The Generals Zero Hour maps folder isn't where the game is installed. Custom maps go into Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\Maps. Each map sits in its own folder with the same name as its .map file. Once it's there, the map shows up in skirmish and multiplayer under Unofficial Maps.
Zero Hour maps location: the exact path
| Game | Where to put maps |
|---|---|
| Zero Hour | C:\Users\<name>\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\Maps |
| Generals | C:\Users\<name>\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\Maps |
If your Documents folder syncs through OneDrive, the path starts with C:\Users\<name>\OneDrive\Documents.
The Maps folder may not exist yet if you've never installed a map. Just create it yourself.
Zero Hour maps don't go into the original Generals folder, and vice versa. Each game keeps its own data.
How to install maps in Generals Zero Hour, step by step
- Download the archive (usually a .zip).
- Open it. There's usually a folder with the right name inside already.
- Copy that whole folder into Maps.
- Check that you end up with
Maps\MyMap\MyMap.map. - Start Zero Hour, open Skirmish or a network game, and switch to unofficial maps in the map selection.
What's inside a map folder
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
| MyMap.map | The map itself, required |
| MyMap.tga | Thumbnail for the selection menu |
| map.ini | Optional: weather, special rules |
| MyMap.wak | Optional: waves on water |
The main rule: the folder name matches the .map file name. If the archive only has loose files, create the folder yourself and give it the same name.
Common mistakes
The new map isn't in the list. Most often there's an extra level of nesting: Maps\Archive\MyMap\MyMap.map. Remove the middle level.
The map is listed, but the game crashes on load. The file may be corrupted or made for a mod. Move it to your desktop and check whether the game runs without it. On the EA forums, one player fixed crashes by removing MapCache.ini from Maps; the game recreates that file. More on crashes is in the serious error guide.
It was made for a mod. Maps for Contra, Rise of the Reds and other mods often use those mods' units and objects. In plain Zero Hour they won't load or will break. Check the description on the download page. The mods themselves are covered in our mods overview.
Where to get Zero Hour maps
Sources where files have stayed up for years and been checked by the community:
- gentool.net: Zero Hour ranked map packs for 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, plus a full set (about 56 MB);
- GenPatcher installs the Community Map Pack for skirmish, multiplayer and co-op with one checkbox (more in the GenPatcher guide);
- C&C Labs (cnclabs.com): an old catalog for Generals and Zero Hour with its own install instructions;
- ModDB: the Addons section for Zero Hour, with single maps and packs;
- GameMaps (gamemaps.com): a catalog of add-ons and mods for Zero Hour.
For games against bots, look for an AI or skirmish tag in the description. Not every multiplayer map is prepared for computer opponents.
Making your own map: World Builder
Generals maps are made in the World Builder editor. WorldBuilder.exe sits in the game's install folder, and GenPatcher can install it too. A map you save in the editor goes into Maps with the right structure automatically.
Custom maps online
To play a custom map online, every player needs the file. The simplest way is to agree on a pack and install the same files. How to set up a match is on the multiplayer page.
And on a phone
ZeroFront on Android uses the same Zero Hour files you bring over from your PC. To ask about loading your own maps on a phone, contact support in the bot.
FAQ
Where do maps go in the Steam version of Zero Hour?
Same place: Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\Maps. This path doesn't depend on where the game is installed.
Why don't my unofficial maps show up?
Check the nesting and the names: the folder and the .map file must be named the same. And look under unofficial maps, not the standard ones.
Can I put maps straight into the game's install folder?
Custom maps go in Documents. That's the path C&C Labs and Project Perfect Mod point to, and with it the map is sure to appear in the list.
Do Generals maps work in Zero Hour?
Put the file in the Maps folder of the game it was made for; the version is usually listed on the download page. Maps made for mods usually don't work in the plain game.
To play Zero Hour on your phone, open the bot @generals_mobile_bot for the APK and a 24-hour free trial.