MODDINGWIKI Users General Downloading from Nexus Mods
In order for Vortex to handle the “Download with Manager” links, it needs to be configured correctly. You must be logged in to your Nexus Mods account for this to work as intended.
By default, when you start up Vortex it will set itself as the primary application to handle NXM download links (links using the nxm:// prefix from Nexus Mods). This can be manually toggled in the settings menu under "Download".
Sometimes other applications on your PC may cause problems with this feature that require a little more configuration to resolve.
Some mod files may not have a "Vortex" or "Mod Manager Download" button, which means they cannot be directly installed to Vortex. This option is set by the mod author and may not mean the file doesn't work with Vortex, but rather a lack of understanding on their part.
To install any file without a Vortex button, simply download the file manually and drop it into the "Dropzone" at the bottom of the mods tab or use the "Install from File" option on the mods toolbar.
It's also possible the game you are viewing mods for is not currently supported by Vortex. In this case, it's unlikely the mod will work even if installed manually. You can check which games are supported in the Games section.
Vortex sets itself as the default app for NXM download links at an OS level, but some browsers add an additional layer to file associations provided by the browser itself. This is most commonly found in Mozilla browsers, such as Firefox. In these cases you should check your browser settings. Below is an example from the settings section of Waterfox.
The NXM download link can only be associated with a single application, however, Vortex can redirect downloads on a per-game basis to an app of your choice with this optional extension.