SyncCrate
Hearts of Iron IV guide · Updated
Same HOI4 mods for every front.
Big HOI4 multiplayer games fall apart when one player has a different mod version. SyncCrate copies the host's local mods, and saves if you want, to each player, fixes mod paths that only work on one PC, and after the first time sends only what changed.
FreeOpen sourceNo cloudWin · macOS · Linux
// 01 Why
Why modded HOI4 multiplayer is hard to get right
Hearts of Iron IV multiplayer games often have many players, and every one of them needs the host's mods in the same version, or the checksums differ and the game goes out of sync. Overhaul mods change a lot of files and update often, so one player behind by a single update is enough.
Local mods add their own trouble: a .mod file in Documents\Paradox Interactive\Hearts of Iron IV\mod that the launcher filled with a full path from the PC that installed it.
SyncCrate copies the host's local mods to every PC, compares every file by content, and only the differences are copied. You see the list before anything changes.
// 02 What syncs
What SyncCrate syncs for Hearts of Iron IV
| Folder | Path in the game folder | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Mods | mod/Local mods: each mod's folder and its .mod descriptor. Descriptors for Steam Workshop mods (ugc_….mod) are skipped, because they point at Steam's folder. | All files |
| Save Files | save games/Saves (.hoi4). Optional; the host decides whether friends may sync them. | .hoi4 |
// Where it looks
- Documents folder
Paradox Interactive/Hearts of Iron IVinside your Documents folder- macOS
~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Hearts of Iron IV- Linux
~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/Hearts of Iron IV- Anywhere else
- Point SyncCrate at the folder yourself, once
Built in for Hearts of Iron IV
- 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 Hearts of Iron IV 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 Hearts of Iron IV in three steps
Install and add the game
Install SyncCrate on every PC and add Hearts of Iron IV 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.
TipEvery player needs the same game version and the DLC the game uses. SyncCrate copies local mods and saves, not DLC or Workshop items.
// 04 Common problems
When Hearts of Iron IV mods don't match
One player on an older version
Large overhaul mods update often. With ten or more players, somebody is always one update behind, and the checksum differs.
The host updates the mod once. Everyone syncs before the game, and only the changed files are copied.
Mod not found on a friend's PC
A
.moddescriptor with a full path likeC:/Users/<name>/Documents/…only works for that user. On other PCs the launcher can't find the mod.The mod health check finds descriptors with a path that only exists on one PC and, on the host, makes them portable (
path="mod/<folder>") in one click. The old versions stay in File history.Custom mods for your group
Many groups run their own small tweaks or balance patches that aren't on the Workshop, and have to send them around every time they change.
Local mods sync from the host like everything else, and the next sync copies only the edited files.
Mods copied but not active
Which mods are on is saved in the launcher's playset, not in the
modfolder.SyncCrate copies the mods. Add them to a playset on each PC once, in the same order as the host.
// 05 Hearts of Iron IV
Good to know
- Steam Workshop mods are kept by Steam in its own folder, outside the game's folder, so SyncCrate can't sync them. The Content page says how many you have, and friends subscribe to the same items.
- Real mod names. The Content page reads each mod's descriptor and shows its name and version.
- Big groups can sync from the host at different times, for example the evening before the game. Each friend syncs on their own, and the host's upload is shared by whoever syncs at the same time.
- Your settings stay yours. Only the
modandsave gamesfolders sync.
// FAQ
Hearts of Iron IV questions
Do all players need the same mods in HOI4 multiplayer?
Yes. Players need the same game version, and the same mods in the same versions, or the checksums don't match.
Where are HOI4 local mods stored?
In Documents\Paradox Interactive\Hearts of Iron IV\mod on Windows and Mac, and ~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/Hearts of Iron IV/mod on Linux. SyncCrate finds it automatically.
Does it sync Workshop mods?
No. Steam keeps them in its own folder. Everyone subscribes to the same Workshop items, and SyncCrate handles the local ones.
How many players can sync from one host?
There's no fixed limit. Each player syncs independently, so people can sync whenever they're ready.
// Related game guides
All games · SyncCrate supports 100 games.
// Free · Open source · Windows, macOS, Linux
Same Hearts of Iron IV setup on every PC.
Install SyncCrate on each PC, one of you hosts, everyone else joins. No accounts, no cloud, nothing uploaded anywhere.