How to Install Nexus Mods for RDR2 (2026)

You find a Red Dead Redemption 2 mod on Nexus, click into the files, and the install path is not always obvious. Some files are built for Vortex, some need a manual archive import, and script or asset mods use extra tools such as Script Hook RDR2 or Lenny's Mod Loader. Use Vortex as the main Nexus path first, then follow the specific requirement shown on each mod page before launching the game.

1. Get Vortex from Nexus Mods

Start with the official Vortex download page, because Nexus identifies Vortex as its current mod manager. Do not use third-party download portals.

1. 1.Go to nexusmods.com/vortex or the Vortex files page at nexusmods.com/site/mods/1?tab=files.
2. 2.Click Download for Windows, Download Vortex, or choose the Vortex installer and click Manual Download.
3. 3.Install Vortex on your Windows PC.
4. 4.Open Vortex and click Log In or Register on the top toolbar, or click the blank avatar in the top-right corner.
5. 5.In the sign-in dialog, click Login, then click Authorise on the Nexus Mods website to finish authorizing Vortex.

Nexus recommends a free Nexus Mods account for downloading and managing mods from Nexus Mods, so sign in before you start grabbing RDR2 files.

2. Connect Vortex to Red Dead Redemption 2

1. 1.Run Red Dead Redemption 2 once on the PC.
2. 2.Open Vortex and go to Games.
3. 3.Search for Red Dead Redemption 2.
4. 4.Click the Red Dead Redemption 2 game artwork tile to start managing it.
5. 5.If Vortex asks for the folder, choose the game's base installation folder and click Select folder.

Pick the Red Dead Redemption 2 base folder, not a subfolder that only contains RDR2.exe. That gives Vortex the correct game location for deployment.

3. Add the RDR2 support extension

The official Red Dead Redemption 2 Support extension adds RDR2 support to Vortex and requires Vortex 1.1.0 or newer.

1. 1.In Vortex, open Extensions.
2. 2.Click Find More.
3. 3.Find Red Dead Redemption 2 Support.
4. 4.Click install.

After the extension is installed, keep Red Dead Redemption 2 managed in Vortex. The extension also guides Script Hook RDR2 installation for mods that depend on Script Hook, and Vortex can later remove those deployed files with Purge Mods.

4. Send Nexus downloads into Vortex

Use this route when the RDR2 mod page provides a Vortex manager button.

1. 1.Open the Red Dead Redemption 2 mods area on Nexus Mods.
2. 2.Open the mod you want, then select the Files tab.
3. 3.Sign in when Nexus prompts you.
4. 4.Click Mod manager download.
5. 5.Allow the browser to open the nxm:// link in Vortex.
6. 6.In Vortex, finish the download and install prompts.
7. 7.Enable the mod when Vortex requires it, then click Deploy Mods in the Mods toolbar.

If the browser does not open Vortex, go to Settings and Download, then make sure Vortex handles NXM download links. NXM links can be associated with only one app at the operating system level, so remove the wrong browser or app association when another program is catching those links.

5. Bring manual archives into Vortex

Use manual import when a mod file was downloaded outside Vortex or the mod page tells you to use Manual download.

1. 1.On the Nexus mod page, open Files.
2. 2.Click Manual download and download the ZIP, RAR, or 7Z archive.
3. 3.In Vortex, open Mods.
4. 4.Click Install From File.
5. 5.Select the downloaded archive, complete the install prompts, then click Deploy Mods.

You can also drag the archive into the Drop Zone at the bottom of Mods. For the download queue route, open Downloads, drag the archive into the Drop Zone, or click the drop zone and paste a download link. When the status shows Finished, select the item and install it.

Read the mod page before deploying. RDR2 Nexus files do not share one layout: some are Vortex-friendly, some require Script Hook RDR2, some require Lenny's Mod Loader, and some are manual-only.

6. Install Script Hook or LML only when the mod asks

For Script Hook RDR2, use the official Script Hook RDR2 page. Download the package, extract it, and copy ScriptHookRDR2.dll into the main Red Dead Redemption 2 folder where RDR2.exe is located. To load ASI plugins, install the ASI loader separately or copy the included dinput8.dll. Copy NativeTrainer.asi only if you want the included trainer.

For Lenny's Mod Loader, download Lenny's Mod Loader RDR from RDR2Mods.com. Extract it, then copy all files from ModLoader into the Red Dead Redemption 2 game root so files such as vfs.asi sit beside RDR2.exe. The Mod Manager folder can be placed anywhere. New LML mods go into the lml folder, unless the mod website offers a manager download button, shown on RDR2Mods as Download with LML (older instructions may still call it Download with Mod Manager).

Script Hook RDR2 does not work in RDR Online.

7. Keep RDR2 mods out of Online

Use RDR2 mods for single-player only. Rockstar's PC single-player mods policy says Take-Two generally will not take legal action against qualifying PC single-player, non-commercial projects that respect IP. That policy does not apply to multiplayer or online services; to tools, files, libraries, or functions that could be used to impact multiplayer or online services; to the use or importation of other IP, including other Rockstar IP; or to making new games, stories, missions, or maps.

The same policy is not an endorsement, approval, authorization, or license. Before using online services, remove manually copied files or purge Vortex-managed files.

8. Remove or pause mods cleanly

• For Vortex-managed mods, open Mods and click Purge Mods to temporarily remove deployed files. Click Deploy Mods again to re-apply enabled mods.
• For Script Hook installed through the Red Dead Redemption 2 Support extension, use Purge Mods. The extension notes that purging removes Script Hook and the scripts that depend on it.
• To stop managing RDR2 in Vortex, open Games, click the menu icon on the Red Dead Redemption 2 tile, and select Stop Managing. Vortex opens a Confirm Removal dialog, and only after you click Delete profiles does it uninstall the managed mods and delete that game's profiles. This step is irreversible and can also remove associated savegames, ini files, and everything else Vortex stores per-profile before the game moves back to Unmanaged.
• To remove a collection, open Collections, hover over the collection, click Remove, then choose whether to remove included mods and delete downloaded archives.
• For manual installs, close the game and remove the files you copied into the game root, including ScriptHookRDR2.dll, dinput8.dll, NativeTrainer.asi, vfs.asi, and every mod-specific file or folder named by the mod author.

Skip old install paths that point to Nexus Mod Manager, the discontinued Nexus Mods App, or the third-party Red Dead Redemption 2 Mod Manager as the main setup. Current Nexus guidance points RDR2 users to Vortex, while manual installation, Script Hook RDR2, and Lenny's Mod Loader cover the mods that need file-level setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Nexus Mods account for RDR2 mods?

Yes. Nexus recommends a free Nexus Mods account for downloading and managing mods from Nexus Mods, and Vortex uses website authorization for normal Nexus downloads.

Can I install RDR2 Nexus mods without Vortex?

Yes. Use Manual download, extract the archive, and follow the mod author's installation section. Manual RDR2 installs commonly place files in the game root where RDR2.exe is located, while LML mods use the lml folder.

Why does Mod manager download not open Vortex?

Open Vortex, go to Settings and Download, and set Vortex to handle NXM links. If the link still opens the wrong app, fix the browser application association because NXM links can only be assigned to one app at the operating system level.

Can I install RDR2 Nexus collections with Vortex?

Yes. Open Nexus Mods Collections or the RDR2 collections area, choose a collection, and install it with Vortex. Premium users get 1-click install, while free users confirm individual downloads.

Which old RDR2 mod managers should I avoid?

Do not use Nexus Mod Manager or the discontinued Nexus Mods App as the current install path. Use Vortex for Nexus-managed installs, and use manual setup, Script Hook RDR2, or Lenny's Mod Loader when a mod page requires them.