How to Move Your World to a Hosted Server (Every Game)

To move your world to a hosted server, find the save folder on the PC that hosted it, stop the new server, upload the save into the server's save folder (by the browser file manager or SFTP for big worlds), set the world name in the server config if the game needs it, and start the server. The whole thing usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. The only tricky part is knowing where each game keeps its saves, so there is a table for every game below.

Short answer

Back up your local world somewhere safe.
Find the save on your PC (see the table).
Stop the server so it does not overwrite your upload.
Upload the world into the server's save folder.
Point the server at it if the game uses a world name setting.
Start the server and check the console, then join.

Before you start

Close the game on your PC so the save is not being written while you copy it.
Make a copy of the world folder and keep it. If anything goes wrong, you start again from the copy.
Match the game version. The server should run the same version your world was last played on, or newer. Loading a world in an older version can break it.
Match mods. If the world used mods, install the same mods on the server first. See how to host a modded game server.
Zip big worlds. One zip uploads faster than thousands of small files. Unzip it on the server if your panel supports it, or upload the folder by SFTP instead.

Where each game keeps its saves

Paths are for Windows. %APPDATA% and %LOCALAPPDATA% can be pasted into the File Explorer address bar.

Game	Save on your PC	Where it goes on the server	Notes
Minecraft	`%APPDATA%\.minecraft\saves\<World>`	The world folder, named by `level-name` in `server.properties` (default `world`)	Rename your folder to match `level-name`, or change `level-name`
Terraria	`Documents\My Games\Terraria\Worlds\<World>.wld`	The server's worlds folder	Point the `world=` setting at the file. tModLoader worlds are in the `tModLoader\Worlds` folder
Valheim	`%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local`	The server's `worlds_local`	Copy all files for that world, set `-world` to its exact name
Palworld	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\Pal\Saved\SaveGames\<SteamID>\<WorldID>`	`Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/<WorldID>`	Set `DedicatedServerName` in `GameUserSettings.ini` to the folder name. The old host's character usually needs fixing
Enshrouded	`%USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\enshrouded` (first world is `3ad85aea`)	The server's `savegame` folder	Characters live on each player's PC and come with them
Satisfactory	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\FactoryGame\Saved\SaveGames\<ID>\<Save>.sav`	Uploaded through the in game Server Manager	Easiest of all: Manage Saves, upload, load
Factorio	`%APPDATA%\Factorio\saves\<Save>.zip`	The server's `saves` folder	Install the same mods on the server
7 Days to Die	`%APPDATA%\7DaysToDie\Saves\<World>\<Game>`	The server's `Saves` folder, same structure	Random gen worlds also need the map from `GeneratedWorlds`. `GameWorld` and `GameName` in `serverconfig.xml` must match
ARK: Survival Ascended	`ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArksLocal\<Map>_WP` in the game folder	`ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/<Map>_WP`	The `.ark` file moves the world. Characters and tribes need extra steps, so back up first
Project Zomboid	`%USERPROFILE%\Zomboid\Saves`	`Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer/<ServerName>`	Moving a single player save to a server is possible but fiddly. Server worlds move easily
RuneScape: Dragonwilds	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\RSDragonwilds\Saved\SaveGames\<World>.sav`	`RSDragonwilds/Saved/SaveGames`	Set `DefaultWorldName` to the world's name
Rust, DayZ	Server saves only	Same folder on the new server	Most groups start fresh on wipes. Moving between servers works by copying the save folder

Game updates sometimes move save files around. If the folder is not where the table says, search your PC for the world name.

Step by step: uploading with the file manager

For small worlds (up to a few hundred MB), the browser is easiest. On GamezServers:

Open your server's control panel from the dashboard.
Press Stop.
Press Backup so you can undo, even though the server is fresh.
Open the Files tab and go to the save folder from the table.
Delete or rename the default world the server generated, if there is one.
Upload your world files.
If the game uses a world name setting, open the config file in the browser editor and set it.
Press Start and watch the console. When it says the world loaded, join.

Step by step: uploading with SFTP

For big worlds, modded worlds or folders with thousands of files, use SFTP with FileZilla or WinSCP.

In the control panel go to Settings and click Show SFTP login. You see the host, port, username and password. Each time you show it, a new password is set.
Open FileZilla, enter the host, username, password and port, and connect.
Stop the server in the panel.
In FileZilla, browse to the save folder on the right and your local world on the left.
Drag the world across. Wait for the queue to finish with no failed transfers.
Set the world name in the config if needed, then start the server.

Game specific tips

Minecraft: single player worlds keep the Nether and End inside the world folder, while Paper and Spigot keep them in separate world_nether and world_the_end folders. Paper moves them for you on first start. Make sure your folder name matches level-name.
Valheim: the name you set with -world must match the world's file or folder name exactly, including capital letters.
Palworld: guests keep their characters. The original host usually has to recreate or repair their character, because host saves are stored differently. Keep backups.
Satisfactory: use the Server Manager in game. Claim the server, open Manage Saves, upload your save and load it.
Terraria: characters are not part of the world. Each player keeps their own.

If the world does not load

Server made a new world instead: the world name setting does not match the folder or file name, or the files are one folder too deep. Check you uploaded the contents where the server expects them.
Crash on start: version mismatch or missing mods. Check the console for the error.
Upload stopped halfway: use SFTP and check for failed transfers, then retry.
Missing builds or items: mods the world used are not installed on the server.

Still stuck? Restore the backup you took and try again, or email support@gamezservers.com.

Why move to a hosted server at all

Once the world is on a server it no longer depends on one person's PC. Friends can play when the host is offline, the host's PC is free, and nobody needs to port forward. See how to keep a game server online 24/7 without your PC.

FAQ

Can I move my single player world to a server?

In most games, yes. Copy the save into the server's save folder and point the server at it. Palworld, ARK and Project Zomboid need a few extra steps for characters.

Will my friends keep their characters?

In Terraria and Enshrouded characters live on each player's PC, so they come along automatically. In Valheim characters are also stored locally. In Palworld guests keep theirs but the host usually needs to fix theirs.

How do I upload a large world?

Use SFTP with FileZilla or WinSCP. It handles big folders far better than a browser upload.

Can I download my world from the server later?

Yes. Download it through the file manager or SFTP whenever you want a copy.

Bring your world over

Pick a plan on the games page, and you can be uploading your save a minute after checkout. The control panel docs show where the files and SFTP login are.