What Cyber Engine Tweaks is and where to get it

Cyber Engine Tweaks is a mod framework for Cyberpunk 2077 that lets you run other mods and tweak game settings without editing game files directly. You download it from Nexus Mods, the largest community repository for PC game modifications, and install it into your Cyberpunk 2077 folder before launching the game.

The mod works by loading a scripting layer that other mods can hook into. This means once Cyber Engine Tweaks is running, you can layer additional mods on top of it — things like visual improvements, gameplay changes, or quality-of-life features. Without it, many popular Cyberpunk mods simply will not work.

Cyber Engine Tweaks is free and maintained by the community. It is not made by CD Projekt Red, the studio behind Cyberpunk 2077, but the game's modding policy allows it.

Key Takeaways

  • Download Cyber Engine Tweaks from Nexus Mods, not from other sites, to avoid corrupted or outdated versions.
  • You need a Nexus Mods account (free to create) to download files, though you can browse without one.
  • Extract the downloaded files into your Cyberpunk 2077 installation folder, matching the folder structure exactly.
  • After installation, launch Cyberpunk 2077 normally — Cyber Engine Tweaks loads automatically if installed correctly.
  • If the mod does not load, verify your Cyberpunk version matches the Cyber Engine Tweaks version you downloaded.

Step-by-step download and installation

Start by finding your Cyberpunk 2077 installation folder. On Steam, right-click Cyberpunk 2077 in your library, select Properties, then Local Files, then Browse. On GOG, the process is similar: right-click the game, select Manage Installation, then Show Folder. Write down or copy this path — you will need it in a moment.

Open a web browser and go to nexusmods.com. Create a free account if you do not have one (you need an account to download, though you can browse without one). Search for "Cyber Engine Tweaks" in the Cyberpunk 2077 section. The official version is maintained by the user "yamashi" and will be the first result with the most downloads and endorsements.

On the mod page, find the Files section. Download the latest version — it will be a .zip file, usually named something like "Cyber_Engine_Tweaks_v1_X_X.zip". Do not download older versions unless you have a specific reason. Save it to your Downloads folder or anywhere you can find it easily.

Once downloaded, right-click the .zip file and select Extract All (Windows) or double-click it (Mac). A folder will appear, usually named "Cyber Engine Tweaks" or similar. Open that folder. Inside, you should see folders named "bin" and "input" and possibly others.

Now open your Cyberpunk 2077 installation folder (the path you found earlier). You should see folders like "bin", "engine", "r6", and "red4ext". This is where you paste the Cyber Engine Tweaks files. Drag the contents of the extracted Cyber Engine Tweaks folder into your Cyberpunk folder. Windows will ask if you want to merge folders — say yes. The files will combine with existing folders rather than overwrite them.

That is the installation. Close the folder windows. Launch Cyberpunk 2077 through Steam or GOG normally. If Cyber Engine Tweaks installed correctly, it will load automatically when the game starts. You will not see a separate launcher or prompt — it runs in the background.

Verifying the installation worked

The easiest way to confirm Cyber Engine Tweaks is running is to look for a console window. While Cyberpunk 2077 is loading, a small black command-line window may appear briefly behind the game window. This is the Cyber Engine Tweaks console. If you see it, the mod loaded successfully.

Another way to check is to look in your Cyberpunk 2077 folder for a file called "cyber_engine_tweaks.log". If this file exists and has a recent timestamp (today's date), Cyber Engine Tweaks ran. Open it in Notepad to see if there are any error messages. A log full of "loaded successfully" messages means everything is working.

If you do not see either of these signs, the most common cause is a version mismatch. Cyber Engine Tweaks updates when Cyberpunk 2077 updates, and an old version of the mod will not load on a new version of the game. Check the mod page on Nexus Mods to see if a newer version is available, and download and install that instead.

Troubleshooting common installation problems

If Cyberpunk 2077 crashes immediately after launching, Cyber Engine Tweaks may be incompatible with your game version. Go back to the Nexus Mods page and check the version number listed there. Compare it to the version of Cyberpunk 2077 you have installed. In Steam, right-click the game, select Properties, then Local Files, then you can see the version number. If they do not match, download the correct version of Cyber Engine Tweaks.

If you extracted the files to the wrong location, Cyber Engine Tweaks will not load. Double-check that you pasted the contents into the actual Cyberpunk 2077 installation folder, not into a shortcut or a backup folder. The folder should contain the game's executable file (Cyberpunk2077.exe on Windows).

If you are using other mods, they may conflict with Cyber Engine Tweaks or with each other. Try launching the game with only Cyber Engine Tweaks installed first. If it works, add other mods one at a time and test after each one to find which one causes the problem. Some mods require Cyber Engine Tweaks to be installed first, while others do not — check each mod's description on Nexus Mods.

If you still have problems, check the Cyber Engine Tweaks page on Nexus Mods for a troubleshooting section or known issues list. The mod's community is active, and solutions to common problems are usually documented there.

What to do after installation

Once Cyber Engine Tweaks is running, you can install other mods that depend on it. Many visual mods, gameplay tweaks, and quality-of-life improvements require Cyber Engine Tweaks to function. When you download a new mod, read its description carefully — it will tell you if Cyber Engine Tweaks is required and which version.

Some mods come with configuration files that let you customize how they work. These are usually .ini or .json files in a "config" folder. You can open them in Notepad and change settings like on/off toggles or numerical values. Save the file and restart the game for changes to take effect.

Keep Cyber Engine Tweaks updated. When Cyberpunk 2077 receives a major update, check Nexus Mods to see if a new version of Cyber Engine Tweaks is available. An outdated version may cause crashes or prevent the game from launching. Uninstall the old version (delete the Cyber Engine Tweaks files from your Cyberpunk folder) and install the new one using the same steps as before.

Uninstalling Cyber Engine Tweaks

If you want to remove Cyber Engine Tweaks, you do not need to reinstall Cyberpunk 2077. Open your Cyberpunk 2077 installation folder and delete the "bin/x64/plugins" folder (or just the Cyber Engine Tweaks files inside it if you have other plugins). You can also delete the "input" folder if Cyber Engine Tweaks created one. The game will launch normally without the mod.

If you installed other mods that depend on Cyber Engine Tweaks, they will stop working once you remove it. You will need to uninstall those mods as well, or reinstall Cyber Engine Tweaks to use them again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Cyber Engine Tweaks to play Cyberpunk 2077?

No. Cyber Engine Tweaks is optional and only needed if you want to use mods that depend on it. The base game runs fine without any mods installed.

Will Cyber Engine Tweaks get me banned from online play?

Cyberpunk 2077 does not have multiplayer or competitive online modes, so there is no ban risk. The game is single-player only. You can use mods without any penalty.

Can I use Cyber Engine Tweaks on console?

No. Cyber Engine Tweaks only works on PC. Console versions of Cyberpunk 2077 (PlayStation and Xbox) do not support mods of any kind.

What if Cyber Engine Tweaks breaks my save file?

Cyber Engine Tweaks itself does not modify save files. However, some mods that run on top of it might. Before installing a new mod, back up your save file by copying it to another folder. If a mod causes problems, you can delete it and load your backup save.

Where do I find the Cyber Engine Tweaks configuration file?

The main configuration file is usually in your Cyberpunk 2077 folder under "bin/x64/plugins/cyber_engine_tweaks". Look for a file named "config.json" or similar. Open it in Notepad to change settings. Some mods also create their own config files in a "config" subfolder.