RDR2 Mods: How to Install Them Safely on PC
Red Dead Redemption 2 mods only work on PC, in story mode. Script mods need Script Hook RDR2: copy ScriptHookRDR2.dll and dinput8.dll next to RDR2.exe. Mods that replace textures, models or other game files usually go through Lenny's Mod Loader. Script Hook RDR2 closes the game if you go into Red Dead Online, and Rockstar's Mod Guidelines forbid mods that interfere with its online services.
Are RDR2 Mods Allowed?
In single player, within limits. Take-Two has said it generally does not take action against single-player, non-commercial PC mods that respect other people's intellectual property. Rockstar's Mod Guidelines, dated 10 September 2026, apply to all its games: no mods that extend its official storylines or missions, no mods that bring maps or characters from one Rockstar game into another, no monetization outside Rockstar's Creator Platform, and no cheat menus or other software that interferes with its online services.
Can You Get Banned for Mods in RDR2?
The risk is in Red Dead Online, where Rockstar's rules forbid mods that interfere with multiplayer. Script Hook RDR2 is built to avoid mistakes: according to its author, it closes the game when the player goes into multiplayer. Keep mods to story mode and remove them before playing Red Dead Online.
Can You Get Mods on PS5 or Xbox?
No. Mods are a PC feature: the tools on this page run on the Windows version of Red Dead Redemption 2, and the console versions do not accept them. On console, the game's own 37 cheat codes are the way to change it.
How to Install RDR2 Mods
These steps combine the Script Hook RDR2 page of its author, Alexander Blade, with the modding community's installation guides.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
1 | Download Script Hook RDR2 from its author's site, dev-c.com. |
2 | Copy ScriptHookRDR2.dll and the ASI loader dinput8.dll into the game's main folder, where RDR2.exe is. NativeTrainer.asi, a basic trainer, is optional. |
3 | For mods that replace game files, install Lenny's Mod Loader: its files, such as vfs.asi, go in the same folder, and the mods go in its lml folder. |
4 | Copy each script mod, usually an .asi file, into the main folder, and each asset mod into its own subfolder of lml. |
5 | Launch the game in story mode. After a game update, check that Script Hook RDR2 still supports your version. |
Always read each mod's own instructions: some need extra tools, and a mod manager can install files for you. The latest official Script Hook RDR2, released on 9 February 2023, supports game versions 1.0.1207.58 and 1.0.1491.17 and later; the Nexus Mods list below also includes a community version, ScriptHookRDR2 V2, made for later patches.
Most Downloaded RDR2 Mods
The ten most downloaded Red Dead Redemption 2 mods on Nexus Mods, as listed on 16 September 2026.
| Mod | Author | What it does | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
Rampage Trainer | RampageDev | Story mode trainer | 3.6m |
ScriptHookRDR2 V2 | kepmehz | Community Script Hook for recent game patches | 2.4m |
Online Content Unlocker | LeDana | Lets other mods use Red Dead Online content in story mode | 1.7m |
WhyEm's DLC | WhyEm | Player content | 1.6m |
Gun Tricks | RampageDev | Brings Red Dead Online gun spinning to story mode | 882.1k |
Bounty Hunting: Expanded and Enhanced | Shtivi | Endless bounty missions and random encounters | 690k |
Crime and Law Rebalance and Enhancement | Blackjacks420n | Reworks the law system | 677.9k |
Bank Robberies | UnlosingPlays | Rob the tellers of supported banks | 637.5k |
Gun Metal Rework | TheLastGunslinger9 | Reworked gun metal textures | 629.4k |
RDR2 Photorealistic reshade and Modlist | haskeer212 | ReShade graphics preset | 605.8k |
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