Native Mod Loader
baldurs-gate-3 — Mods & Enhancements
NativeModLoader is a critical foundational tool for Baldur's Gate 3 that enables the loading of native DLL plugins from the `bin\NativeMods\` folder, bypassing the need for the game's official mod support. It is essential for mods like ImprovedUI, Better Hotbar, and any mod that requires deep engine-level hooks, such as those that manipulate UI rendering or the game's memory allocation. Players install it as a prerequisite for a wide range of performance and quality-of-life enhancements that cannot be achieved through script-only mods.
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UtilitiesExample
Downloads: 3,021,243 | Endorsements: 44,231💡 Notes
By kassent | v1 | 44,231 endorsements
🎯 Tips & Tricks
If using Vortex, deploy the mod and ensure the `bin` folder from the mod archive merges directly into the game's `bin` directory. For manual install, copy the `bin` folder from the mod into your Baldur's Gate 3 root directory (e.g., `C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\`). The DLLs must land in `bin\NativeMods\`—any other location will cause the loader to fail silently.
NativeModLoader must be updated for each major game patch (e.g., Patch 6, Patch 7). Check the mod's GitHub releases page for a version specifically tagged for your current game version. If you're on Patch 7, download the 'NativeModLoader_v2.0.7' or later; using an older version will crash the game on startup with a 'NativeMods not found' error.
To see if the loader is actually running, open the file `NativeModLoader.log` in your `bin` folder after launching the game. If the log is empty, the loader didn't load. To force debug output, edit `NativeModLoader.ini` (if present) and set `DebugMode=1`. This log is invaluable when a DLL mod fails to appear in-game.
🔧 Troubleshooting
NativeModLoader conflicts with Script Extender when both try to hook the same engine functions, causing a crash at the Larian logo.
Ensure you have the latest version of both. Load order in Vortex should place NativeModLoader BELOW Script Extender. If the crash persists, delete the `Baldurs Gate 3\bin\NativeMods\` folder entirely, then reinstall NativeModLoader and Script Extender fresh. Do not use any 'compatibility patch' mods—they are outdated.
ImprovedUI (a native mod) fails to load, showing 'UI not found' errors in the mod manager.
This is usually because NativeModLoader is not detecting the `ImprovedUI` DLL. Check that `ImprovedUI` is placed in `bin\NativeMods\` and not in `Data\`. Also, ensure you have the latest version of ImprovedUI that matches your NativeModLoader version—ImprovedUI 3.0+ requires NativeModLoader 2.0+. If using Vortex, purge and redeploy the mod to refresh the file links.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
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👍 Pros
- 44,231 endorsements
- 3,021,243 downloads
- Category: Utilities
👎 Cons
- Requires mod manager installation
- May conflict with similar mods