Foundry VTT Modules Broke After an Update? How to Find and Fix the Problem
Last updated October 12, 2026
You updated Foundry, your game system, or a batch of modules, and now something's wrong. Maybe the world won't load, a sheet is blank, or a feature quietly stopped working. Updates break things because modules are written against specific versions of Foundry and of your game system. Work through the steps below in order: get back into the world, find the module responsible, then fix it by updating, swapping, or rolling back.
Quick fixes: World won't load → Safe Configuration (step 1). World loads but something's broken → Find the Culprit (step 3). Nothing works → restore your backup (step 6).
1. Get back into your world: Safe Configuration
If a module incompatibility, macro, or script stops your world from loading:
- On the setup screen, find the world and click Edit World.
- Check Launch in Safe Configuration.
- Click Update World, then launch it.
For that launch, Foundry disables all modules, deactivates all scenes, and stops all playing audio tracks. The setting turns itself off afterwards, so any modules you re-activate stay active next time. Now you can turn modules back on deliberately.
2. Read the warnings and check compatibility
▶ “Setup Page Layout” in #FoundryVTT Basics - Getting Started With Fou… (3:15)
The Warnings button on the setup screen lists problems with your modules and systems, such as a package that isn't compatible with your Foundry version. Then check each suspect's compatibility:
- Minimum / Maximum: outside this range, don't expect the package to work.
- Verified: the developer has checked it on this version.
On FoundryMods, every module page shows its compatibility, and the v14 compatibility tracker lists the 500 most-installed modules with their status. Sign in to check your own list.
Don't forget the game system. A module can support your Foundry version but not your system version. The most common case right now: the dnd5e 6.x system requires Foundry v14, and the Midi-QOL and DAE builds listed on FoundryMods support dnd5e 5.3 only. Their dnd5e 6 builds (14.6.0+) are installed by manifest link. More in Best D&D 5e combat automation modules.
3. Find the module causing the problem
▶ “Honorable Mention: Find the Culprit!” in The Top 5 MUST HAVE #FoundryVTT Modules for 2… (2:10)
The classic method is a binary search: turn off half your active modules and check whether the problem is still there. If it is, the culprit is in the half that's still on, so turn off half of those; if not, check the other half. Repeat until one module is left.
Find the Culprit! automates this. Click Find the Culprit in Manage Modules, lock any modules you know aren't involved (libraries are locked by default), and start the run. It then asks whether the issue persists, and it shows how many steps are left. It's also handy for working out which module adds a feature you can't place.
4. Check dependencies
▶ “Activating and Deactivating Modules” in #FoundryVTT Basics - Getting Started With Fou… (18:50)
Modules can require other modules (libraries like libWrapper and socketlib are the most common). A module can fail if its dependency is missing, inactive, or out of date. In Manage Modules, make sure each module's dependencies are installed and active, then click Save Module Settings. When you install a module, Foundry offers to install its dependencies automatically, and that's the recommended choice.
5. Fix it: update, pin a version, or swap
▶ “Installing Game Systems” in #FoundryVTT Basics - Getting Started With Fou… (7:21) · “Direct Manifest Links” in How and Where to Get Content Packs for Foundr… (16:06)
- Update. Use Update All on the setup screen's packages tabs. The fix may already be out.
- Install a specific version. Paste that version's manifest URL into the install dialog to install an older release that worked, or a newer build that isn't listed yet (like the dnd5e 6 builds of Midi-QOL and DAE).
- Swap it out. If a module is abandoned (not verified for several versions), look for a maintained alternative. Our Foundry v14 compatible modules list covers common replacements.
- Report it. If a maintained module broke, tell its author, and include your Foundry, system, and module versions.
6. Roll back if you have to
If you can't fix it before your next session, restore the backup you made before updating (setup screen → Manage Backups) and stay on the previous version until your modules catch up. That's why Foundry recommends backing up, or taking a full snapshot, before every update. If you use a hosting service, check how it handles backups.
Prevent it next time
▶ “Module Presets” in The New KING of #FoundryVTT Module Management… (9:44)
- Back up (or snapshot) before every update.
- Update one layer at a time: Foundry, then the system, then modules, and play-test in between.
- Test major versions on a copy of your data first.
- Keep your module list to ones you know you use. Module presets in Big Bad Module Manager make it easy to save a known-good set and switch back to it.
Related guides
Featured modules
Frequently asked questions
My Foundry world won't load after an update. What should I do?
Edit the world on the setup screen, check Launch in Safe Configuration, and launch it. All modules are disabled for that launch, so you can get in and re-enable them one at a time.
How do I find which module is causing a problem in Foundry?
Use Find the Culprit. It turns modules off and on in a binary search and asks after each step whether the problem persists, until it identifies the module.
How do I install an older version of a Foundry module?
Paste the manifest URL for that specific version into the module install dialog. Many authors publish a manifest link for each release.
A module says it's compatible with my Foundry version but still breaks. Why?
It may not support your game system's version. For example, the Midi-QOL build listed for Foundry v14 supports dnd5e 5.3 but not dnd5e 6. Check the system range on the module's page.
Can I undo a Foundry update?
Yes, if you made a backup or snapshot first. Restore it from Manage Backups and stay on the previous version until your modules are updated.