How to Install Steamodded
Step 1: Anti-virus setup
Skip ahead to step 2 if you are not using any anti-virus software.
Steamodded relies on a runtime code injector in order to modify the game. Because it functions similarly to a Trojan, it is often incorrectly flagged as malware by anti-virus systems.
Rest assured that Lovely is not malicious in any way. It is fully open source, so you can convince yourself that it works exactly as promised and does nothing else.
You can even build it yourself if you're still unsure.
In order to get Lovely running properly, you will have to whitelist Balatro's installation folder in whatever anti-virus software you may be using.
You may also need to temporarily disable real-time protection to avoid having files deleted while moving them around.
Example: steps for Windows Defender
Differences may occur if you're using different software.
- Navigate to the game's directory by right-clicking the game in Steam, hovering "Manage", and selecting "Browse local files". Copy the file path of this directory.
- Open Windows Security and navigate to Virus & threat protection > Manage settings.
- Disable Real-time protection.
- Scroll down to Add or remove exclusions and confirm if prompted.
- Add a folder exclusion. When an explorer window opens, paste the path you copied in step 1 into the address bar and confirm.
Step 2: Installing Lovely
Now you're ready to install the Lovely injector.
Please follow the installation instructions for your operating system here, then return to this page and continue with Step 3.
If your browser is blocking your download, use Firefox instead.
Step 3: Installing Steamodded
If you previously installed Steamodded without Lovely, you must first remove that installation by verifying your game files on Steam:
Library > Balatro > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files.
Method (3a): Direct download
This method requires no further tools. If you know what Git is, skip ahead to Method (3b).
- Download the latest release (Release page click "Source code (zip)" at the bottom of the page) or the latest dev version.
- Extract the downloaded zip file.
- In your file explorer, navigate to Balatro's save directory:
Windows: %AppData%/Balatro
Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Balatro
Linux (WINE/Proton): ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2379780/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/Balatro
Note: On Linux with a snap installation of Steam, the path may be:
~/snap/steam/common/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2379780/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/Balatro
Note: On Windows systems, just paste %AppData%/Balatro
into the explorer path bar or the run dialog to open the folder. %AppData%
has special meaning and you do not need to manually replace it.
Example Video - Still inside %AppData%/Balatro directory, create a folder named Mods if it doesn't already exist. Open the Mods folder.
- Inside the extracted zip file, locate the mod directory and move it into the Mods folder.
Ensure that there is more than one file inside (i.e. don’t place a folder inside another folder). - To update Steamodded later, delete your Steamodded folder from step 5 and repeat these steps.
Method (3b): Using the command line
This method requires Git. If you completed Method (3a), skip this step — your installation is complete.
- Navigate to Balatro's save directory:
Windows: cd %AppData%/Balatro
Mac: cd ~/Library/Application Support/Balatro
Linux (WINE/Proton): cd ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2379780/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/Balatro - Paste the following commands:
mkdir Mods
cd Mods
git clone https://github.com/Steamodded/smods.git - To update Steamodded later, navigate back to the smods directory and run:
git pull