Skyrim: 10 Amazing Mods To Clean Up The User Interface

The standard Skyrim user interface is straightforward, but it’s quite long in the tooth at this point. It’s easy to get tired of its dull and unoptimized look and feel, which is why modders have taken it upon themselves to try and spice things up. Whether it’s the main menu interface, the in-game camera system, or the heads-up display, the fixes are there.

Installing any or all of these excellent mods to a load order can significantly improve how the game is played. Many of the changes will feel subtle but welcome, while others will completely revolutionize the interface in a brand new way. This is especially important for gamers intending to replay Skyrim in the modern day.

10 Customizable Camera

• Legendary version | Special Edition version

The default camera system in Skyrim probably goes unnoticed by many players, as they mostly spend their time in first-person mode. Those who prefer to wander around in third-person mode may desire more flexibility from the camera, which is where Customizable Camera comes into play.

Through an MCM menu, this mod can control the zoom, pitch, and horizontal/vertical offset of the camera, allowing gamers to craft the perfect angle. They can even swap shoulders with a press of a button, similar to games like Sniper Elite 4 and Metal Gear Solid V.

9 Immersive HUD

• Legendary version | Special Edition version

The default Skyrim heads-up display can really detract from the fantasy-style immersion of the game, and some players would rather rid themselves of it entirely. However, that would involve losing sight of important things like the health and stamina bar. Immersive HUD is an excellent solution to this problem.

This mod allows players to tailor their HUD experience from top to bottom. Players can set how long the HUD will auto-hide, which elements will appear on screen, and their respective transparencies, among other things. It’s perfect for those who want to lose themselves in the world, with no pesky distractions.

8 Wider MCM Menu For SkyUI

• Legendary version | Special Edition version

SkyUI is the most downloaded Skyrim mod, for good reason. It overhauls the entire game’s user interface in a clean and efficient way while adding an MCM menu for other mods that take advantage of its architecture. In short, it’s a necessity. However, some elements of SkyUI require a bit of fixing up from time to time.

The width of the MCM menu is one such area, and Wider MCM Menu for SkyUI is the fix. Certain mods like Frostfall contain text and headers that are simply too wide, resulting in them getting cut off. By widening out the menu, everything fits nicely, looks a lot better, and becomes easier to navigate.

7 Yes I’m Sure

• Special Edition only

This mod fixes a rather simple yet consistent irritation in Skyrim – namely, an invasive message prompt asking players if they’d really like to exit the various menus in the game. While some may find the extra caution helpful, veteran Skyrim gamers don’t need their hands held in such a manner.

Yes I’m Sure merely disables these prompts altogether, causing less intrusion during playtime. It’s a simple and effective fix that may not seem particularly noteworthy until it’s installed and running. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying its usefulness.

6 Smooth Interface (60fps)

• Special Edition only

Skyrim has a real problem with framerates, as many gamers can attest to. Pushing the game over 60fps can cause the physics engine to go absolutely berserk, resulting in some rather hilarious glitches and side effects. However, even if the game is locked to 60fps, the main menu interface is another matter.

For some reason, the menu appears to run at 30fps or lower, causing the mouse cursor to appear sluggish and heavy. Smooth Interface (60fps) bumps up the framerate of the menu system, allowing players to navigate the menus with silky smooth precision.

5 Clean Menu

• Special Edition only

This mod is a multi-fix option for those who want to get into the game quicker and not have to deal with such a bloated main menu. Clean Menu disables the opening intro videos of the game and gets straight to the main menu interface, which is a welcome plus right from the start.

Next, it gets rid of a bunch of superfluous content from the main menu, including Creation Club news, rising smoke, and a bunch of unnecessary buttons that most gamers won’t ever use. It’s a minimalist solution to an annoying set of gripes that many gamers never thought twice about fixing.

4 Complete Widescreen Fix For Vanilla And SkyUI 2.2. and 5.2 SE

• Special Edition only

Gamers sporting an ultra-wide 21:9 or 32:9 monitor will benefit immensely from this mod. In fact, it’s essential for even running the game at all. By default, Skyrim has no idea how to scale its user interface and visuals to such extreme widths, but Complete Widescreen Fix remedies this out of the box.

The mod properly scales all content based on a 21:9 formula, but 32:9 gamers can still take advantage of it, as well. Without it, widescreen gamers will experience broken UI elements and others that are too large to navigate. There are also optional files on the mod’s main page to further customize the experience.

3 Easy Wheelmenu

• Legendary version | Special Edition version

Many fantasy adventure games offer a console-style wheel menu that can be activated on the fly in order to access armor, weapons, or items. Easy Wheelmenu is a similar style interface that can be activated using up to 16 hotkeys, each representing a different wheel menu with different criteria.

Alternatively, gamers can opt for just one wheel menu with the basic trimmings. It’s compatible with a number of other mods like Campfire, Frostfall, Convenient Horses, and iNeed, to name a few. Though some gamers may not have need of it, having a wheel menu interface can come in handy, especially when it comes to spells or actions.

2 Customizable UI Replacer

• Legendary version | Special Edition version

Those who prefer having a full Skyrim HUD may find that it’s time to do a little window dressing. Customizable UI Replacer spruces up the interface using a variety of presets and custom textures that can really make an impact. There’s even a Dark Souls-style preset for fans of the game.

The mod changes textures for the status bars, arrow icon, level up meter, and compass, to name but a few. It also reskins a number of secondary and tertiary mods like SkyHUD, A Matter of Time, and FISS, making it a one-stop solution for a brand new kind of interface.

1 Dear Diary – Paper SkyUI Menus Replacer

• Legendary version | Special Edition version

It’s high time everyone came to terms with the fact that Skyrim’s standard interface colors are drab, uninspiring and boring. Dear Diary aims to fix all that by reskinning the interface with a beautiful paper texture motif, which goes a long way to selling the fantasy feel of the game.

It’s a highly charming mod that breathes new life into one of the more mundane aspects of Skyrim, and affects everything from the interface menus to the favorites menu and then some. When combined with quest-related Skyrim mods, it can help draw the player into a very immersive experience.

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