Barotrauma guide · Updated
Same Barotrauma mods for the whole crew.
A custom sub or a local mod only works when every crew member has the same files. SyncCrate copies the host's LocalMods folder to every friend, and after the first time only what changed.
FreeOpen sourceNo cloudWin · macOS · Linux
// 01 Why
Why sharing Barotrauma mods and subs gets messy
Barotrauma checks the content packages of players joining a server. That's easy with Workshop mods everyone is subscribed to, but local mods are different: a submarine you built in the editor, a mod you're still working on, or your group's own tweaks to an item mod all live in LocalMods on one PC.
Every time the sub gets a fix or the mod gets a change, everyone needs the new version before the next round, or the host's server and the crew's copies no longer match.
SyncCrate syncs LocalMods directly from the host to the crew. Files are compared by content, only the differences are copied, and everyone sees the list before anything changes.
// 02 What syncs
What SyncCrate syncs for Barotrauma
| Folder | Path in the game folder | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Local Mods | LocalMods/Everything in LocalMods: your own content packages, editor-saved submarines (.sub), with their XML, textures, sounds and scripts. | .xml .sub .png .ogg .lua .cs |
// Where it looks
- Steam
steamapps/common/Barotraumain every Steam library, on every drive- Anywhere else
- Point SyncCrate at the folder yourself, once
Built in for Barotrauma
- Script warnings.
.dll,.csand.luafiles run code on your PC, so they're flagged for you to review before they sync. - Turn mods on and off. Disabled mods move to a
_Disabledfolder the game doesn't load. - Game-running warning. SyncCrate warns you before syncing while Barotrauma is still open.
- Undo and history. Undo the last sync in one click, and put back any single file a sync replaced or deleted.
// 03 How it works
Sync Barotrauma in three steps
Install and add the game
Install SyncCrate on every PC and add Barotrauma in the Game Browser. Its folder is found automatically.
One PC hosts
The PC with the setup everyone should have clicks Start Hosting. The others pick it under Scan for Hosts on the same network, or paste its join code from anywhere.
Compare and sync
Check the list of new, changed and conflicting files, then Sync Now. Only the files that differ are copied, PC to PC.
TipClose Barotrauma on the receiving PC before syncing. After syncing, make sure the same packages are enabled in the game's mod list.
// 04 Common problems
When Barotrauma mods don't match
Mismatched content packages
A crew member with a different version of a local mod, or without it, can't join the host's server.
Everyone syncs the host's
LocalModsbefore joining, so every package matches file for file.Sharing a new sub
A submarine built in the editor only exists on the builder's PC until someone sends it around.
The builder hosts, the crew syncs, and the new or updated sub arrives in everyone's LocalMods.
Working on a mod together
When two people edit the same local mod, one of them eventually overwrites the other's changes.
SyncCrate shows every file that changed on both PCs and asks which version to keep, or keeps both.
Lua and C# mods run code
Mods for Lua For Barotrauma and its C# scripting can run code on your PC.
.lua,.csand.dllfiles are flagged before they sync, and nothing changes until you approve the list. Only sync with people you trust.
// 05 Barotrauma
Good to know
- Steam Workshop mods aren't synced. Steam keeps them outside the game folder, so the crew subscribes to the same Workshop items. SyncCrate syncs
LocalMods. - Load order. Which packages are enabled, and in what order, is set in the game's mod list on each PC. Match the host's.
- Same game version. Everyone should run the same version of Barotrauma, or mods and subs can behave differently.
// FAQ
Barotrauma questions
Where are Barotrauma local mods stored?
In the LocalMods folder inside the game's install folder. SyncCrate finds Steam installs in every library and creates the folder if needed.
How do I share a custom submarine with friends?
Save it in the editor so it lands in LocalMods, then host in SyncCrate. Friends join and Compare & Sync, and the sub shows up for them.
Does it sync Workshop mods?
No. Steam keeps Workshop mods in its own folder. Everyone subscribes to the same ones, and SyncCrate handles the local mods.
Can I share mods with a friend over the internet?
Yes. Share the join code from the host's Dashboard and your friend pastes it. The connection goes PC to PC, with nothing uploaded to a cloud.
// Related game guides
All games · SyncCrate supports 100 games.
// Free · Open source · Windows, macOS, Linux
Same Barotrauma setup on every PC.
Install SyncCrate on each PC, one of you hosts, everyone else joins. No accounts, no cloud, nothing uploaded anywhere.

