14 min read Beginner Updated: Agrar Chaoten Team

Short answer

What is Courseplay in FS25, in simple terms?

Courseplay is an AI driver mod. You give it a task like 'harvest this field' and the vehicle does it on its own — including turning at the headland. On a server it keeps working even when you're offline.

What Is Courseplay?

Courseplay (often just CP) is one of the most popular mods in Farming Simulator 25. Put simply: Courseplay is a smart AI driver you give a task to — and it then completes it on its own. For example, you say "cultivate this field" or "harvest this plot", and the tractor or combine works the entire field by itself: forward, backward, turning at the field edge, all automatically.

The built-in FS25 helper can do a bit of that too — but Courseplay is far more powerful: it plans entire driving routes ("courses"), turns cleanly, can have combines unloaded automatically and much more. On a server this has a huge advantage: a started Courseplay helper keeps working even when you log out. You start the harvest, turn off your PC, and the next day the field is done.

Who is this guide for? Absolute beginners. You need no prior knowledge at all. We explain every step, every key and every technical term. At the very bottom you'll also find a glossary with all the important terms.

Requirements

Before you start, you only need three things:

  • An FS25 dedicated server on which you're allowed to install mods.
  • The "FS25_Courseplay" mod — free on the official ModHub.
  • A vehicle with a matching implement in-game, e.g. a tractor with a seeder or a combine with a header.

Important for the server: Always use the ModHub version of Courseplay. Only that keeps your server crossplay-capable (PC, PS5, Xbox together). External versions disable crossplay.

Installing Courseplay on the Server — Step by Step

1

Download the mod

Search the FS25 ModHub for "Courseplay" or download the file FS25_Courseplay.zip from the official source. Do not unzip it — the ZIP file stays as it is.

2

Upload it to the server

Two ways: either activate Courseplay directly in your server's web interface ("Mods" section → ModHub), or upload the ZIP via FTP into your server's mod folder. You get your FTP credentials from your server provider.

3

Activate the mod in the savegame

In the web interface, tick the checkbox next to Courseplay in the mod settings so the mod loads at server startup.

4

Restart the server

Restart the server. Then check in the server log that Courseplay loaded without errors (search for "Courseplay"). If there's no red Error, everything is fine.

All players: With ModHub mods, your friends don't need to do anything — they download Courseplay automatically when they join. You only need to install the mod on the server once.

The Controls: How to Open Courseplay

Once you're sitting in a vehicle in-game, you control Courseplay through its own menu. Because the keys can differ for everyone, you set them yourself once:

1

Check the key bindings

In the FS25 main menu, go to Settings → Controls and type "Courseplay" into the search at the top. There you'll see all the Courseplay keys. For example, assign a key to open the Courseplay menu.

2

Open the menu in the vehicle

Get into your vehicle and press the key you just chose — the Courseplay window opens. This is where you configure everything and start the helper.

In the menu you'll find tabs like Fieldwork, Unloading/Overloading and general settings. To begin with, only "Fieldwork" matters.

Your First Field Course — Fully Explained

Now the most important part: we'll have a field worked automatically. A "course" is simply Courseplay's word for the driving route across the field.

1

Prepare the vehicle

Get into a tractor with an attached implement (e.g. cultivator or seeder) and drive onto or up to the desired field. Fuel and, if applicable, seeds should be filled up.

2

Open the Courseplay menu

Open the menu with your key and go to the Fieldwork tab.

3

Have a course generated

Courseplay automatically detects the field you're standing on. Click "Generate course". Courseplay calculates briefly and lays out the complete route over the field — including the lanes and the laps at the field edge.

4

Start the helper

Click "Start". Your vehicle sets off and works the field on its own. You can now get out and do something else — on the server it even keeps running when you go offline.

What's happening right now? Courseplay drives lane by lane across the field, automatically lifts the implement at the field edge, turns, and lowers it again. Just like a human driver — except it never gets tired.

The Most Important Settings — Explained Clearly

You don't have to change any of this to get started. But if the course isn't perfect, these knobs help:

Working width
How wide your implement works. Courseplay usually detects this automatically. If it's wrong (gaps or overlaps), correct it here.
Headland
These are the laps at the field edge that are driven first so the vehicle can turn cleanly later. 2–3 laps are a good default.
Turning radius
How tightly the vehicle is allowed to turn. If the value is too small, the tractor "tangles up" while turning. Increase the value for large rigs.
Working direction
Which direction the lanes run. On long, narrow fields it pays to pick the direction so the lanes are as long as possible (fewer turns = faster).

Having the Combine Unloaded Automatically

A real highlight: Courseplay can have a second driver position a tractor with trailer next to the combine so it never has to stop to unload.

1

Have the combine harvest on a course

Create and start a harvest course for the combine as described above.

2

Set up the unloader

Get into a tractor with trailer, open the Courseplay menu and choose the "Unloading/Overloading" (Combine Unloader) mode. Start it — the tractor now drives to the combine automatically and collects the grain.

That way the harvest runs without pause. You can then send the full trailer to the sell point via AutoDrive — more on that in a moment.

Courseplay + AutoDrive: the Perfect Team

Courseplay is strong in the field. AutoDrive (AD) is strong on the road. Together they form a complete chain:

  • Courseplay harvests the field.
  • The unloader (Courseplay) collects the grain.
  • AutoDrive brings the full trailer to the sell point and back again.

We explain how to set up AutoDrive step by step in its own guide: FS25 AutoDrive for beginners.

Performance: Why the Server CPU Is Decisive

Every vehicle Courseplay controls must be constantly computed by the server. AI vehicles are the most CPU-intensive thing in all of FS25. The limit is set not by the game, but by the single-core performance of the server CPU.

Rule of thumb: The higher the single-core performance of the server CPU, the more Courseplay vehicles run smoothly at once. CPUs with weak single-core performance start stuttering with just a few simultaneous helpers.

Tip: the SimpleInspector mod shows you the server TPS (ticks per second) in-game. If it stays above 50, everything is fine.

Common Beginner Mistakes (and the Fix)

The vehicle doesn't move
Usually no course was generated or no suitable implement is attached. First "Generate course", then "Start". Also check that the parking brake is off.
Strips are left unworked
The working width is set incorrectly. Correct it to the implement's real value.
The tractor tangles up while turning
The turning radius is too small. Increase the value, especially for long rigs.
It stops in the middle of the field
Probably empty (seeds/fertilizer) or out of fuel. Refill and restart.
Nothing works after an update
Courseplay is outdated. Always use the ModHub version matching the game version.

Glossary: Courseplay Terms Explained Simply

Course
The planned driving route Courseplay lays over a field.
Headland
The laps at the field edge for clean turning.
Working width
How wide an implement works in one lane.
Unloader / Combine Unloader
A vehicle that unloads the combine automatically.
TPS
"Ticks per second" — the server's processing rate. High = smooth.
ModHub
The official, vetted mod catalog by GIANTS. Crossplay-capable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Frequently asked questions

What is Courseplay in FS25, in simple terms?
Courseplay is an AI driver mod. You give it a task like 'harvest this field' and the vehicle does it on its own — including turning at the headland. On a server it keeps working even when you're offline.
How do I create a course in Courseplay?
Get on the field with an implement attached, open the Courseplay menu, go to 'Fieldwork' and click 'Generate course'. Courseplay detects the field automatically and lays out the route. Then hit 'Start'.
Which key opens the Courseplay menu?
You define that yourself: FS25 main menu > Settings > Controls > search for 'Courseplay' and assign a key to open the menu.
Why isn't my Courseplay vehicle moving?
Usually no course was generated or no suitable implement is attached. First 'Generate course', then 'Start'. The handbrake and an empty fuel tank/seed hopper are common causes too.
Does Courseplay work with crossplay?
Yes, as long as you only use the ModHub version. External versions disable crossplay for console players.

Questions about this guide?

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Last updated: 2026-06-21 · Written by the Agrar Chaoten team