I hope this guide is easy to understand and you have no problems. If you have some questions you can write a comment below or sent me a friend request. See ya :D

First you have to understand that there are different kinds of mods. Mods, which change strings, icons or add scenarios or a "data-mod". You activate each mod over the mod manager in the main menu except data-mods. Mods which you can activate in the manager will work immediately.
Data-Mods are mods that change values ingame e.g. goldmine from 800 to 10,000.

But how do i enable/ play data-mods?

If you have subscribed to a mod and downloaded it you have to check whether this is installed. Click on Steam Workshop in the main menu and you will enter the Mod Manager of Age of Empires II: HD.


As seen in the picture the desired mod is installed but still not activated! Data-Mods have a small gear as a feature. Every mod which have a gear have to activate like i will explain you here:


Now we create a game where it is possible to activated this mod. To do that we have to change the "Data Set".


Now we can select our mod which we want to play in this game by clicking on it. If you have changed it you can start your game.

You always have to make these steps again and again if you want to play a data-mod.