How to Move a Terraria Server to a New Host

Q: Where are Terraria server worlds stored?

In the folder set by worldpath= in serverconfig.txt. By default that is ~/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds on Linux and Documents\My Games\Terraria\Worlds on Windows.

To move a Terraria server to a new host, stop the old server and download the world file <name>.wld from its worlds folder (plus <name>.twld on tModLoader), and copy the values from serverconfig.txt. On a TShock server, also download the whole tshock folder, which holds tshock.sqlite, config.json and sscconfig.json, and the ServerPlugins folder. Upload them to the same places, point the server at the same world name, and run the same Terraria, tModLoader or TShock version.

What you can and cannot move

Thing	Moves to the new server?
The world: buildings, chests, NPCs, boss and event progress	Yes, the `.wld` file
tModLoader mod data in the world (modded tiles, items in chests)	Yes, the `.twld` file next to the `.wld`
Players' characters, vanilla and tModLoader	Nothing to move. Characters stay on each player's PC
TShock accounts, groups, permissions, bans, regions, warps	Yes, `tshock/tshock.sqlite`
TShock server side characters (SSC)	Yes, also in `tshock.sqlite`. Without it, every player starts empty handed
TShock settings	Yes, `tshock/config.json` and `tshock/sscconfig.json`
Mods (tModLoader)	Yes, the `.tmod` files and `enabled.json`, or let the server download them again
A tModLoader world onto a vanilla server	Not cleanly. Modded content is lost. Stay on tModLoader

What goes where

File or folder	What it holds	Old server	New server
`<name>.wld`	The world	The `worldpath=` folder in `serverconfig.txt`. Defaults: `~/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds` (Linux), `Documents\My Games\Terraria\Worlds` (Windows)	The new server's worlds folder
`<name>.twld`	tModLoader mod data for that world	tModLoader's `Worlds` folder, for example `~/.local/share/Terraria/tModLoader/Worlds`	Next to the `.wld`
`serverconfig.txt`	`world=`, `worldpath=`, `maxplayers=`, `password=`, `motd=`	Server install folder	Copy the values, not the paths
`tshock/tshock.sqlite`	Accounts, groups, bans, regions, warps, SSC inventories	`tshock/` in the TShock install folder	`tshock/`
`tshock/config.json` and `sscconfig.json`	TShock settings and SSC settings	`tshock/`	`tshock/`
`ServerPlugins/*.dll`	TShock plugins	TShock install folder	`ServerPlugins/`
`Mods/*.tmod` and `Mods/enabled.json`	tModLoader mods and which are on	tModLoader's `Mods` folder	The new server's mods folder

The .wld.bak and .twld.bak files are the previous save. Bring them as a fallback if you like.

A Terraria base with NPC houses and a boss arena

Before you start

Save and stop. Run save (or exit, which saves first) in the console so the world is written.
Match the version. Note the Terraria version, or the tModLoader or TShock release. A world saved on a newer version will not load on an older server, and players must match the server.
List mods and plugins. For tModLoader, note every mod and version. For TShock, note each plugin and its version.

Step 1: Download from the old host

Use the host's backup download, its file manager's zip option, or SFTP with FileZilla or WinSCP. Terraria files are small, so any of them works. Check worldpath= and world= in serverconfig.txt first, because that tells you exactly where the live world is.

Step 2: Bring the TShock database, not just the world

This is the gotcha on TShock servers. People copy the .wld and leave tshock.sqlite behind, because it does not look like part of the world. But that one file holds every user account, group and permission, every ban, every protected region and warp, and, if server side characters are on, every player's inventory, health and mana. Without it, players cannot log in to their accounts, regions vanish and SSC characters start from nothing.

Regions are also tied to the world's internal ID. Move the original .wld file. If you generate a new world with the same name instead, it gets a new ID and the old regions no longer apply to it.

Step 3: Upload to the new server

Stop the new server, then:

Upload the .wld (and .twld) into the new server's worlds folder.
On TShock, upload the tshock folder and the plugins in ServerPlugins.
On tModLoader, upload the .tmod files and enabled.json into the mods folder.
Copy your maxplayers, password and motd values into the new config.

Step 4: Point the server at the world

The server loads the world that world= points to (or -world on the command line). If that file does not exist and autocreate is on, it quietly makes a new world. Point it at your uploaded file, or rename your file to the name the new server expects. Keep the .wld and .twld names identical.

Step 5: Start and check

Start the server and join. Check a chest, a house and a boss you have beaten. On TShock, log in with /login and check /region list. The TShock wiki covers the config keys.

Common problems

Server made a new world: world= or the World name does not match your file, or the file went into the wrong folder.
Modded items gone from chests: the .twld was left behind or has a different name from the .wld.
TShock accounts gone, nobody is admin: tshock.sqlite was not copied. Upload it with the server stopped.
SSC players spawn with nothing: same cause. Their inventories are in tshock.sqlite.
Regions no longer protect anything: the world was regenerated rather than moved, so its ID changed.
TShock stops on start: a plugin is built for another TShock version.

Moving to GamezServers

On a Terraria server from GamezServers, pick Vanilla, tModLoader or TShock to match the old server. Click Backup, stop the server, and upload your world into saves/Worlds (vanilla and tModLoader) or the server folder (TShock) from the Files tab or over SFTP (login in Settings), plus the tshock folder on TShock. The file manager can extract a zip or download one straight from a link. Set World name to your file name without .wld, and the world stays online without anyone's PC. For a world from your own PC, see how to upload a Terraria world to a server.

FAQ

Where are Terraria server worlds stored?

In the folder set by worldpath= in serverconfig.txt. By default that is ~/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds on Linux and Documents\My Games\Terraria\Worlds on Windows.

Will my friends keep their characters?

Yes. Characters are saved on each player's PC. On TShock with server side characters, they are in tshock.sqlite, so copy that file.

What is tshock.sqlite?

TShock's database. It stores accounts, groups, bans, regions, warps and server side characters.

Do I need the .twld file?

Yes on tModLoader. It holds the modded parts of the world, and without it modded tiles and items are lost.