GuavaHost lets you add Steam Workshop mods and curated maps to your Unturned server by listing their Workshop IDs in a file called WorkshopDownloadConfig.json.
Find each Workshop ID
Every item on the Steam Workshop has a numeric ID. Open the Workshop page for the mod or map you want and look at the web address: the number after ?id= is the Workshop ID. For example, in steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1234567890 the ID is 1234567890. Collect the ID for each item you want to run.
Add the IDs to WorkshopDownloadConfig.json
- Stop your server from the GuavaHost panel.
- Take a snapshot on the Backups tab first, just in case.
- Open the Files tab and browse to your server instance folder, usually Servers/ then your instance name (often unturned).
- Open WorkshopDownloadConfig.json. If it is not there, create a file with that exact name.
- List your IDs inside the FileIDs` array, like this:
```
{
"File_IDs": [
1234567890,
2345678901
]
}
```
Each ID is a plain number with no quotes, and each is separated by a comma except the last one. Save the file when you are done.
Restart to download
Start the server and watch the Console tab. Unturned reads the file and downloads each Workshop item before the world loads, so the first boot after adding mods takes longer than usual. Wait for it to finish and report ready. Once the items are cached, later restarts are quick again.
Loading a Workshop or curated map
If one of your items is a map, downloading it is only half the job. Open Commands.dat in your instance's Server folder and set the Map line to that map's name, for example Map Elver or the exact name the map uses. Save and restart. Our Unturned server config guide covers Commands.dat in full.
Your players download automatically
You do not have to send anyone files. When a player connects, their game pulls the same Workshop items your server is running, which is why a modded server's first join can take a little longer. After that the content is cached on their machine too.
Tips and troubleshooting
- Keep the JSON valid. A stray comma after the last ID, a missing bracket, or IDs wrapped in quotes will stop the file loading. If mods are not downloading, recheck the punctuation first.
- IDs are numbers, not names. Always use the numeric Workshop ID, not the mod's title.
- Mind the order. If two mods change the same thing, the order in the list can matter. If something behaves oddly, try reordering.
- Version and compatibility. Some older Workshop items lag behind Unturned updates. If a mod misbehaves right after a game patch, check its Workshop page for reports.
- Storage. Large map packs take disk space. If you plan to run many, keep an eye on your usage in the panel and upgrade at guavahost.com/account if you need more room.
Add the IDs, restart, set your map if needed, and your Unturned server is running the exact content you want.
Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.