How to modify weapons in Starfield

A screenshot of the weapons modification panel in Starfield — (Image credit: Microsoft / Bethesda)

Once you know how to modify guns and weapons in Starfield, you can take more control over your combat. As with other open-world Bethesda epics, such as Fallout or The Elder Scrolls games, weapons play a large part in Starfield; part of the fun of the game is finding new weapons, and customizing your existing ones.

However, it isn't immediately obvious how to customize your weapons in the game. To me at least, Starfield generally doesn't seem to give users much in the way of tutorials. You aren't really taken through many key game mechanics, including how to customize your guns.

Luckily, it's super easy to customize weapons in Starfield, and we'll show you how.

How to customize weapons in Starfield

We took the following screenshots on the PC version of the game, but the steps should be the same for Xbox — simply press A where the guide shows E.

1. Find a Weapons Workbench

A screenshot showing how to modify weapons on Starfield

First you'll need to find a Weapons Workbench. These are dotted around the game, but there's one in the basement of the Constellation Lodge, which you'll have access to via the main quest within the first hour or two of gaming. Approach a workbench and press E (PC) or press A (Xbox) to begin crafting.

2. Choose a weapon from your inventory

Scroll through the weapons in your inventory and select the weapon you want to modify.

3. Choose a mod slot

Now scroll through the weapon's mod slots and select which area of the weapon you want to modify.

4. Choose a mod

Choose a mod for that available mod slot. In the top right you'll see what resources the mod requires and whether you have them. When you are ready, press E (PC) or A (Xbox) to install. Any mods you can't apply, either for lack of resources or technology, will have the Install option dulled out.

5. Confirm your mod

Now simply press E (PC) or A (Xbox) again to confirm your mod.

Now that you know how to customize your weapons, you can galavant through the universe with a fighting edge.

Want to learn more about Starfield? Check out our guides on how to upgrade your ship in Starfield and how to increase your carry weight in Starfield.

Peter is a Senior Editor at Tom's Guide, heading up the site's Reviews team and Cameras section. As a writer, he covers topics including tech, photography, gaming, hardware, motoring and food & drink. Outside of work, he's an avid photographer, specialising in architectural and portrait photography. When he's not snapping away on his beloved Fujifilm camera, he can usually be found telling everyone about his greyhounds, riding his motorcycle, squeezing as many FPS as possible out of PC games, and perfecting his espresso shots.