[HOI4 Modding] Uploading mods to Steam

This lesson will explain how to properly upload your Hearts of Iron 4 mod to Steam (including a working thumbnail).
Timestamps for this tutorial/lesson:
00:00 - Lesson beginning
01:17 - Creating mod file and folder
02:37 - Creating mod Steam thumbnail
06:53 - Editing mod file to use the thumbnail
08:44 - Updating your mod on Steam
Thanks for watching this lesson/tutorial
Useful links:
Iron Workshop Discord server: / discord
My twitch channel: / playerhoi
Hearts of Iron IV wiki modding page: hoi4.paradoxwikis.com/Modding
If you would like to contribute to make the Iron Workshop better you can do so on Patreon: / playerhoi
Here are the download links to the various tools used during The Iron Workshop lessons/tutorials.
Notepad++ Download: notepad-plus-plus.org/downloa...
Paint.net Download: www.getpaint.net/download.html
Please consider disabling your AdBlocker on KZbin to support this channel and any other channel that creates content you enjoy and makes revenue from ads.

[@janslavik5284]

Why is adding a thumbnail the hardest part of the modding process XD Thanks man, your guide is the only one on the internet that actually works!

[@TheIronWorkshop]

Yeah it's absurd and makes many people go mad, not sure why Paradox aren't including the instructions in the luncher or the. mod file

[@Rikaisupcom]

@@TheIronWorkshop The info you gave is either wrong or outdated. This video kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH3Wg5akrNSYh5o explains how easy it actually is now (2020)

[@carter3329]

idk y its so complicated but i followed this vid for my 1st EU4 mod and it worked BUT on my 2nd EU4 mod it would not work. BUT by just placing a picture in the mod file & calling it thumbnail.png it worked & showed up in the Steam workshop! I still don't know why it works like that? And i noticed one of my other mods had it's picture set as one of Paradox's ads for EU4 DLC for some reason??!!

[@omegapc9520]

@@Rikaisupcom thank you

[@nutbuddy1579]

@@carter3329 for eu4 there are hidden requirements for an image like it’s has to be a square image

[@andyzhao5282]

So: Picture needs to be in PNG form. Best for the pic to be 600px to 600px Filename has to be: thumbnail 32 bit type in 2: picture="thunbnail.png" upload mod by going into "mod tools" in the lancher for hoi4 then just do it from there. Update mod by reuploading it with method above.

[@1snowball]

Thanks man!

[@OwOUwUOnO]

I was tapping my fingers for who knows how long trying to brainstorm a thumbnail for my mod. I felt like I spent more time on that than what I had making up the lore lol

[@Admiral_Jezza]

This works and was helpful for EUIV too, thanks mate.

[@IanMikrut]

"Now there's a lot going on in here, Don't Worry." LOL Thanks you For your Time and Help From Start to Finish with ALL of your HoI4 Modding Videos!

[@ivanvodkevich]

These tutorials are prettty damn good. Quick, simple, learning. Keep it up my mans, gimme yer Discord, lemme kiss ya thru the camera call

[@Bonafidius]

ayo?

[@w6dm]

Sus

[@Alex_MB]

thanks, this was really helpful!

[@jaredmurage6173]

this really helps thnks I'm making a basic focus tree mod and this helped alot

[@gamingmoment1061]

Holy crap I just noticed you are player! I used your mods in the past. Good shit dude.

[@Uk19_]

Thank you!!! It is really helpful

[@pufinjb3551]

I've recently made a mod to hoi 4. When i uploaded it it does'nt work it change NOTHING. But when i choose mod from my disc (from mod tools option) it works perfectly. Did someone had this problem and could me help solving it?

[@vainerowl6185]

Im having the same problem! I made a mod and it works perfectly with the nonsteam workshop version. But when I upload it and use the workshop version, nothing changes!

[@jollywyrm5684]

same

[@Szopo-dn1ye]

you have to remove your private mod that is on your disc, and then it sould work

[@evileagle63]

@@Szopo-dn1ye what the heck do you mean

[@985xjx9]

The thumbnail tutorial in this works well, but mine has two thumbnails. One thumbnail when browsing the steam Workshop, and a different one when you click on it. I want to zoom in the first thumbnail you see but it doesn't give me an option to edit it

[@rumi_137]

I press upload to update the mod and it don't work well... I really don't know what to do... can you explain better to me? thanks

[@johntwo1941]

Beautiful.

[@ilficherrimolori]

I tried this but when I upload my mod it doesn't work, basically only the thumbnail works but the people that download it are basically playing the vanilla game

[@fatihozmen8474]

You are great dude!

[@frame659]

I'm having an issue with the mod i uploaded, whenever im trying to start the mod in-game, i just get the vanilla game without any changes i made :(

[@leonardotriunfax9366]

ty again!

[@burch8400]

@Rikai, I having the same problem, I have done many mod uploads and I think the launcher is broken or Steam has a problem. I can delete the thumbnail and upload just fine.

[@user-rg6hk5vo7t]

thanks

[@gamingdrawers]

Hello just curious but are you gonna do an ideology tutorial? I’m asking because it’s hard to find a tutorial to make one for the new versions.

[@TheIronWorkshop]

Yes, I hope to get to those too...

[@gamingdrawers]

Okay thank you

[@lukasfrisk7469]

@@TheIronWorkshop i am very excited!

[@ajrjwntpa02]

thx good footage

[@fearmelolz1593]

You have saved me! Just for that I will give you a sub By the way could you show us how to use scripted gui. Thank you again.

[@leninistkisi8883]

I did the same thing you said, but it only works in gameplay sets, but it doesn't work in steam. What is the solution?

[@rizmoll]

i followed the instructions step by step, yet when i try and upload the mod it says "please verify your mod files and credentials". any idea what that means?

[@foresty6975]

Might be late but verify your game files

[@qualitycontent_]

so i basically did this before when creating my mod and now i want to edit my thumbnail, i put a new picture 32 bit 600x600 pixels and all the required naming and stuff in notepad ++ but it isn't changing, does anyone know how to fix this? (even if i try to reupload the mod to get a new thumbnail it doesn't work it says mod upload failed, a local mod with the same remote id already exists)

[@farminator663]

hello, i've made all these steps, i've added the thumbnail as .jpg and .png (i've tried both) and its not still working. İ can see the image in my paradox launcher, at the place where i select modes but if i go to profile, to workshop items, i can't see the picture of my mod. (my mod is open for friends) Can somebody help please?

[@truschel]

It says verify your mod files, what does that means? Please help me.

[@kemetnukingtrucking240]

Because @1:33 ats isn't like that there is no mod tool option

[@baeryn26]

how do i get the notepad descriptor on my file?

[@omarshehata862]

Please I want to know what is the tags of kaiserreich mod to creat its file ?

[@scottkrafft6830]

How do you make a new country (already created) a puppet/dominion of another power? Similarly, how do you make that country have its overlord's technology tree? (Like how Canada has Britain's)

[@costleetheiichannelbymonic1640]

Check out britians text document! that's how i figured it out.

[@thezombiecreeper]

Scott Krafft add it in the overlord’s history file. Check the USA’s, UK’s, or Netherlands’s for help

[@darklord_morgoth3990]

Are your own mods public for others, when they're in "Paradox-Mods"... or are they private?

[@TheIronWorkshop]

No idea, I only upload to Steam which has a visibly setting

[@shellibayliss]

when ever i go on mod tools it just comess up with mu old mod nad i cant change it

[@llama8438]

The descriptor by me is video editor and not notepad++, how do I change that? I can't do anything there with video editor...

[@rattler8985]

I have a issue, when I update a mod it instead creates a new one, not update it.

[@alexdosovos445]

when i change the description.mod and put that when i try upload it to steam it doesn't work, can someone help, i'vee been trying for more than 4h strait and i cant do it

[@almazhan777]

Does anyone know how to update uploaded mod on another PC? I changed my PC and now I cant update my mod. Instead update Paradox launcher create new mod in my steam workshop account

[@tailsplays4265]

Does anyone know how to create a pack of voices as a mod?

[@demtari5956]

I have uploaded my mod and it doesn't work in hoi iv. What I am supposed to do?

[@w.t.srgxprince1106]

does anyone know what to do when uplaoding a mod it says parameter is incorrect??

[@87utrewt]

When i try to upload it, it asks for a username? I have inputted my username but its not accepting it. what do I do?

[@carter3329]

This is where i learned how to put a thumbnail on my 1st mod BUT on my 2nd EU4 mod this technique did not work?! BUT it did work by just putting the .png file into the mod and calling it (without the symbols). I left the descriptor file alone yet it still displays my picture on Steam...

[@ajrjwntpa02]

How can i change the "tahoma_60" font of F2 map? but i want to keep the "tahoma_60" font on F3 map Is "tahoma 60" font impossible for gui modding?

[@TheIronWorkshop]

You will have to wait for the fonts lesson

[@damienn.2938]

I am having two separate issues. The first is with the steam mod, where if I subscribe to the mod to test it and load it up it just plays the vanilla game even though i have all my mod files in there. Also there is a problem with the local mod, where it loads up the pictures I put in for the loading screen and but stops and gives me this error. 'Some errors are present in map defition and have been logged to error.log'. If I could get help from anyone that would help a ton, thanks.

[@jaster3211]

Had a similar issue with the steam mod not working, you have to delete the local version first I believe then it should work or maybe you can just delete the descriptors. Make sure you back it up somewhere and see if it works then.

[@eggisfun4217]

it says its not on disc im not sure how to get it on steam workshop since i dont really want to have a thumbnail because im still testing

[@narwalsman8471]

I don't undersrand where and when i put file or my mod

[@MouuStaa]

everything went smoothly and the mod got uploaded but i couldnt find my mod on steam at all lol any help?

[@tonylele9483]

it doesnt work. when i try to upload it , it says : "File was not found."

[@DotALotTroller]

Do I need to use paint.net? Or can I use something like Microsoft 3D Paint? Because if you are just gonna edit pictures, then what’s the need

[@DotALotTroller]

Also I have another text editor unlike notepad++ which I am able to write code on, would that be suitable?

[@TheIronWorkshop]

Yes and yes, Notepad++ and Paint.net are just recommendations which are easier to pick up for people who are totally new to this.

[@RZ-bq5kf]

I used gimp to edit the photo and sublime text to type the code.

[@Rikaisupcom]

"Mod upload failed. There was an error while uploading your mod. Please verify your mod files and credentials" What does this mean?

[@TheIronWorkshop]

Could be a launcher issue, try again.

[@jasoncrowley9105]

Rikai, did you ever find a fix to this issue?

[@RZ-bq5kf]

Did u find a fix to this issue?

[@jasoncrowley9105]

R Z i personally never did

[@ordinary_magician]

I have the same problem too :v

[@echotech2169]

My mod which i made a few custom focues and ideas for just loads with the generic tree after uploading

[@TroliFishi]

My problem is that the Local Mod works, but when I subscribed to my own mod and tried it ( as a Steam Mod ) the mod just dint work ( but the photo was there)

[@costleetheiichannelbymonic1640]

Same here for some reason, not sure why.

[@TroliFishi]

@@costleetheiichannelbymonic1640 Ok, it seems that if you MADE the mod and you sub to it, it wont work, but other people will be able to play your mod. (Fore me, when I try to play my mod throw Steam Mod the mod wont even work)

[@costleetheiichannelbymonic1640]

Oh ok

[@thezombiecreeper]

So I try uploading the mod and it says “error uploading mod. Check your mod files and credentials.” What do I do?

[@TheIronWorkshop]

That means that something is wrong with your mod descriptor file. I suggest you create a new mod via the launcher, copy all the contents into that new mod and then try to upload (don't overwrite the new descriptor file obviously).

[@thezombiecreeper]

The Iron Workshop I will try that. Thanks.

[@johnrode43]

how do i update my mod when i try to it makes a new mod

[@Glyphe4663]

My friend installed my mod and it says the mod is missing a descriptor file. Can anyone help?

[@somedesertdude1308]

same

[@CallMeLudwig]

my perdox hoi4 launcher looks different then yours how to fix?

[@strategicman5749]

bro when i try to set height the other things are changing

[@GafferTV24]

If you are doing this in 2022, there is now an option to just put an image with the paradox mod making menu when you click okay,

[@mehmetalituncel5072]

Where we put new updated files of our mods to update the mod for workshop?

[@Rikaisupcom]

In the same folder they were anyways: Documents\Paradox Interactive\Hearts of Iron IV\mod\yourmodname Don't delete your local mod after uploading

[@lukasfrisk7469]

Nice

[@HuginX]

How do i upload many mods into my mod. So it looks like tommykay rp mod.

[@mrraichudealola9227]

I can´t open descriptor, every time I try it says the element´s archive is incomplete or the archive´s extension is incomplete

[@johannsild8989]

Are you opening it with Notepad?

[@mrraichudealola9227]

@@johannsild8989 yeah, I think so

[@TheKingBeetle]

How do I get test image?

[@angelpaul7223]

And how you can sell the mods?

[@yawn3764]

The descriptor file won’t open

[@klee5840]

how do you do it on brick rigs

[@adolfkaisla7722]

I cant upload when i try to it says K_EResultfail please help

[@thisisachannel.8366]

same

[@HistoryCentered]

Why is my descriptor file a video

[@HavocMusic1759]

when i try to save the file in notepad ++ (specifically the descriptor.mod) it fails because it just doesnt want to respond, any fixes? p.s. no error codes, no warnings, just "Notepad ++ has stopped responding"

[@TheIronWorkshop]

No idea, perhaps try to reinstall Notepad++

[@HavocMusic1759]

@@TheIronWorkshop I just needed to wait. I just slept overnight, leaving it run. Thanks anways! I'm always looking for help.

[@Pecktor]

I’m not sure but I don’t see this option in a hat in time time on steam…

[@vladpopescu7776]

When I try to create a mod it gives me the "Mod creation failed" message followed by "We encountered an error while creating your mod. Please verify the mod details and try again." Any help you guys could offer?

[@TheIronWorkshop]

No idea what could cause that, make sure your documents folder has writing permissions or try to reinstall the game.

[@Glyphe4663]

This is late but if it’s still going on. If you deleted the mod off of steam delete the mod key when trying to re upload. It tried to find the mod but it can’t so it says that. If you delete the mod key it should go in no problem

[@Rikaisupcom]

Info on thumbnail that is actually working AND easy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH3Wg5akrNSYh5o

[@_govor_]

Thanks for video, but my friend don't can update us mod in steam, although my friend is a co-author of the mod.

[@David2024]

I'm stuck on "Naming Planets..." Edit: uploading to Paradox works fine, but Steam doesn't work.

[@MRGrayhat]

its size is visible but nothing changes when i activate the mod please help me

[@leninistkisi8883]

kanka sendede modu açınca vanilla gözüküyo dimi

[@leninistkisi8883]

çözüm bulduysan banada söylesene

[@strategicman5749]

my mod was not in steamworkshop

[@CatzK3]

why would I want to upload my mod when I have barely even made anything yet, isn't this part a bit premature?

[@OofHead]

it is for when you are finished!!

[@SchwarzeSonne130]

It says generic failure for me :/

[@KillahCP]

I cant get paint.net to work

[@noble_lord571]

I can't add picture to the mod preview, I do absolutely the same steps, but it just does not work. It is just fucking madness. (crying in agony)

[@briandean4923]

I dont have these menus in my Steam launcher. It looks nothing like yours. Dont know how to proceed

[@v.b.p.verybigpond5816]

Click on upload mod

[@EMCFANClub]

Hey! So you need to click on "Upload mod" now.

[@-_MCO_-]

Why does no one do thumbnails for ITEMS but always do mods? Because they arent the same.

[@Ricardogasmo77]

ck2 tutorial please

[@CGEli-HeliusFlame]

Steam does not allow .tga images?

[@TheIronWorkshop]

Maybe it does but all other formats except for PNG didn't work for me...

[@Bradley-XIV]

My Descriptor is showing as a video, is that normal?

[@TheIronWorkshop]

Right click ---> Open with ---> Notepad++

[@Bradley-XIV]

@@TheIronWorkshop Thanks!

[@morgoth8573]

In my Launcher there is shown the text: "The discriptor data isnt existing. Please contact the developer of the mod". But the data should be in the folder. Okay, its EUIV, but I thought, there are not big differences.

[@thisisachannel.8366]

it says "Mod Upload Failed Generic Failure. (k_EResultFail)"

[@TheIronWorkshop]

That's a Steam issue, not something I can really help with. Try reinstalling the game/Steam and try again.

[@Pan-be3vv]

@@TheIronWorkshop I tried by it did not work. Same text appeared.

[@kemetnukingtrucking240]

Please do an video own uploading your own mods to steam for America truck simulator

[@Raptor810Blue]

tf

[@OofHead]

this is for hoi4 bro

[@simonm.1884]

I just cant change the visbility....

[@TheIronWorkshop]

That's a Steam issue, not a modding issue.

[@alexandert3819]

is there a way i could fix the descriptor at 7:07? it ends up as a video file for me and then says "This file isn't playable. That might be because the file type is unsupported, the file extension is incorrect, or the file is corrupt."

[@alexandert3819]

haha nvm ignore my comment i fixed it

[@yawn3764]

How did you fix it? I have the same problem

[@zekaplayz2166]

do you need to do this

[@eggisfun4217]

bro it doesent work anymore

[@kareemabdul1]

Steam doesn't say that my mod has any problems after I clicked on upload mod but I can't see it in the workshop I tried searching for my name juliuscancer and my mods name johancronman but I can only see the mod on paradoxes website

[@brok8085]

how does the contributor works in steam? Me and my friend are making a hoi4 mod together, but he cannot update it or even do anything with the mod. Can anyone help me?

[@nemesis666first]

How upload an animated picture ? I tested "thumbnail.gif" but it doesnt work :o ...

[@evileagle63]

whenever i try the steam workshop version it just does vanilla hoi4 and when i try the unpublished one it works just fine. i have gotten no help and many people have the same unanswered problem. Because of this, Im screwed. PLEASE. HELP. ME

[@alexandreborman2183]

Generic Failure. (k_EResultFail) What is this???

[@thisisachannel.8366]

yeah i have the same problem

[@alexandreborman2183]

@@thisisachannel.8366 I've found what it is. It was because of the format of my thumbnail which wasn't good and the name has to be thumbnail.png I hope it helped. Edit: if it didn't help; copy your mod, delete the old one and try to reupload it.

[@Mc5c_stricker]

I am making a don’t starve mod

[@Rikaisupcom]

Mc Arthur still can't have a pipe

[@kemetnukingtrucking240]

Huh??? Most of the video was about a pic, can someone reply with a link on how to add mods to steam and not just one game

[@kemetnukingtrucking240]

Looking to add something for ats

[@OofHead]

​@@kemetnukingtrucking240this. is. for. HOI4!