How to Install Mods on Your Rust Server with Oxide/uMod

Vanilla Rust is great, but once you're running your own server, you start wanting more control. Maybe you want higher gather rates so you and your friends can actually build a base in a single session. Maybe you want teleportation, or PvE-only rules, or instant crafting for testing.

That's what Oxide (uMod) is for. It's the plugin framework that makes Rust servers actually customizable. This guide covers installing Oxide, adding plugins, and configuring the ones you'll actually use.

If you haven't set up a Rust server yet, start with the Rust dedicated server setup guide first.

What is Oxide (uMod)?

Oxide is a modding framework that lets you add C# plugins to your Rust server. It's now maintained under the uMod project name but "Oxide" is still what most people call it.

Here's what you can do with Oxide plugins:

Essentially: anything vanilla Rust doesn't support, there's probably an Oxide plugin for it.

Important: Oxide and Rust Updates

When Rust updates, Oxide breaks. This is the one gotcha with Oxide.

Rust gets major updates on the first Thursday of every month (Force Wipe). Each time, the uMod team releases a new Oxide build to match. Until they do, your plugins won't load — and the fix is just reinstalling Oxide.

If you're running a regular server, plan for this monthly maintenance step.

Installing Oxide on Your Rust Server

Step 1: Download Oxide

Go to https://umod.org/games/rust and click Download. You'll get a ZIP file named something like Oxide.Rust-2.x.xxxx.zip.

Always download from the official uMod site. Don't use unofficial mirrors.

Step 2: Apply to the Server

1. Stop your server (don't do this while it's running)
2. Extract the ZIP
3. Copy all extracted files into C:\rustserver\, overwriting when prompted

After installation, your server folder should have a new oxide\ directory:

C:\rustserver\
├── oxide\
│   ├── config\       <- plugin config files go here
│   ├── data\         <- plugin data files
│   ├── logs\         <- Oxide log files
│   └── plugins\      <- put your .cs plugin files here
├── RustDedicated.exe
└── ...

Step 3: Start the Server and Verify

Launch your server with start_server.bat. In the console output, look for:

Oxide.Core v2.x.xxxx started successfully
Oxide.Rust loaded successfully

If you see those lines, Oxide is running. If not, check that you stopped the server before copying the files.

Adding Plugins

Once Oxide is installed, adding plugins is straightforward.

Finding Plugins

Browse https://umod.org/plugins and filter by the Rust game. Sort by downloads to find the most popular ones.

Installing a Plugin

1. Click Download on a plugin page — you'll get a .cs file (C# source code)
2. Copy the file to C:\rustserver\oxide\plugins\
3. The plugin loads automatically — no server restart needed

Verify it loaded in the server console:

oxide.plugins

This lists all loaded plugins with their versions.

Recommended Plugins and How to Use Them

Gather Manager — Multiply Resource Rates

The most commonly used Rust plugin. Changes how much you get from harvesting trees, ore, corpses, and pickups.

Download: https://umod.org/plugins/gather-manager

After installing, run these in the server console:

gather.rate dispenser * 5

All gathering (trees, rocks, ore nodes, barrels) multiplied by 5x. Adjust the number to your preference.

gather.rate dispenser scrap 3

Override just scrap to 3x while keeping other rates at 5x.

gather.rate pickup * 5

Also multiply items you pick up off the ground.

Useful rate guidelines:

Stack Size Controller — Bigger Inventory Stacks

Increases the maximum stack size for resources so you can carry more without constantly hitting inventory limits.

Download: https://umod.org/plugins/stack-size-controller

After installing, edit the config at C:\rustserver\oxide\config\StackSizeController.json:

{
  "wood": 50000,
  "stones": 50000,
  "metal.fragments": 10000,
  "scrap": 5000,
  "metal.ore": 10000,
  "sulfur.ore": 10000
}

Apply changes without restarting:

oxide.reload StackSizeController

NTeleportation — Home Points and Player Teleport

Lets players set home locations and teleport between them. Also enables friend-to-friend teleport requests. Huge quality-of-life improvement for small private servers.

Download: https://umod.org/plugins/n-teleportation

Players use these in-game chat commands (not console):

TruePVE — Disable Player vs Player Damage

Makes your server PvE-only by disabling damage between players. Great for friend groups who just want to build and explore without combat.

Download: https://umod.org/plugins/true-pve

Install and it activates automatically. The config file lets you create exceptions (e.g., specific zones where PvP is allowed).

Instant Craft — Remove Crafting Time

Removes the crafting timer so everything crafts instantly. Perfect for testing builds or just removing the tedium when playing casually.

Download: https://umod.org/plugins/instant-craft

No configuration needed — install and it works.

Kits — Give Players Starter Kits

Lets you create named kits of items that players can redeem. Useful for giving friends a starting kit so they don't spend the first hour gathering stone.

Download: https://umod.org/plugins/kits

Example — create a starter kit in the server console:

kit add starter
kit items starter add wood 1000
kit items starter add stones 1000
kit items starter add cloth 200
kit items starter add food.apple 10

Players redeem with /kit starter in chat.

Plugin Management Commands

All of these go in the server console:

Editing Config Files

Plugins store their configuration in C:\rustserver\oxide\config\ as JSON files. Each plugin has its own file named after the plugin.

Use a proper text editor for JSON — VS Code is free and highlights syntax errors before they cause problems. Notepad works too but won't catch typos in the JSON structure.

After editing any config file, reload the plugin:

oxide.reload PluginName

The server console will confirm the reload, or show an error if the JSON is malformed.

Troubleshooting

Oxide doesn't load after installation

• Did you stop the server before copying the files? You must stop it first.
• Check that C:\rustserver\CSharpCompiler.x86_x64_Data\ exists (this comes with Oxide — if it's missing, re-extract the ZIP)
• If Rust just updated, Oxide may not have caught up yet — check umod.org for a newer build

A plugin isn't showing up in oxide.plugins

Check the Oxide log file at C:\rustserver\oxide\logs\ — there will be a compilation error if the .cs file has a problem. This usually means the plugin version is incompatible with your current Oxide/Rust version. Check the plugin's page on uMod for compatibility notes.

Config changes aren't applying

You need to run oxide.reload PluginName after saving the config. The server doesn't watch for file changes automatically.

After Force Wipe, Oxide is broken

Go to https://umod.org/games/rust and download the latest build. Stop your server, overwrite the files, start it back up. The uMod team usually releases an update within a few hours of the Rust patch going live.

Summary

The full Oxide plugin workflow:

1. Download Oxide from umod.org/games/rust
2. Stop server, overwrite files in C:\rustserver\, start server
3. Verify with Oxide.Rust loaded successfully in console
4. Find plugins at umod.org/plugins
5. Drop .cs files in oxide\plugins\ — loads automatically
6. After editing configs: oxide.reload PluginName
7. After Rust Force Wipe: reinstall Oxide

The monthly Oxide reinstall is a minor inconvenience, but everything else about the system is clean and simple. Even just bumping gather rates to 5x makes a private server dramatically more enjoyable for casual sessions with friends. Give it a try.