How To Remove Creation Club Mods Fallout 4

Creation Club content for Fallout 4 offers curated modifications, officially supported by Bethesda. However, there might be instances where you wish to remove these additions, whether due to performance issues, conflicts with other mods, or simply personal preference. The process differs slightly depending on whether you are playing on PC or console.

Removing Creation Club Content on PC

PC users have more flexibility in managing their Fallout 4 files. There are several methods to remove Creation Club content.

Method 1: Disabling Through the "Load Order" File

This is the safest and recommended method, as it avoids directly deleting files. It involves modifying the plugins.txt file, which dictates the game's load order.

1. Locate the plugins.txt file: This file is typically found in the following directory: %LocalAppData%\Fallout4. You can access this directory by pressing the Windows key + R, typing the path, and pressing Enter.
2. Open the plugins.txt file: Use a text editor such as Notepad or Notepad++. Ensure the editor is run as administrator. Right-click the editor's icon and select "Run as administrator." This is crucial for saving changes to the file.
3. Identify Creation Club plugins: Creation Club plugins are easily identifiable by their filename extensions: ".esm" or ".esl." They will also generally have names related to the specific Creation Club content, e.g., "ccQDRFO4001-Creation01_VaultSuit.esl."
4. Disable plugins: Place an asterisk () at the beginning of the line for each Creation Club plugin you want to disable. For example, if you want to disable the "ccQDRFO4001-Creation01_VaultSuit.esl" plugin, change the line from Fallout4.esm to Fallout4.esm.
5. Save the changes: Save the plugins.txt file. Make sure you are saving it in the correct location and that the file extension remains ".txt."
6. Set the plugins.txt file to read-only (Optional but Recommended): Right-click the plugins.txt file, select "Properties," and check the "Read-only" box. Click "Apply" and then "OK." This prevents the game from automatically re-enabling the plugins. Bethesda's launcher can sometimes rewrite the load order on startup.
7. Start Fallout 4: The disabled Creation Club content should no longer be active in your game.

Method 2: Deleting Creation Club Files (Advanced)

This method involves directly deleting the Creation Club files. It's generally discouraged unless you are comfortable working with game files, as deleting the wrong files can cause instability. It's strongly advised to back up your game files before proceeding.

1. Locate the Fallout 4 data directory: This is typically found in your Steam library folder, under SteamApps\common\Fallout 4\Data.
2. Identify Creation Club files: Creation Club content is packaged in ".ba2" archive files and ".esm" or ".esl" plugin files. Similar to the previous method, the file names will be related to the specific content, e.g., "ccQDRFO4001-Creation01_VaultSuit - Main.ba2" and "ccQDRFO4001-Creation01_VaultSuit.esl."
3. Delete the files: Delete both the ".ba2" archive files and the corresponding ".esm" or ".esl" plugin files for each Creation Club content you want to remove.
4. Update the plugins.txt file: After deleting the files, you must also remove the corresponding lines from the plugins.txt file. Locate the plugins.txt file (as described in Method 1), open it with a text editor, and delete the lines that refer to the deleted ".esm" or ".esl" files.
5. Start Fallout 4: The deleted Creation Club content should no longer be active in your game.

Important Considerations for PC:

• Always back up your Fallout 4 data directory before making any changes to the game files.
• Using a mod manager like Mod Organizer 2 can simplify the process of managing Creation Club content and other mods. Mod managers provide a more organized and safer way to enable and disable plugins.
• If you encounter problems after removing Creation Club content, try verifying the integrity of your game files through Steam. Right-click Fallout 4 in your Steam library, select "Properties," go to the "Local Files" tab, and click "Verify integrity of game files."

Removing Creation Club Content on Consoles (PlayStation 4/5 and Xbox One/Series X/S)

On consoles, the process is more straightforward as you manage Creation Club content through the in-game Creation Club menu.

1. Launch Fallout 4.
2. Navigate to the Creation Club menu: From the main menu, select "Creation Club."
3. Uninstall the content: Within the Creation Club menu, you will see a list of installed content. Select the Creation Club content you wish to remove. You should see an "Uninstall" option. Select "Uninstall" for each piece of content you want to remove. The game will likely need to restart to complete the process.
4. Verify removal: After the game restarts, return to the Creation Club menu to confirm that the uninstalled content is no longer listed as "Owned" or "Installed."

Important Considerations for Consoles:

• Consoles generally do not allow direct access to game files. The in-game Creation Club menu is the primary method for managing this content.
• Be aware that uninstalling Creation Club content may affect your saved games, especially if the content added items, quests, or locations. Consider creating a backup save before removing content.
• If you reinstall Creation Club content in the future, be aware that any items or changes it introduced may reappear in your game world.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues after removing Creation Club content, consider the following:

• Conflicts with other mods: Some mods may rely on Creation Club content. Removing the Creation Club content may cause those mods to malfunction. Try disabling other mods to see if they are causing the issue.
• Dirty saves: Removing content can sometimes leave "dirty" data in your save game. This can lead to instability. While difficult on consoles, PC players can use save game cleaning tools (available from modding communities) with caution.
• Reinstalling the game: In extreme cases, a complete reinstall of Fallout 4 may be necessary to resolve issues caused by removing Creation Club content.

Summary

Removing Creation Club content in Fallout 4 can be accomplished through different methods depending on your platform. PC users have more direct access to game files, allowing for file modification or deletion, while console players primarily use the in-game Creation Club menu. Understanding these methods is important for managing your Fallout 4 experience, resolving conflicts, and optimizing performance. Correctly following the steps, especially on PC, ensures a smooth transition and prevents potential game instability. Being able to manage and remove these additions empowers players to customize their gaming experience and address any issues that arise from using this content.