How to Get Old Versions of Mods

[Gargamel]

A lot of players are still using older versions of KSP, especially after a new release drops.  Sometimes these players are wanting to add or update a mod to that older game.  But with the modders updating the mods to the current version, it can be confusing as to how to acquire older versions.  This post will help these players find those older mods.  I'll be addressing the three most common ways of acquiring mods, GitHub, SpaceDock, and CurseForge.  There are also some modders who host their mods differently for various reasons, you'll have to do your own digging for those. 

This thread assumes you can manually install a mod from the .zip into the correct GameData folder.  I am not addressing how to use CKAN for this, for while I use CKAN, I can find it difficult to force it to install an older version of mod if the modder has incorrectly tagged the version.  Usually CKAN will install the correct version, but sometimes it won't.   If you are having trouble with CKAN and a mod version, this thread will help you install it manually.   It's relatively easy for the CKAN team to fix such problems if they're made aware of them for a particular mod, which anyone can do by filing an issue: https://github.com/KSP-CKAN/NetKAN/issues/new  (Thanks @HebaruSan!).

Older versions may or may not have all the functionality of the current version of the mod.  This is to be expected, as modders are usually not going to go back and include features for older deprecated versions.  Also, some newer features of mods may not even be compatible with older versions of KSP, so expecting them to be there is a bit of a reach.  But the versions we will be downloading were the last stable releases the modders put out for each version of KSP, so they should be completely functional for the game you are playing, even if they may be lacking a feature or two shown in the Mod Release threads post. 

 

We're going to look at one of the most commonly used mods (and should be stock by most accounts, but that's an argument for a different thread ), Kerbal Alarm Clock:

If you go to the forum thread, and read the first post, the download links will be provided by the modder:

Sometimes the thread will have graphics for links, sometimes just text like this.  But it is required to have download links.  Click the download link of your choice.

SpaceDock:

When you first visit the mod page on SpaceDock, you will see this screen, with graphics above.  You might be tempted to click the "Download" button, but that will only get you the latest version of the mod.  Instead, click "Changelog".  This will give you a list of the versions hosted on Spacedock.

You will now see a list of all the previous versions, scroll down till you see the version you require.  In this case, if we are still playing 1.3.1, you'll want the latest version for the 1.3.x release, so we would click download under Version 3.8.5.0.  This will allow you to download the .zip of that version, and allow you to install it.

GitHub:

Most modders will link to this page, but not always.  When you arrive at GitHub make sure you click the Code tab, and then releases if the link has not already brought you there:

Then you can scroll down the list, and find the version of the mod appropriate for your KSP version.  In this case, there is no "Download" button, we just have to click the .zip file. and it will let us download it.

 

CurseForge (Thanks to @voicey99 for this section):

In this example using KAC, the Curse link from the forum thread is dead ( @TriggerAu?), but can still be found on Curse here.

Arriving at the mod page, you will see the below tabs under the mod title. Click the "Files" tab:

 

That will take you to the page containing all past versions of the mod for download. Scroll down for the one you want, and click the down arrow button located in the middle of the screen.  If you just click the version name, it will bring you more details on the version, but also has a download link.

 

This thread should have helped you find the versions of mods for the game you are playing.  If you cannot find the version of the mod you are looking for, ask in the mod release thread.  It may have been removed from the hosting sites for one reason or another, but there is a chance the modder or another player still has an older version of it laying around. 

 

 

Edited July 13, 2019 by Gargamel

[HebaruSan]

1 hour ago, Gargamel said:

while I use Ckan, I find it difficult to force it to install an older version of mod if the modder has incorrectly tagged the version.  Sometimes Ckan will install the correct version, sometimes it won't.   If you are having trouble with Ckan and a mod version, 

It's relatively easy for the CKAN team to fix such problems if we're made aware of them for a particular mod, which anyone can do by filing an issue:

• https://github.com/KSP-CKAN/NetKAN/issues/new

[Gargamel]

3 minutes ago, HebaruSan said:

It's relatively easy for the CKAN team to fix such problems if we're made aware of them for a particular mod, which anyone can do by filing an issue:

• https://github.com/KSP-CKAN/NetKAN/issues/new

Thanks! Filed one myself, and I'll add this to the OP. 

[voicey99]

(KAC is still up on Curse, just here instead of the linked page)

Here's how Curse does it. Arriving at the mod page, you will see the below tabs under the mod title. Click the "Files" tab:

That will take you to the page containing all past versions of the mod for download. Scroll down for the one you want:

[Gargamel]

Thanks @voicey99, I'll add this to the OP.

[MaximumThrust]

I'm playing in 1.3.1, and 95% of my mods are from SpaceDock, and 5% from GitHub, using this. I think it will help new users.

CKAN is great for searching for mods, and seem very simple to new users, but I had many problems with it. Since the Kerbal mods are stored in individual folders, a Mod Manager is not really needed, I find much easier and more organized to do everything manually, and have full control of what's happening.

[Jas0n]

Also, some mods were made/maintained by different people at different points, so some googlefu might be needed to find the version needed.

[DoctorDavinci]

Just a PSA in regards to mods and CKAN ... 

There are many mods out there which are not on CKAN and recommend manual installation ... BD Armory Continued, DCK, DCK FutureTech and pretty much all of the SM mods are recommended to be installed manually (there are many more)

If you wish to install earlier versions of these mods you can go to their github releases pages and scroll down until you find the version that is compatible with the KSP version you are running

 

[jealousme]

Thanks a lot for the great information

[Ruedii]

GitHub also allows you to fetch incremental changes from the Git repository if they are published.  If you are crafty enough you can even apply select changes to an older version

[ricikap7]

Really useful information!