What is SMAPI, and is it safe to use?
4 min read
Enhancing game experience with mods has been a common gaming practice for decades. It’s a great way for the community to contribute to their favorite games and enrich the gameplay experience for anyone willing to try the modifications. However, some might wonder if mods and their load tools (such as SMAPI) are safe to use. In this article, we explain what SMAPI is, why it is safe to use, and how you can use it to enjoy your favorite Stardew Valley mods.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
What is SMAPI?
The Stardew Valley modding application programming interface (SMAPI) is a mod loader for the game Stardew Valley. While Stardew Valley itself doesn’t work with mods, the SMAPI tool integrates the mods into the game code and allows you to access new features, such as more dialogue options or new types of character clothing. With thousands of mods available online, you can customize your game in various ways. However, to do so, you must download SMAPI, because mods only work with this tool installed. SMAPI is available for free on its official website and can be set up in minutes, allowing you to enjoy the game the way you want.
Along with modding Stardew Valley, the SMAPI tool allows users to customize mod load order and apply mod content edits, further personalizing their gaming experience. To ensure that mods work properly, it’s important to make sure that the SMAPI version is compatible with the mod and game versions.
What are Stardew Valley mods?
Stardew Valley mods are player-created game modifications that players install into the game to provide more content. Different mods add different features to the game — some can improve the game’s item inventories (for example, by adding new crops, tools, and consumables), and others can alter game physics or fix long-term issues (for example, problems with Stardew Valley multiplayer). Every game has vast communities that produce thousands of mods every year, allowing players to either enhance their gameplay with new useful additions or just goof around with some ridiculous features (for example, strolling around on a horse-cat).
Is SMAPI safe for my computer?
Since the SMAPI mod manager isn’t a part of Stardew Valley official game files, some might wonder whether the tool is truly safe to use. In general, SMAPI is a reliable and safe open-source based tool, meaning that its code is openly available for review and inspection. Additionally, SMAPI is available on the official Stardew Valley modding website and GitHub repository, adding extra credibility to its name. And finally, SMAPI connects a vast community that is quick to spot and react to potential cyber risks that might concern SMAPI software.
While SMAPI itself is relatively safe, it’s the mods themselves that you should be careful about. Thousands of Stardew Valley mods online means that some could harm your computer if installed. Therefore, when choosing the mod for your game, carefully evaluate the mods’ website, the mod’s provider, and community reviews. You can find most Stardew Valley mods on the official Nexus mods website and ModDrop.
In addition, the SMAPI tool allows you to disable console input, reducing the likelihood of accidental modifications or unintended consequences. You can do so by configuring the SMAPI settings or modifying configuration files to restrict access to the developer console. However, while providing extra safety, disabling console input may limit access to certain debug features or commands that can be useful for troubleshooting or customization purposes.
How to use SMAPI to install mods?
Installing mods on SMAPI is easy and requires just a few small steps.
- Install the SMAPI mod loader on your computer.
- Find a mod you want to install and download it.
- Find the Stardew Valley game folder among your computer program files (right click the Stardew Valley icon and choose “Open file location”).
- Unzip your mod in the game’s “Mods” folder.
- Launch and play Stardew Valley with your installed mods.
For easier navigation and process, make sure to create different subfolders for each mod. This will help you organize and manage your mods more easily. To uninstall the mod, simply delete it from the “Mods” folder (make sure to check the mod page in case it mentions any special uninstall instructions). Finally, if you’re concerned about errors that might occur during the installation process, check the SMAPI log when installing mods and other game files.
Important: For now, only PC and Android platforms are compatible with Stardew Valley mods. For more thorough guidelines on how to install, configure, and update mods with SMAPI, check out the official guide.
Do you need to use mods for Stardew Valley?
While using mods can strongly enrich your gameplay experience or solve some existing in-game issues (for example, by using a mod that fixes multiplayer map edits), they’re not mandatory for players to fully enjoy the game. Since mods are created by avid players, they usually build on the existing features to provide new experiences, simplified processes, and more fun. So if you’ve never played while using mods, trying them out could open up new ways to enjoy your favorite games.
Are there SMAPI alternatives?
The SMAPI software isn’t the only software that can help you run Stardew Valley mods (for example, you can also use XNB Loader or Stardew Valley Expanded). However, it is the most popular Stardew Valley mod provider. When looking for mods, in general, you can also explore places such as the Steam workshop community (although it doesn’t offer Stardew Valley mods) or the PCGamingWiki, which can provide more information about different game mods and their installation process.