Purpose of the Mods Tab

The Mods tab is the main interface for viewing and installing mods from a Nexus collection. It shows all mods in the collection organized by section (Essential, Optional, External) and tracks the status of each mod through the download and installation process.

Key Features:

Loading a Collection

Before using the Mods tab, you need to load a collection:

  1. Paste a Nexus collection URL in the URL field at the top
  2. Click Load
  3. Select a revision from the dropdown (if multiple exist)
  4. The Mods tab will populate with all mods from the collection

URL Formats Supported

Table Columns

ColumnDescription
No.Install order number from the collection
StatusCurrent state icon (pending, downloading, installed, etc.)
Mod NameDisplay name of the mod
TypeEssential, Optional, or External
SkipCheckbox to exclude from installation
ActionOpen mod page button, and Install button when downloaded

Status Icons

IconStatusMeaning
▶PendingWaiting to be processed
🌐OpenedDownload link opened in browser (Free mode)
⚠StuckDownload stalled or failed to start
⬇DownloadedArchive ready, waiting to install
✔InstalledSuccessfully installed
✖SkippedUser chose to skip this mod

Mod Sections

Collections organize mods into sections that are processed in order:

Essential Mods

Required mods that the collection author considers necessary. These are installed first and cannot be skipped by default.

Optional Mods

Recommended but not required mods. After essentials complete, you'll be prompted to continue with optionals. You can skip individual optional mods.

External Mods

Mods from sources other than Nexus (Patreon, LoversLab, direct downloads, etc.). These require manual download - the plugin will open the download page for you.

Section headers appear as colored rows in the table to help you identify where each section begins.

Premium Mode Installation

If you have Nexus Premium, downloads happen automatically via the API.

How to Install

  1. Load a collection
  2. Click Begin/Resume Install
  3. The plugin downloads and installs mods one at a time
  4. FOMOD installers are handled automatically (if choices are saved)
  5. Progress is shown in the status bar

Download Ahead

The plugin can pre-download upcoming mods while the current one installs. Configure this in the Options tab (Download Ahead setting).

Tip: For large collections, let it run unattended. The plugin handles everything automatically and resumes where it left off if interrupted.

Free Mode Installation

Without Nexus Premium, you need to click download buttons on the Nexus website.

How to Install

  1. Load a collection
  2. Click Open Download Links to open mod pages in your browser
  3. Click the download button on each Nexus page
  4. MO2 will catch the downloads automatically
  5. Once mods are downloaded, click Install Downloaded

Max Tabs Setting

Control how many browser tabs open at once with the "Max tabs" spinner. Opening too many can overwhelm your browser.

Note: Free mode is slower but still automates the installation process once archives are downloaded.

Skipping Mods

Use the Skip checkbox to exclude mods from installation:

When to Skip

Action Buttons

ButtonModeDescription
Begin/Resume InstallPremiumStart or continue automatic download and installation
Open Download LinksFreeOpen Nexus download pages in browser
Install DownloadedFreeInstall all mods that have been downloaded
Install Bundled FilesBothExtract and install bundle archives (patches, tools)
Open External LinksBothOpen download pages for external (non-Nexus) mods
Cancel AllBothStop all downloads and installations

Right-Click Context Menu

Right-click selected mods for additional actions:

Download Actions

Install Actions

Navigation

Skip Management

Row Actions

Each row has action buttons in the rightmost column:

Open Button

Opens the mod's Nexus page in your browser. Useful for reading descriptions, checking requirements, or reporting issues.

Install Button

Appears when the mod's archive is downloaded. Click to install that specific mod immediately.

Search & Filter

Search Box

Type to filter mods by name. The filter applies instantly as you type. Clear the search to show all mods again.

Status Filter Dropdown

Use filters to focus on specific mods, like finding all failed downloads or checking what's left to install.

External Mods

External mods come from sources other than Nexus Mods:

How to Handle External Mods

  1. Click Open External Links to open their download pages
  2. Download the files manually from each site
  3. Place the archives in MO2's downloads folder
  4. The plugin will detect them and mark them as downloaded
  5. Continue with installation as normal
Note: External mods may require accounts on other sites or may be behind paywalls. The collection author should provide instructions.

Bundle Files

Some collections include bundle archives containing:

Bundle Panel Interface

After all regular mods are processed, a bundle panel appears on the left side showing a categorized preview of bundle contents:

Content Status Indicators

IndicatorMeaning
✓ GreenItem will be installed
✗ RedItem will be skipped (e.g., patch for uninstalled mod)
Gray headerCategory label (Plugins, Patches, etc.)
⚠ OrangeFiles that will be replaced (reinstall scenario)

INI Tweaks Preview

If the bundle includes INI tweaks, click Preview INI Changes... to see exactly what will be modified in your game INI files. The preview shows:

Installing Bundles

  1. Review the content preview in the panel
  2. Click Install Bundle to install all applicable content
  3. Or click Skip Bundle to complete without bundle files
Patches for mods you haven't installed are automatically skipped. This prevents orphaned patches that would cause errors.

Troubleshooting

Download Stuck at 0 KB

  1. Go to MO2's Downloads tab (right panel)
  2. Find the stuck download
  3. Right-click > Pause, then Resume
  4. Return to Collections Manager and click Begin/Resume

Download Won't Start

Mod Shows Wrong Status

FOMOD Choices Not Applied

Best Practices

For Large Collections (500+ mods)