MO2 vs Vortex | Skyrim Mod Managers EXPLAINED | Ultimate Guide 

MO2 is unbeatable for me, I have 20 different mod builds all under one roof. I love the control and ease of use.

I'm definitely gonna switch to MO2. A tutorial on switching from one to the other would be nice.

Nicely put. A great deal of people would do well to know and watch that video when freshly getting into modding.

Amazed a video like this hasn't been made before. Well done.

An amazing work. This channel is amazing. Great job!

Very informative and I will be switching to MO2 because I'm always changing things.

Hey hey welcome back! I'm on the MO2 train, I just can't give up the level of control you can get out of MO2. I'm actually pretty nervous about Starfield modding using only Vortex....

Really great and informative video, appreciate it!

I started modding about a month ago, so, I'm not sure how valuable my opinion is, however, I started out on Vortex and I do think it's good for BEGINNERS. However, I decided to just try MO2 and I was blown away with how much more involved it allows you to be. In other words, I think MO2 is better at actually TEACHING you how to do modding right. The ease of access to the files was the first thing I noticed and appreciated. I'm loving it. Just got a new gaming pc (had a mini gaming pc and it was OKAY, but, had to upgrade lol) and I'm very excited to continue learning.

thanks, this explained why my skyrim is having issues... changed from vortex to MO2 and it just works!

Well said. Subscribed and using M02.

Cooler Dude, I like your excellent Stuff 💯👍🏻

I don't comment on videos much but I have to say this was so informative for me. Very clear and concise. MO2 it will be for Starfield.

I do luv MO2 more than Vortex, though I've just moved over to GoG game version I tried Vorex 1st time, and I've not used MO2 yet due to figuring out how to use all inc movement types u do like fnis and nemesis that need same folder. guess I'll try it out once I've done this play though :)

Hello ADHDecent I'm new to modding, started two days ago I know you make useful helpful video guides for Vortex and Mod organizer 2 thank you for all the help you've given not just to myself but everyone else. Anyhow, my video request is how to fix the overwrite at the bottom of a mod list in MO2 it's a problem I don't really know how to handle or fix the issue, so when you have the time it would be a big help to see how to handle this issue see you around happy new year.. :)

after some time, am going to AGAIN mod skyrim now on a new pc, so I wanted to know what is new, cuz I had some problems with MO2 so I switched to Vortex, like you said super easy to use, very nice for starting(I was kinda new to modding then) but after some time and many mods later, Vortex was having a hard time keeping up.. so again I went back to MO2 and looks like this new build is going to be on MO2 aswell... Thank you

Fantastic, thank you!

thank you so much for this sir

Chapters for the different talking points (Updates, Conflicts, etc.) would be much appreciated for when I go back to this video as a reference

I'm about to move over to MO2, I love Vortex its so user friendly with its auto fixes and suggestions with built in links etc, but as my mod list is growing I'm finding myself wiping my folder and reinstalling all mods because the suggestions and auto fixes are not really working, here is a TIP that hopefully helps someone out, instead of auto downloading mods with Vortex, make a new download folder with sub folders inside, then manually download your mods to your new folder, then drag and drop the mods into vortex it will install them just the same as auto downloading, but with my method it will save you hours even days of redownloading all your mods if you have to wipe.

As someone who would describe himself as someone who has only lightly and casually modded BGS games so far in NMM/Vortex, I appreciate a video that isn't just "Vortex bad, rah rah rah". You actually went into the pros and cons of both and gave credit where credit is due. While I think I may stick with my current Vortex install, the next time I do a clean reinstall of everything, I'll consider giving MO2 a shot. I definitely do want to be able to have more direct control over things when I get more into modding, and MO2 at the end of the day does sound more up my alley once I graduate past my casual status.

Hi. I need your advice. I wanted to switch from FNIS to Nemesis. At the very beginning, the problem was error 5001. So I installed Fix for non-US Nemesis, which, however, needs to be sputit- Add as Executable. But I can't find it in Vortex at all. Can I install MO2 and use it simultaneously with Vortex to run Nemesis? I'm a beginner, I modded pretty well through FNIS. Thank you and sorry for my bad English.

I’m looking forward to creation engine for Starfield to come out so I can use MO2 for it. You can use a beta version now but all hugs not worked out yet. So I’m just doing manual installs of mods. Looking forward to Starfield how to videos from ya in the future

How much would a large cargo order be? I plan to have 100, the 50 I have now, plus the 50 NSFW from the AAF article. (Fallout 4) quanto seria uma ordem de carga grande? pretendo ter 100, os 50 que tenho agora, mais os 50 NSFW do artigo AAF. (Fallout 4)

Hi Decent. Great videos you've been making. In 2017 I got into modding FO3 and New Vegas with NMM before Vortex was released. I remember the hype from Nexus developers that Vortex was gonna have a cleaner user interface than NMM and be overall easier to use, and handle your mods for you. Just as I was beginning to get comfortable(ish) with NMM in 2018 / 2019... Vortex launched. So I tried switching over to it and really tried giving it a chance. To me the Vortex interface is anything but cleaner. Instead of a simple set of lists, it is a bunch of bulky, random, oversized intrusive tiles, like this is Windows 8 all over again. No one asked for Windows 8. No one! And NOW lookit. Widows 11 is some kinda bastard mutant beast child of Windows 8 and Mac OS!!! What timeline is this? I get the same feeling with Vortex. NMM = Windows 7 and Vortex = Windows 8 . Clown faced and cluttered, with useless tiles that hide most of the real functions of the operating system. It's like NMM was the university physics professor in the lecture hall, and Vortex is Billy Madison's kindergarten teacher on the classroom rug playing Peek-a-Boo with the new kids on the first day of school. There's this uneasy feeling that behind all those happy little Vortex tiles are my hidden NMM files. Like Vortex is playing Hide n Seek with my mods, and never lets me find out where they went. So I uninstall. Bye bye mods. Bye bye Vortex. Will be trying Mod Organizer 2. I'm hoping it's much more like Nexus Mod Manager and absolutely nothing like Vortex. Thanks, Decent. Keep up the great work.

I use dark mode to...love it!

Great Video, but man... I don't know what to do here. I have 600 Mods (Skyrim AE), use Vortex and everything works perfectly -> no crashes, all new MCM's load immediately, no conflicts. Yet everyone keeps going on about how much better MO2 is for "veterans" and while I am sure that that's true, I am just too much of a chicken to swap over with SIXHUNDRET mods. Setting 60 MCM's again, not knowing what I have to backup (like: bodyslide files, saves,...) and the risk of having to reinstall the game, if Vortex purging breaks my game, when I have ENB and other things installed, is beyond daunting. I have found a decent video that addresses the basics (by SoulBC), but all the little specific details are menacing ^^'. Thanks for the amazing explanation though, greetings from Austria!

I just got skyrim vs and even got the month paid version of nexus..when i use wabbajack at thr end of the dosnload it says the files arent there and crash my download i dont really know what to do. I tried vortex but i dont understand how it works exactly i download the mod list but it seems to not do anything on it.

I’ve used both and just prefer MO2. Nothing wrong with vortex but I learned on mo2 and it’s just my preference

So, if I understand correctly. When MO2 shows you a conflict, you just move a file over another in the order list and that's it or is there more to it? That seemed a bit vague in that part of the video to me.

My only problem with MO2 is the drop down menus just don't work on my Steam Deck, I've already tried different versions of Proton and Proton GE but I just can't get it to work so I'm stuck with Vortex for the time being.

a simple example: you manage two mods and you find out they overwrite each other. vortex: this question of prioriy has to be answered before you completely installed both mods while using mo2 this question doesn`t matter because the two mods do not overwite each other physically. this difference matters if a mod changes and if your mod list is long.

To be honest, I just started mod with my first pc, and I started using vortex it wasn't long when I switched to mod2

Vortex somehow made modding so much more complicated and abstract. vortex has so many tabs and subwindows that change everytime you switch tabs

MO2 is still hands down leaps and bounds ahead of the vortex mod manager. I think the only reason I ever download vortex is for the collections downloader.

So what do I do with Vortex, if I want to Switch over to MO2??

I have FO4 with 600+ mods on vortex(why I start use vortex is for collections,instant install tone of mods) ,was good until today when vortex update some moda and now my came crash at loading screen 😭,before I use mo2 and is better 100 times

ok so I'm considering firing back up skyrim but I see I have a long long list of mods that can be updated and the way to do that is to remove the mod and reinstall?? My god

Thank you for this video. I just had the worst experience with Vortex and switched to MO2. And also I don't think that Vortex has a "clean interface" whatever that is. I think MO2 has a clean interface without useless shit.

HDT-SMP (Skinned Mesh Physics)

Btw can you make a video on how to switch from vortex to mo2?

Yeah, not gonna lie, I got back to Elder Scroll / Fallout games after almost 4 years...and Supposedly, Vortex is the "easiest" option... But I already hit a wall and got annoyed with the appearance of the damn thing. The constant ads, the way the layout looks, all the menus, windows, banners and stuff... It's overwhelming. I think I'll change back to MO2 if anything because I feel it's easier on my eyes. Now I just need to decide which fecking version of Skyrim SP I have to use -. - "... So I'll start with Oldrim if only to practice and while I decide xD

I got so upset as i spend days tryinng to make all mods work in vortex and i got no errors and solved all conflicts but still only a small pool of mods would work when i start the game.

the thing about modding is when you want to download a mod, it requires another 6-7 mods. I wanted to add like 15-20 mods, now i ended up with 80-85, messed all the rules and load orders, now i deleted skyrim bewcause of that.Maybe i should start with mo2 now

Vortex must break the privacy law in the EU as it scans and adds things to your PC without you knowing.

What is considered a large mod list?

Downloaded Mo2 a while ago.........So much more efficient. ALSO - PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME THE NAME OF THE INTRO SONG!!!!!

I was a long year Vortex user, its a great universal Mod Manager, but MO2 is best for Skyrim Modding, multible mod setups with Profiles, so easy and fast, one click easy switch between loadorders, the virtual file system is absolutly the best thing, MO2 is much faster than Vortex, and has much less harddrive (SSD) stress than vortex. MO2 needs learning, but when you know how to use it, MO2 is epic, epic epic and has so much less errors.

So.. load order of items with no conflicts is a red herring. It makes zero difference what order non-conflicting items load in. Conflicts have a winner and that is the file used. If there is no conflict then it does not matter where the item loads.

Tbh no one should use nexus to download mods as the server tends to be unstable, i always use internet download manager and manually drag & drop the mods i downloaded to the mod section

The main problem with vortex is the adjusting the load order, you really don't have a clear way of doing it

Let me just say if you want to seriously get into modding paying the 6 bucks for premium nexus is going to save you RIDICULOUS amounts of time i swear to god just do it. 1/3 the amount of clicks, faster process if u have a modlist u just need to download, i think faster download speeds not sure. They also add a 5 second wait time for free accounts.

Vortex is great for modders who have BUSY lives - people who are married w/kids, have r/l friends, responsibilities, etc.. Now, the real question is this: which mod handler is receiving more money each year for development? I cannot answer that with absolute certainty, however, I would imagine that Nexus takes in millions each year, and MO2 takes in...? Ultimately, I think Vortex will win out over MO2; it's simple economics. That's why the MO2 fanboi's have to resort to threats - "If you're not using MO2 we won't help you!" - in order to win converts. So, in summery: Vortex is easy to use for people with busy lives; MO2 is for people who have lots and lots of time on their hands.

I am brand-new to modding and started with Vortex. It is horrible. I have been using computers since I was a wee girl of 3 years (my brother's Atari 800 back then) and my brain is wired for logic. Vortex is anything but. The very first thing I learned was about the load order when I was just using Bethesda's Creations, and how important that is - and there's absolutely no freaking, satisfying way in Vortex to handle that? Last night I installed the first big one with tons of supporting mods (Kaidan - now Skyrim makes fun again! Bethesda should be ashamed that they fail do deliver "immersiveness" like that!) and it broke my Skyrim as the load order is a huge pile of you know what. It has put USSEP not on first place where it belongs but after loading some minor mods, the Cutting Room stuff is on place 89 although it belongs under USSEP ... I could go on. I feel I have nil control with Vortex, and a thing as simple and important as a load order, should be a thing, shouldn't it? Thank you so much for this video - so, so helpful and I already downloaded the MO2. Now let's see how I get rid of Vortex ... ... ... (And thank you for explaining the behind the scenes! It's quite a "shock" that it basically has the potential to corrupt the game files themselves. Sounds like a virus to me ... just saying ... )

idk if any other autists exeperience this, but the infoboner I got from hearing that mo2 had a lot of intital info to take in was tuly palpable

Mo2 is better. Don't download Vortex. Mo2 only looks hard to use, it's actually extremely simple.

Wabbajack insists on using MO2.

i have 466 mods installed with vortex and it works perfectly

Could have saved time and just say "Use MO2" for 10 minutes.

someone please help :( ive searched everything im new to modding and it was working fine a couple of days ago but today it said there was a update and i updated it and its now saying, failed to locate an appropriate address library with the path data/SKSE/plugins/verisonlib-1-6-1130-0.bin"