How to establish a baseline for troubleshooting or go back to unmodded (you can mod your game again)

First, this guide is meant as a reference to walk you through resetting your modsetting file, in addition it will help get you to a point where you can test if you have additional issues with mod incompatibilities. Like it or not, this is a vital step in helping ensure the problem is found through careful elimination. Most issues often get fixed with this turn it on/off solution.

Keep in mind with these photos I have mods, some of these you may see different folders/files that are not commonly shared - completely fine, I will point out which ones you need to delete and what NOT to delete.

Step 1: Deleting All mods in the Appdata/Mods folder

The preferences should look like this. Your game data path has to end with your data folder and your game executable path has to end with your bg3.exe. Please, keep in mind the location visible should be similar, this isn’t your installation folder

Additionally, you can choose to move them out in a temporary folder, if you plan on keeping your mods. All the mods should be in the format of .pak Here is how to find the mods folder:

Warning

Do Not Delete your entire Larian or BG3 folder, your saves are fine. Just navigate & delete the pak files inside mods folder itself. (Even full reinstalls don’t need this)

C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\Mods Image of mods folder

If you do not know how to find your AppData folder, here's how: Image Of Run in Windows Search

Image of Run dialog with %LOCALAPPDATA% in the text box

Just go to the windows search function at the start, type ‘Run’ and click on it. In that app, type %LOCALAPPDATA% and press okay. Your appdata folder should be opened in file explorer.

Step 2: Delete specified folders

Warning

Delete all folders except Localization. Photo for reference. Localization is vanilla. You should only delete folders listed here, leave the pak files alone.

The path should look something like this, depending on the drive you installed Baldurs Gate on: D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\Data

Image OF Data Folder

Again do not delete the .pak files. Leave the .pak files and other files alone. Only delete the folders INSIDE of data. This means localization and the other .pak files is the only thing you see inside of /data once done. If you delete anything besides what is described here - your game is going to have to be reinstalled almost from scratch.

Step 3: Clear Out All Folders in /bin folder

The pathway should look like this: D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin

If you have native mod loader OR script extender, do these extra steps:

Inside your game's bin folder:

Delete NativeMods folder.
Delete Dwrite.dll. (This is the Script Extender)
Delete bind2w64.dll
Rename bink2w64_original.dll to bink2w64.dll

Tip

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DONE THE ABOVE

Step 3.5: If you have Party Limit Begone Legacy installed (the one that does not use Script Extender)

If you have Party Limit Begone Legacy installed, then you will need to delete your exe files in your bin folder. Delete the backup too

Tip

The exes do not get altered/reinstalled when you verify the game so this is a MUST! if you had Party limit begone mod legacy. If you use the .pak version then do not worry and skip this step!

Step 4: Delete `modsettings.lsx` File

You can find modsettings.lsx in C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\PlayerProfiles\Public

Delete the highlighted modsettings.lsx file Image Of The modsettings.lsx file highlighed in the file browser

Step 5: Verify Game Files

If you are using BG3 on Steam:

Go to your steam library and right click on Baldur's Gate 3

Image of the right click menu on steam with Properties selected

Click on Properties as shown above

Image of Steam Properties Window

This menu will appear - click on Installed Files and then on Verify integrity of game files

Now you just wait until it is done Do not worry if a lot files needs to be replaced - if you have loose file mods, these will likely need to be replaced

If you are using GOG Galaxy:

Image of GOG Galaxy

The picture is not in english but the option is highlighted. I will see if I can find an english version as I do not use GOG but nevertheless thank you Nerogami for the picture.

Step 6: Run Baldur's Gate 3 once without any mods to reset the `modsettings.lsx` file

Test if you can reach character creation without issues, look around for bugs, if none quickly make a base tav & test if tutorial loads fine. If so you’re good to mod or play vanilla

Happy Gaming!

Credits to Maze & DefinitiveToast for making this guide. Additional credit to Meowcat285 for remaking this as a website

This guide was created using an already known guide, the original creators name has been lost. Hence why if you know the original creators name, please tell us! I would like to credit the original creator