How do I activate mods in Skyrim Vortex?

Activating mods in Vortex is simple – just enable the mods in the "Mods" tab and launch Skyrim through Vortex. The key steps are:

1. Download mods through Vortex or manually install in /mods folder
2. Deploy mods in Vortex
3. Check "Enable" checkbox for each mod
4. Launch Skyrim via Vortex‘s "Play" button
5. Check Plugins tab for proper loading

Now let‘s dig into the specifics of each step…

Why Mod Managers Matter

Before rushing off to fill your load order, it helps to understand what mod managers like Vortex actually do…

As you can see, mod managers handles complex mod tasks so you can focus on playing. Manually installing mods is possible but exponentially more difficult to manage.

So if you‘re not using a manager yet, stop right now! Vortex is free and easy to setup…

Step 1: Getting Vortex

First, head over to Nexus Mods and search for Vortex. Download and install the latest version. Takes just minutes!

Note: Having an account on Nexus makes mod management easier across games!

Once setup, Vortex will look something like this:

Don‘t be intimidated by all the options! I‘ll guide you through the key features as we activate mods…

Step 2: Connecting Games

With Vortex installed, we need to connect it to Skyrim so mod deployment works properly:

• In Vortex, click on the dropdown arrow next to "No game selected"
• Choose Skyrim Special Edition from the list
• Point Vortex to your Skyrim install folder when prompted

Once connected, Skyrim will show as the active game in the top left.

Tip: Still no Skyrim detected? Try adding it manually via the "Games" dropdown.

Step 3: Installing Mods

Now for the fun part – picking mods!

I won‘t cover specific mod recommendations here (that‘s a whole other post!). But generally speaking, mods fall into categories like:

• Visual upgrades
• Gameplay enhancements
• Custom weapons/armor/quests
• Bug fixes
• VR support

Browse Nexus Categories to discover options.

When installing, pay attention to:

• Mod requirements
• Compatibility notes
• Installation instructions

To install in Vortex:

• Use mod page links to "Download with Manager"
• Or install archives manually via "+ Add Mod"

Either method is fine. Downloaded mods will show up in Vortex‘s "Mods" tab.

Warning: Don‘t uninstall mods mid-game! This causes save file crashes!

Step 4: Deploying Mods

Once added to Vortex, mods must be deployed to work in-game:

• Go to "Mods" tab
• Checkbox mods to deploy
• Click "Deploy Mods"

This installs mods into Skyrim‘s /Data folder. Deployment can take awhile for large mods – monitor progress in the notifications window.

Note: By default, Vortex enables auto-deployment when installing mods. Can toggle this in settings.

Step 5: Activating Mods

Installed != Activated. Newly deployed mods start disabled by default.

To activate:

• Return to "Mods" tab
• Check the "Enable" box for each mod
• Check Plugin load order – drag mod names to adjust

Repeat this process whenever installing new mods to incrementally build your order.

Quirks to know:

• Load order matters! Heavier mods (gameplay etc) should load after lighter ones
• Disable mods if encountering crashes to isolate problem files
• Purge mods completely if needed for fresh install

Pro Tip: Vortex makes testing load orders easy with profile switching. Create profiles!

Step 6: Verifying in Plugins

So mods are enabled – but are they properly loaded on boot?

Confirm by opening the "Plugins" tab:

• Active, deployed mods will be present here
• Order should match "Mods" tab
• If missing, check deployment status

This view essentially mirrors Skyrim‘s load order. If plugins are out of sequence, unexpected behavior may occur.

Step 7: Launching via Vortex

Almost there! Last step – run Skyrim through Vortex so mods initialize properly:

• Click the "Play" button on Vortex‘s toolbar
• OR select "Launch" from sidebar
• Continue normally through Skyrim‘s launcher

Vortex needs to hook Skyrim‘s exe to manage mods. Bypassing Vortex means no mods loaded!

That‘s it! Hope you‘re ready for adventure!!

Troubleshooting Startup Issues

After following all the steps but still crashing on launch? Few things to try…

Missing mods:

• Double check Plugins tab
• Redeploy missing mods
• Enable archive parsing under Settings

Load failures:

• Disable all mods & re-enable in blocks
• Thread on common depency issues here
• Post load order on Nexus Forums for review

Crashes after Bethesda logo:

• Start new game – fixes some script issues
• Turn off background apps like MSI Afterburner
• Try .NET Script Framework for crash logs

Still struggling after trying the usual fixes?

Consider switching managers. While Vortex excels at automation, Mod Organizer 2 offers greater customization for experienced users. Check the comparison below:

Evaluating your needs can help choose the right tools. Both are excellent options – it just depends how much control you want over finer details.

Wrap Up

And that covers everything you need for successfully activating mods through Vortex!

As you can see, while it may seem intimidating at first, mod managers simplify the complexity behind the scenes.

Hope this up-to-date guide for 2023 gives you confidence to start enhancing Skyrim and building your dream load order. Happy modding!

Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m DarkMatterMatt on Nexus and loves talking all things modding after 5+ years helping users troubleshoot!