Monster Hunter: World mods: setting up Stracker’s Loader and the nativePC folder
This guide is for Monster Hunter: World players who want to install file-based mods on PC but have not used Stracker’s Loader or the nativePC folder before. By the end you will know what each piece does, where files go, and how to keep your save safe while you experiment.
What Stracker’s Loader does
Many Monster Hunter: World mods are not simple drag-and-drop files. They rely on a tool called Stracker’s Loader to run alongside the game and let modded files work correctly. If a mod’s page lists Stracker’s Loader as a requirement, install it first and keep it updated, since mods built around it will not function without it running.
Get Stracker’s Loader only from the author’s own page, not from a random reupload. Read the author’s instructions fully before copying anything, because setup details can vary between tools and between individual mods.
The nativePC folder
Most file mods for Monster Hunter: World are placed inside a folder named nativePC, which sits inside your main game folder. If this folder does not already exist, you usually need to create it yourself before a mod’s files can be placed inside it. Once it is there, individual mods are generally copied into nativePC following whatever folder structure the mod author describes.
Do not guess at the structure. Mod authors often specify exact subfolders or file placement inside nativePC, and getting this wrong is the most common reason a mod fails to show up in game.
Basic install steps
Every mod is slightly different, so treat this as a general shape rather than a fixed path. Always check the specific mod’s own readme or description before you start.
- Back up your save files before installing anything, in a separate folder outside the game directory.
- Install Stracker’s Loader from its official page if the mod you want requires it.
- Create a nativePC folder in your game folder if one does not already exist.
- Download the mod directly from its author’s page.
- Read the mod’s install instructions in full before touching any files.
- Copy the mod’s files into nativePC following the exact structure the author describes.
- Launch the game through Stracker’s Loader if the mod requires it, and check in game that the change has applied.
Read each mod’s own instructions
This is the point that trips people up most. Two mods that both use nativePC can still expect different subfolder names or file layouts inside it. Some mods also need to be loaded in a particular order, or need specific settings changed in Stracker’s Loader itself. The outline on a mod’s page exists for a reason, so follow it step by step rather than copying what worked for a different mod.
If a mod author warns that certain content should stay out of online or multiplayer sessions, take that seriously. Mixing modded files into shared online play can get accounts flagged or banned, so keep anything that changes shared game data to offline or private use unless the author says otherwise.
Backing up saves first
Before you install or remove anything, copy your save files to a separate location on your drive. Mods that touch game files can occasionally cause crashes or odd behaviour, and having an untouched backup means you can get back to a working state without losing hunts. This takes a couple of minutes and saves a lot of frustration later.
If something goes wrong
If the game fails to launch after adding a mod, remove the mod’s files from nativePC and try launching again to confirm the mod was the cause. If several mods are installed, remove them one at a time rather than all together, so you can work out which one is causing the problem.
If content does not appear in game even though the files are in place, double check the folder structure inside nativePC against the mod’s own instructions, and confirm Stracker’s Loader is actually running if the mod needs it. A mismatched folder name or missing subfolder is the usual culprit.
Uninstalling a mod
To remove a mod, delete the files it added from inside nativePC. Keep a note of what you added and from where, since this makes clean removal far easier than trying to remember file by file later. If you ever want the game completely unmodded, you can remove the nativePC folder entirely, as long as you are certain nothing else in your setup depends on it.
Keep a simple text file listing every mod you install and where its files sit inside nativePC. It takes a minute to update each time, and it turns troubleshooting from a guessing game into a short checklist.
