or transmitted except to Nexus Mods servers for authentication.

Loading a Collection

From a URL

  1. Find a collection on nexusmods.com
  2. Copy the collection URL from your browser
  3. Paste it in the URL box at the top of the plugin
  4. Click Load

Choosing a Revision

After loading, you'll see a revision dropdown. Collections can have multiple revisions (versions). The author may update the collection over time.

From Saved Collections

Previously loaded collections appear in the Collections tab. Click Load on any saved collection to load it again.

Installing Mods

Starting Installation

  1. After loading a collection, click Begin/Resume Install
  2. The plugin downloads and installs mods one at a time, in order
  3. Progress is shown in the status bar and mod table

What Happens During Install

Essential vs Optional Mods

Collections have three types of mods:

TypeDescription
EssentialRequired for the collection to work. Installed first.
OptionalRecommended but not required. Installed after essentials.
ExternalFrom other sites (not Nexus). Requires manual download.
After essential mods finish, you'll be asked whether to continue with optional mods. You can also skip individual mods using the Skip checkbox.

Mods Tab

The main tab showing all mods in the collection.

Table Columns

ColumnDescription
No.Install order number
StatusCurrent status icon (see Status Tracking)
Mod NameMod name with section grouping
TypeEssential, Optional, or External
SkipCheckbox to skip this mod during install
ActionQuick action buttons (Nexus page, Install)

Right-Click Context Menu

Right-click selected mods for actions:

Filtering

Use the search box and status filter to find specific mods:

Sort Tab

Organize your MO2 mod list to match the collection's intended load order.

Purpose

The Sort tool helps you ensure mods are in the correct order for compatibility. Collection authors carefully arrange mods so patches load after the mods they modify.

Features

FOMODs Tab

Manage FOMOD installer choices for mods in the collection.

What are FOMODs?

FOMOD (Fallout Mod Archive) installers let mod authors provide options during installation, like texture resolution, compatibility patches, or optional features.

Collection Choices

Collection authors can include their FOMOD choices. When you install, these choices are applied automatically - no clicking through installer pages!

Managing Choices

Tools Tab

Collection of utility tools for mod management. Select a tool from the left pane to see its interface.

Collections Tab

View and manage your saved collections.

Collection Cards

Each saved collection shows:

Options Tab

Configure plugin settings.

Key Settings

SettingDescription
Nexus API KeyYour personal API key for downloads
Download AheadHow many mods to pre-download (0-5)
Install DelayDelay between installs for stability (default 2.5s)
Max Browser TabsLimit for opening mod pages in browser
7-Zip PathPath to 7-Zip for bundle extraction
Maintenance on LoadRun maintenance before loading collections

Creations Tab

Export and import modlists for sharing with others or creating backups.

Features

The Creations tab can be toggled in Options > Developer Options > Show Creations Tab. See the Creations Tab Guide for detailed documentation.

Help Tab

Quick-start guide and documentation links built into the plugin.

Features

Tip: The Help tab is a good starting point for new users. It provides everything needed to get started without leaving the plugin.

Tool: Sort Mod List

Reorder your MO2 mod list to match the collection's intended order.

Why Use This?

Mod order matters! The collection author arranged mods in a specific order for compatibility. If you've moved mods around or installed additional mods, this tool helps restore the correct order.

How to Use

  1. Load a collection first
  2. Go to Tools > Sort Mod List
  3. Click Sort Mods
  4. Mods from the collection will be reordered to match

Tool: Missing Masters

Scan your plugins for missing master dependencies.

What are Masters?

Plugins (.esp, .esm, .esl files) can depend on other plugins called "masters." If a master is missing, the plugin won't work correctly.

How to Use

  1. Go to Tools > Missing Masters
  2. Click Scan
  3. The tool shows which plugins have missing masters
  4. For each missing master, you can search Nexus or the collection

Tool: Maintenance

Rebuild index, fix markers, and fix mod names.

Operations

OperationWhat it Does
Rebuild IndexScans downloads and mods folders to rebuild the tracking index
Fix MarkersMigrates old markers to .mohidden format (for correct conflict detection), fixes markers with missing mod IDs, creates markers for mods without them
Fix NamesRenames mods to match their collection display names

When to Use

Run All Maintenance performs all three operations at once. This is also run automatically before loading a collection if "Maintenance on Load" is enabled in Options.

Tool: Duplicate Finder

Find and remove duplicate mod installations.

What are Duplicates?

A duplicate is when the same Nexus file (same FileID and ModID) is installed multiple times under different folder names. This wastes disk space and can cause confusion.

How to Use

  1. Go to Tools > Duplicate Finder
  2. Click Scan for Duplicates
  3. Duplicate groups are shown color-coded in the table
  4. Select the rows you want to remove (keep the others)
  5. Click Remove Selected
Removal is permanent! The selected mods will be deleted. Make sure you're removing the ones you don't want.

FOMOD Automation

Collections Manager can automatically apply FOMOD choices during installation.

How it Works

  1. Collection authors save their FOMOD choices when creating the collection
  2. When you install, the plugin detects FOMOD installers
  3. If choices are available, they're applied automatically
  4. The FOMOD pages are clicked through without user interaction

What if Choices Aren't Available?

If no saved choices exist, the FOMOD installer will open normally and you'll need to make selections manually.

Root/Program Mods

Some mods need files placed in the game's root folder (like ENB, script extenders, or tools).

Detection

Collections Manager detects mods that contain only root-level files (EXE, DLL without game data content). These are flagged as requiring manual installation.

Handling

When root mods are detected, an orange banner appears at the top of the plugin. Click Install to Game Folder to:

Tip: After copying files to the game folder, click the Done button on each mod. This hides them from the banner and tracks your progress.

Status Tracking

Each mod has a status indicating its current state.

Status Types

StatusMeaning
PendingMod hasn't been processed yet
OpenedDownload link opened in browser (free users)
DownloadingCurrently downloading from Nexus
StuckDownload appears stuck (0 bytes for too long)
DownloadedArchive downloaded, ready to install
InstallingCurrently being installed by MO2
InstalledSuccessfully installed
FailedDownload or install failed
SkippedUser chose to skip this mod
Status icons in the table are color-coded: green for success (installed), yellow for in-progress, red for errors, gray for pending/skipped.

Troubleshooting: Download Issues

Download Stuck at 0KB

If a download shows 0 bytes and won't progress:

  1. Go to MO2's Downloads tab (right panel)
  2. Find the stuck download
  3. Right-click > Pause
  4. Right-click > Resume
  5. Click Begin/Resume Install in Collections Manager

Download Won't Start

Premium Features Not Working

If you have Nexus Premium but downloads open in browser:

Troubleshooting: Install Issues

Mod Not Installing

Wrong FOMOD Choices Applied

If the wrong FOMOD options were selected:

  1. Uninstall the mod in MO2
  2. Go to the FOMODs tab
  3. Find the mod and edit its choices
  4. Reinstall the mod

Mod Has Wrong Name

Use the Maintenance tool's Fix Names operation to rename mods to match their collection names.

Troubleshooting: Crashes

MO2 Crashes During Install

Don't panic! Your progress is saved.

  1. Restart MO2
  2. Open Collections Manager
  3. Go to Collections tab and click Load on your collection
  4. Check MO2's Downloads tab for partial downloads
  5. Resume any incomplete downloads
  6. Click Begin/Resume Install to continue
The plugin tracks what's installed. It will skip already-installed mods and continue with the rest.

Frequent Crashes with Large Collections

For collections with 1000+ mods:

Tips & Best Practices

Premium vs Free Nexus Accounts

FeaturePremiumFree
Automatic downloadsYesNo - links open in browser
Download speedUncappedLimited
API downloadsYesManual only
Collection installationFully automaticSemi-manual
Free users: When a download is needed, the Nexus download page will open in your browser. Click the download button there, then return to MO2. The plugin will detect when the download completes and continue.

Reporting Bugs

Found a bug or have a suggestion? Your feedback is valuable!

How to Report

  1. Click the Bug button in the plugin (top right)
  2. Or visit the GitHub issues page directly
  3. Describe what happened and what you expected
  4. Include relevant log messages from MO2's log panel

What to Include

Thank you for testing! This plugin is actively developed, and user reports help make it better for everyone.