How to Reset a Minecraft Server World (New Seed, 2026)

To reset a Minecraft server world, stop the server, back up and delete (or rename) the world folder, set a new level-seed in server.properties if you want a different map, and start the server again. Minecraft generates a fresh world on startup. On 26.1 and newer you can also reset only the End or Nether from inside world/dimensions.

Before you reset: take a backup

A reset deletes every build, chest and player inventory in that world. Even if you are sure, keep a copy. Old worlds are great for a "season 1" download for your players later, and you can always put it back.

• Self hosted: copy the whole server folder somewhere safe, or at least the world folder.
• GamezServers: click Backup on the dashboard first.

How do I reset a Minecraft server world?

1. Stop the server. Never delete a world while the server runs, it will save over your changes on shutdown.
2. Find the world folder. It is named after level-name in server.properties, which is world by default.
3. Delete or rename it. Renaming to something like world-season1 keeps it around in case you change your mind.
4. Paper and Spigot before 26.1 only: also delete world_nether and world_the_end, since older Bukkit based servers kept those as separate folders.
5. Set the seed (optional, next section).
6. Start the server. It generates a new world with the same server.properties, whitelist, ops and plugins as before.

A faster alternative to deleting: change level-name to a new name such as world2. The server creates a new world folder and leaves the old one untouched. Switch back any time by changing the name back.

How do I change the seed on a Minecraft server?

Set level-seed in server.properties before the new world generates:

level-seed=8091867987493326313

The seed only matters when a world is created. Changing it on an existing world does nothing, which is why you have to reset the world for a new seed to take effect. Text seeds work too, Minecraft converts them to a number. Leave it empty for a random seed.

You can find a singleplayer world's seed with /seed in that world, then paste the number into level-seed.

Which world type settings matter for a reset?

These server.properties keys only apply when a new world generates, so set them before the first start:

Amplified worlds are much heavier to generate and run, so give the server more RAM if you pick them. See how much RAM a Minecraft server needs.

How do I reset only the End or the Nether?

SMP servers often reset just the End for a fresh dragon fight and elytra hunt, or just the Nether after it gets strip mined. Where the files live depends on your version.

Minecraft 26.1 restructured world saves, and Paper followed in its 26.1 release (PaperMC, April 26, 2026), so on a current server all three dimensions sit under world/dimensions/minecraft/.

Steps:

1. Stop the server and back up.
2. Delete only the folder for the dimension you want to reset.
3. Start the server. The dimension regenerates the next time someone enters it.

Players standing in that dimension when you reset will spawn in fresh terrain, which can put them inside a wall or above the void. Ask everyone to leave the dimension first. Depending on the version, the record of the dragon fight can be stored outside that folder, so the dragon may not respawn on its own. Players can always summon it again with four End Crystals on the exit portal.

Can I reset the world but keep player inventories?

Not by default. On 26.1 and newer, player data lives inside the world at world/players/data (before 26.1 it was world/playerdata), so it goes with the world. To keep inventories, copy that folder out before the reset and back into the new world while the server is stopped. Positions carry over too, so some players may land somewhere odd in the new terrain. Advancements and stats sit next to it in players/advancements and players/stats.

Resetting a world on a Bedrock server

Bedrock Dedicated Server keeps worlds in worlds/<level-name>. To reset, stop the server, delete or rename that folder, set level-seed if you want one and start again. On GamezServers, change World name in Settings to a new name for a fresh world and keep the old one. Bedrock does not let you reset a single dimension from the files as easily, so treat it as a whole world reset.

Resetting on GamezServers

1. Click Backup, then Stop.
2. In the Files tab, rename or delete the world folder, or change level-name in server.properties.
3. Set level-seed and level-type if you want them.
4. Click Start and watch the Console as the new world generates.

After a reset is the best time to pregenerate the world, which removes most exploration lag. Our Minecraft server lag fix covers Chunky. If you want to bring an old singleplayer world in instead, see how to upload a world to a Minecraft server.

FAQ

How do I reset my Minecraft server world without losing settings?

Only delete or rename the world folder. server.properties, the whitelist, ops, plugins and mods sit outside it and stay as they are.

Why did my seed not change after editing level-seed?

The seed only applies when a new world is generated. Delete or rename the old world folder, or change level-name, then restart.

Where is the End folder in Minecraft 26.x?

At world/dimensions/minecraft/the_end. Before 26.1 it was world/DIM1, or world_the_end on Paper and Spigot.

Can I undo a world reset?

Only from a backup. Restore the copy you made before deleting the world, or rename the old folder back if you renamed instead of deleting.

Do players need to do anything after a reset?

No. They join the same address as before. Their inventories start empty unless you copied player data across.