Utilities

In this step, we will install mods that are required by the game and other mods to function properly

If you run into any issues at any point in the guide, please be sure to check the FAQ.

If your issue is not addressed there, join the Discord for support.

F4SE (Script Extender)

Installation instructions:

Main Files - Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE) (Manual download).
From the downloaded archive, extract everything to the game's Root folder.

If you do not know what the Root folder is, read the Key Terminology section from the Setup page.

After proper install, your Root Folder should look like this:

Extends the scripting capabilities of the game.

Making MO2 Detect F4SE & GOG Support

Once F4SE is installed as instructed above, restart MO2 and you should see a new option in the top right drop-down:
If you own the game on GOG, click <Edit...> then add -forcesteamloader to the arguments text box of F4SE.

xSE PluginPreloader F4

Installation instructions:

Main Files - xSE PluginPreloader F4 0.2.5.1 (Manual download).
From the downloaded archive, extract everything to the game's Root folder.

Allows preloading F4SE plugins before the game initializes.

Creating a Separator in MO2.

Right-click the empty space in the left pane of MO2 and select Create separator.
Name the separator Utilities.

PrivateProfileRedirector F4 - Faster game start (INI file cacher)

Installation instructions:

Main Files - PrivateProfileRedirector F4 0.5.3 (Runime 1.10.163)
If you see a pop-up called No category found, select Disable.

Speeds up game start by storing INI files in memory instead of opening, parsing and closing the file each time some value from it is needed.

This is the first mod in the guide that is installed with the Mod Manager Download button, you will need to click that button then head to the Downloads section of Mod Organizer 2 to install it. Once installed, make sure you check the box next to it in the left pane of MO2 to enable it.

Address Library for F4SE Plugins

Installation instructions:

Optional Files - Address Library 1.10.163.0

Resource required for other F4SE plugins.

Console Commands Extender

Installation instructions:

Main Files - Console Commands Extender

This mod adds new commands and overhauls existing console commands.

Better Console - F4SE

Installation instructions:

Main Files - Better Console

Makes console menu show extra useful infomation.

High FPS Physics Fix

Installation instructions:

Main Files - High FPS Physics Fix
Once the mod has been installed, double-click on it in the left pane of MO2
In the INI-Files tab, select F4SE/Plugins/HighFPSPhysicsFix.ini
Change the following options:

Set AllowTearing to true (line 26)

Enabling AllowTearing allows the mod to disable VSync during loading in order to make it faster, since the game loading time is largely limited by current framerate (up to a certain point). Enabling it will NOT lead to any tearing during gameplay. This setting is also a requirement for VRR.

Set DisableBlackLoadingScreens to true (line 37)
Set DisableAnimationOnLoadingScreens to true (line 44)

Enabling DisableAnimationOnLoadingScreens will freeze loading screens and any overlay you use, this is intended and will lead to way faster loading times. You can omit it if you prefer looking at animated loading screens.

Set PostloadingMenuSpeed to 3.0 (line 51)
If you use VRR (GSync/FreeSync), set InGameFPS (line 58) to any value close to your lowest FPS and not exceeding your refresh rate - (refresh rate x 6.8%)

You can check if you are using VRR by going to the Nvidia Control Panel if you're on Nvidia or Adrenalin's Display Settings if you're on AMD. If the GSync tab is missing from NVCP, your display doesn't support it or doesn't have the feature enabled in OSD.

NVIDIA USERS ONLY:
Make sure that GSync is set to Fullscreen and that Display Specific settings are enabled in the Control Panel, the Windowed option is problematic due to it being a hacky method. Both of the settings are wrongly named so they do not actually directly refer to the display method.

If you use fixed refresh rate (meaning no VRR), set InGameFPS (line 58) to your refresh rate - 0.005 or fractions of your refresh rate. For example on 60hz you can lock to 59.995 or 30. Just like on VRR, choose whether to lock to a fraction or RR-0.005 based on which is closest to your lowest FPS.
If you set InGameFPS to a value higher than 60, do the following as well:

Set DynamicUpdateBudget to true (line 264)
Set BudgetMaxFPS to the same value as InGameFPS (line 283)

IMPORTANT:
Make sure that no other external program such as RTSS or your GPU's drivers are applying a limiter or forcing VSync. These features have to be handled by the mod in order to achieve the best results.

All-in-one solution for smooth FPS-unlocked gameplay, mitigates stutter and reduces loading times.