How to Move a Stationeers Save to a Dedicated Server

To move a Stationeers save to a dedicated server, copy your station's whole folder from Documents\My Games\Stationeers\saves\<StationName> into the saves folder next to the server's rocketstation_DedicatedServer executable. Then start the server with that exact folder name as the station: -file start "<StationName>" <world>, or the station name setting on a hosted panel. The server loads the station's newest save. Run the same game branch as your client, and the same mods if you used any.

What you can and cannot move

Your characters live in the save with the station, so the crew keeps their suits, tools and inventories. Map, difficulty, start condition and start location are already baked into the station and do not change when you move it.

Before you start

• Save and quit to the main menu, so the newest save is on disk.
• Back up the whole Documents\My Games\Stationeers\saves folder.
• Check the branch. If you play on a Steam beta branch, the server must run the same one. A save from a newer build will not load on an older server.
• List your mods. Plugin mods go on the server too, through BepInEx.

Step 1: Find the station folder

On Windows, press Windows + R and paste:

%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Stationeers\saves

Each station is a folder named after it, holding the world data and its automatic backups.

Copy the folder itself, not just the newest file inside it. The server looks for a station by its folder name and then picks the most recent save inside it.

Step 2: Stop the server and back it up

Stop the server so its autosave does not race your upload. If it has already created a station of its own, download that folder from saves as a backup.

Step 3: Upload the folder

Upload your station folder into the server's saves folder, so you end up with saves/<StationName>/. A long running base can be large, so SFTP (FileZilla or WinSCP) is more reliable than a browser upload. If you set a custom SavePath on a self hosted server, upload there instead.

Step 4: Use the folder name as the station name

This is the step that decides whether your base loads or a fresh one is created. The dedicated server's current start command is:

./rocketstation_DedicatedServer.x86_64 -file start "MarsBase" Mars2 Normal -settings StartLocalHost true ServerVisible true GamePort 27016

If a station called MarsBase exists in saves, the server loads its latest save and ignores the world, difficulty and start options. If the name does not match a folder exactly, it quietly creates a brand new station on the world you gave it. Capitals count, and a trailing space counts. Community setup guides advise station folder names with a capital first letter and no spaces, such as MarsBase, which also avoids quoting problems in launch lines. If your folder has spaces, rename it before you upload and use the new name.

Older launch lines use -loadlatest "MarsBase" Mars2, which works the same way: it scans the station folder and its backups for the newest save. RocketWerkz documented both in their dedicated server guide.

One more trap: even when you load an existing station, keep a valid world and start location on the line. If the name ever mismatches, a start location that belongs to a different world makes world creation fail and the server stops instead of starting.

Step 5: Start and check

Start the server and watch the console until the world has loaded. Join, check the base is yours and walk through the airlock before anything else. Then check the furnace and life support: the server keeps simulating from the moment it starts, unless you turned on Auto Pause.

Common problems

• Server makes a new station: the station name does not match the folder name exactly, or the folder went into the wrong place (for example saves/saves/MarsBase).
• Server fails while creating a world: the name did not match, and the start location does not belong to the chosen world. Fix the name first.
• Save will not load: the server runs a different branch or an older build than the game that made the save. Match the branch in Steam and on the server.
• Modded devices are missing: the server has no BepInEx or is missing a mod your station used. Switch to the BepInEx server type and add the same plugins.
• Old progress shows up: you copied only an older file, not the whole folder. Copy the full station folder so the newest save comes with it.

Moving it to GamezServers

On a Stationeers server from GamezServers, click Backup, stop the server, and upload into saves over the SFTP login in Settings or in the file manager, which also extracts zips and can download a file from a link straight to the server. Set the station name to your folder name and start: the base keeps running for the crew without anyone's PC on, or freezes while empty with Auto Pause. For mods, pick the Stationeers (BepInEx) server type. More on settings in how to host a Stationeers server.

FAQ

Where are Stationeers saves stored?

On Windows in Documents\My Games\Stationeers\saves, one folder per station. Dedicated servers use a saves folder next to the server executable.

Can I use a single player save on a dedicated server?

Yes. Single player and server saves use the same format. Copy the station folder and use its name as the station name.

Why did the server create a new station instead of loading mine?

The station name on the server does not match the save folder name exactly. Capitals and spaces must match.

Will my crew keep their characters?

Yes. Characters are part of the station save, so everyone keeps their suit and inventory when the station moves.