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Howto: Enable Modding - Archive Invalidation

The first step into (advanced) modding is to enable the "archive invalidation". With that your Fallout 4 can load so called "loose files", which many mods needs. This how-to will show you how to enable it.

Step 1: Find your Fallout4Custom.ini

For Mod Organizer 2:
  • In MO2 open menu "Tools", go into "Tool Plugins"  and click "INI Editor"
  • Click on the tab "fallout4custom.ini"

For Vortex or no/other mod manager:
  • Go into the folder "Documents\My Games\Fallout4\"
  • If there is no file "Fallout4Custom.ini" create it.
  • Open the file "Fallout4Custom.ini" with any text editor.

Step 2: Add/change INI values

  • If your INI don't have an "[Archive]"  section add it to the end
  • Go to your [Archive] section
  • If you already have a line starting with "bInvalidateOlderFiles=..."  in this section then delete it
  • If you already have a line starting with "sResourceDataDirsFinal=..."  in this section then delete it
  • Add the line "bInvalidateOlderFiles=1" without quotes in your [Archive] section
  • Add the line "sResourceDataDirsFinal=" without quotes in your [Archive] section

Now that INI part should look like this:
[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=

That's it! Your Fallout 4 is now ready for modding!

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Added on

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Written by

m8r98a4f2

18 comments

  1. marlonbraz
    marlonbraz
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    After I activated 
    bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
    sResourceDataDirsFinal=

    I can't use pipboy or first person camera anymore, can you help me?
    1. m8r98a4f2
      m8r98a4f2
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      If one mod stopped working after you added that, then you have a conflict caused by your loose files. You should check your mods and your loose files and resolve the file conflict.
      If you have Mod Organizer 2 simply activate the archive file conflict detection and check the conflict tab in the mod details.
    2. colmiloxxx
      colmiloxxx
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      • 1 kudos
      Did you find any solution to it? i've been looking for all the internet and couldn't find an answer
    3. sk8016389
      sk8016389
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      • 0 kudos
      apparently there is no solution
    4. sk8016389
      sk8016389
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      The bug with ArchiveInvalidation works for me without mods, so I do not know how to do it
    5. PenutPeak58842
      PenutPeak58842
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      Were you able to find a solution?
  2. PenutPeak58842
    PenutPeak58842
    • member
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    Hey everyone, does anyone know why adding bInvalidateOlderFiles=1 , would cause my character to be forced into first person and be locked into looking at the ground. I followed the guide, just not sure whats going on
  3. Lew03
    Lew03
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    Whoever created this i want you to know your are forever my friend. You have saved me from smashing half my room, thank you.
  4. CCA51498
    CCA51498
    • supporter
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    bInvalidateOlderFiles=1 causes my game to stutter for some reason and setting it to 0 disables my audio in game.
  5. paul12344
    paul12344
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    I can't add Settlers to settlements with the settlers mod anymore. It was working before doing this? I can spawn them, just not send them to settlements.
  6. BrosephBroestar
    BrosephBroestar
    • member
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    no clue why but whenever i deploy mods the lines seem to disappear from the custom.ini file, is that meant to happen?
  7. wettacos420
    wettacos420
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    Thanks! Saved my ass cuz I've been trying to find that in file. Found stuff way to edit it, none being the correct way till now. 
  8. UltraCon
    UltraCon
    • supporter
    • 0 kudos
    You just rescued 6 days of modding I was about to delete the whole thing
    1. PirateZ86
      PirateZ86
      • supporter
      • 11 kudos
      Exactly, I don't understand why this is made easily noticeable to everyone.

      I too found this out after a while.
  9. madchiwa
    madchiwa
    • member
    • 2 kudos
    Hey, I've been trying this to solve a "$no_f4SE" issue, and when I change the custom ini, my game crashes seconds into the launch. Do you you know what could be the cause ? Thanks in advance !
    1. jpjordan357
      jpjordan357
      • supporter
      • 0 kudos
      I have this same problem.  Fresh installation, no mods installed, just adding bInvalidateOlderFiles=1 to the INI crashes the game.
    2. Hyreal8
      Hyreal8
      • supporter
      • 0 kudos
      Do you have Fallout 4 Script Extender (f4se) installed?
      Under the requirments for the FallUI mod you will see it needs MCM installed which also requires you have installed F4SE correctly.
  10. jpjordan357
    jpjordan357
    • supporter
    • 0 kudos
    I have the same problem as Madchiwa below.  I have a fresh install of the game, no mods enabled, just doing the above crashes the game on the main menu.