How to manually install mods when all mods have a mod file called descriptor.mod

[Themanman]

Lads, there's a way easier way to do this: use Irony Mod Manager. It takes care of the .mod file in your modding root automatically, and works completely fine with mods downloaded from steam/paradox/loverslab/etc.

[RebelSoul]

Update for what fixed it for me. On the current version of the launcher if you do it incorrectly and then fix it, you have to click "reload installed mods" (looks like a refresh button top right) on the all installed mods page. When you do this check the box to clear cache. It basically isn't checking again when it sees it was wrong the first time.