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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11On Windows, 7 Days to Die local and peer-hosted worlds are normally stored in %APPDATA%7DaysToDieSaves<GameWorld><GameName> (usually C:Users<username>AppDataRoaming7DaysToDieSaves). On Linux, the equivalent is ~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/. To move a world to a dedicated server, stop the server, copy the complete game-name folder, copy the matching GeneratedWorlds folder when the world is randomly generated, and upload both to the server’s configured user-data location. The server’s UserDataFolder and SaveGameFolder settings take precedence over the usual defaults.
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The distinction that prevents most failed migrations is simple: Saves contains the playable save state, while GeneratedWorlds caches terrain for randomly generated maps. Navezgane terrain is shipped with the game, so it does not require a generated-world cache copied from your computer.
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Save locations by platform
The exact path depends on the operating system and whether you are looking at a client installation or a dedicated server. A dedicated server normally uses the account that runs the server process, not necessarily your personal desktop account.
| Use case | Default location | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Windows client, single-player or peer-hosted | %APPDATA%7DaysToDieSaves |
Expand the world folder, then the game-name folder. |
| Linux client, single-player or peer-hosted | ~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves/ |
Expand the world folder, then the game-name folder. |
| Windows dedicated server | Usually the server account’s %APPDATA%7DaysToDieSaves |
Confirm the configured UserDataFolder and SaveGameFolder. |
| Linux dedicated server | Usually the server account’s ~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves/ |
Confirm the configured UserDataFolder and SaveGameFolder. |
The official support FAQ describes Saves as the area for local profile and single-player saves, while SavesLocal is used for locally stored data from multiplayer servers. The two directories are not interchangeable. If you are restoring a world, start with the complete folder under Saves that matches its world and game name.
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What the folder names mean
<GameWorld> is the world identifier, such as the shipped Navezgane world or the name of a randomly generated world. <GameName> is the save slot or game name you entered when creating the world. The server must be pointed at the same pair of names after you upload them. Renaming either level in the middle of a migration can make the server create a new, empty save instead of opening the existing one.
Saves, SavesLocal and GeneratedWorlds: the difference
| Directory | Role | Copy it when |
|---|---|---|
Saves |
Playable world and player state for local and single-player saves. | Always copy the complete <GameWorld>/<GameName> folder for a migration or backup. |
SavesLocal |
Locally stored data associated with multiplayer servers. | Use it when the data you need is specifically stored there; do not substitute it for the matching Saves folder without checking. |
GeneratedWorlds |
Cached terrain generated for a random world. | Copy the matching GeneratedWorlds/<world-name>/ directory for a randomly generated map. |
Terrain and save state serve different purposes. Copying only GeneratedWorlds does not bring over your characters, inventories, explored map or world changes. Copying only the save folder for a random world can leave the server without the cached terrain it needs. Navezgane terrain is included with the game, so this extra directory is not needed for a Navezgane migration.
How to find a save on Windows
- Close 7 Days to Die. A live game can still be writing player or world data while you copy it.
- Press Win+R, enter
%APPDATA%7DaysToDieSaves, and press Enter. This opens the roaming-data location without requiring you to reveal hidden folders manually. - Open the folder whose name matches the world you played.
- Open the game-name folder inside it. This complete folder is the unit to back up or upload; do not select only one file from inside it.
- Check the modified times and folder names against the world you intend to move. If more than one save has a similar name, start the game and verify the displayed world and game name before copying.
If the path does not open, browse to C:Users<username>AppDataRoaming7DaysToDie. AppData is hidden by default in File Explorer, so use the address bar or enable hidden items. The troubleshooting guidance from the developer also points to C:UsersmeAppDataRoaming7DaysToDie when diagnosing damaged or missing data.
Finding the random-world cache on Windows
Go up to the main 7DaysToDie data directory and open GeneratedWorlds. Locate the directory whose name matches the random world identifier shown under Saves. Preserve that name exactly. If there is no corresponding directory, you may be working with Navezgane or with a world whose terrain cache was removed; do not invent a new folder name.
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How to find a save on Linux
- Exit the game and wait for the process to close.
- Open a terminal and list the default save directory with
ls -la ~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves. - Enter the world directory, then the game-name directory. For example, use
cd ~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>, replacing both placeholders with the actual names. - For a random world, inspect
~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/GeneratedWorlds/and identify the matching world directory. - Copy the complete game-name directory to a backup medium before changing anything.
Linux paths are case-sensitive. A directory named MyWorld is different from myworld, so preserve capitalization when transferring files to a Linux server. The default path applies only when the server has not been configured to use another data directory.
Move a local or peer-hosted world to a dedicated server
This procedure keeps the original intact until you have confirmed that the server loads the correct characters and world state.
- Stop the destination server. Use the host panel’s stop control or stop the server process cleanly. Never overwrite a save while the server is running.
- Make a source backup. Copy the complete
Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/folder to an external SSD, USB drive or other separate location. Keep the original untouched. - Identify the exact pair of names. Record the world directory and game-name directory exactly as they appear on the source computer. These names are used when selecting the world on the server.
- Copy the random-world terrain cache when applicable. If the world was randomly generated, copy
GeneratedWorlds/<world-name>/as well. Match the cache’s world name to the world directory underSaves. Skip this step for Navezgane. - Determine the server’s authoritative data path. Inspect the server’s
serverconfig.xmlforUserDataFolderandSaveGameFolder. A hosting panel may expose these values under a configuration or startup-settings page. The configured locations override the normal per-user defaults. - Upload the save-state folder. In the server’s user-data area, create or open
Saves/<GameWorld>/and upload the complete<GameName>folder inside it. Preserve every folder name and nested file. - Upload the terrain cache if needed. Place the matching random-world directory under the server’s
GeneratedWorlds/directory in the same configured user-data area. Do not put it in the game-installationData/Worldsdirectory; that directory is not the save location. - Check ownership and permissions on self-managed Linux servers. The account that runs the server must be able to read and write the uploaded directories. If the server cannot list the folder or create lock files, correct ownership and permissions before starting it.
- Start the server and select the same world and game name. Use the exact values from the source. Watch the startup log for a successful load, then join and verify your character, inventory, explored map and major world changes.
- Retain the backup. Keep the source copy until you have played long enough to confirm that the migrated world is complete. Only then should you remove old copies.
Why copying individual files fails
A save consists of related player, map and world-state files. Selecting only a player file or only the newest-looking file can omit essential data and produce a reset character, missing map discoveries or an apparently new world. Treat the entire game-name directory as an atomic backup and transfer unit.
Configure and verify the dedicated-server path
Dedicated-server installations vary because the server may run under a service account, a container, a control panel, or a manually chosen data directory. The path shown in a web file manager is authoritative only if it corresponds to the values used by the running process.
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- Open
serverconfig.xmlin the server installation or control panel. - Find
UserDataFolder. If it contains a path, use that location as the root for user data such asSavesandGeneratedWorlds. - Find
SaveGameFolder. If it is set, follow that path for save games rather than assuming the defaultSavesdirectory. - After uploading, verify from the server console or file manager that the resulting structure is
Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/beneath the configured location. - Restart the server after configuration changes. A server that was already running may continue using its previous path until it is restarted.
Uploading into the game-installation Data/Worlds directory is a common mistake. That directory contains world assets supplied by the game; it is not where your changed player and world state belongs.
Back up before migration, updates or troubleshooting
The developer’s support guidance recommends backing up save data before troubleshooting and suggests storing a copy in online cloud storage. A practical local backup includes the complete game-name folder and, for random worlds, the matching generated-world directory.
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- Use two locations. Keep one copy outside the game directory, such as an external SSD or USB drive, and another copy in online storage if your connection and privacy requirements allow it.
- Preserve names and hierarchy. A backup should retain
Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/, not just a loose collection of files. - Record the branch and date. Note the game branch or release used when the backup was made so you can match it during restoration.
- Keep a pre-migration snapshot. Do not overwrite the only backup with a copy made after a failed server start.
- Test a backup when practical. A backup is useful only if the files can be read and restored to a test instance or the destination server.
Move the local data directory to another drive
The official FAQ documents the Steam launch option -UserDataFolder=FOLDER_PATH. In Steam, open the game’s Properties, select the General tab, and enter that option in Launch Options, replacing FOLDER_PATH with the destination directory. This is useful when the original drive is full or when you want save data on a faster disk. After launching with the option, confirm that new or existing saves appear under the selected directory before deleting anything from the old location.
Troubleshoot a save that does not appear
The server starts a new world
Usually the server is looking at a different data path or a different name. Recheck UserDataFolder and SaveGameFolder, then confirm that the uploaded structure is exactly Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/. In the server’s world-selection settings, choose the same world and game name used by the source save. Do not create a new save with a similar spelling and expect it to merge automatically.
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The map loads but terrain is missing or incorrect
This commonly indicates that the random-world cache was not copied, was placed under the wrong user-data root, or has a different world name. Stop the server, restore the matching GeneratedWorlds/<world-name>/ directory, and start again. For Navezgane, verify the world selection and game branch instead; shipped terrain does not require a generated-world cache.
The character is reset or player data is absent
Check that you uploaded the complete game-name folder rather than selected files. Also verify the account or identity used to join. The migration guidance notes that a player joining with a different account or ID may not be recognized as the original character, even when the world files are present.
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Match the client and server branch or release before migration. A changed branch or game version can make an otherwise valid save appear missing or incompatible. Restore the backup, align both installations to the same branch, and retry rather than repeatedly opening and resaving the world with mismatched versions.
The upload looks complete but the server cannot read it
On a self-managed Linux server, check filesystem ownership and permissions for the account running the server. On managed hosting, use the provider’s file manager or FTP path that maps to the configured user-data directory. If the panel hides the effective path or does not allow importing an existing save, ask support to confirm the path and restore procedure before replacing files.
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Version, account and platform limitations
Save migration is safest when the source client and destination server use the same branch or release. Updating either side before making a backup can change compatibility, so capture the pre-update folder first. Keep the backup until you have confirmed that the updated server loads the world correctly.
Player recognition is separate from world loading. A world can open successfully while a player joining with a different platform account or ID receives new character data. If that occurs, verify the account identity used on the source and destination before assuming that the save itself is damaged.
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Console cross-play servers: what the documented settings do and do not do
The official dedicated-server help guidance lists the following settings for console-compatible cross-play servers:
| Setting | Required value or limit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
ServerAllowCrossplay |
True |
Enables cross-platform server compatibility. |
EACEnabled |
True |
Uses Easy Anti-Cheat as required by the documented cross-play configuration. |
IgnoreEOSSanctions |
False |
Retains the documented sanctions check. |
ServerMaxPlayerCount |
Maximum of 8 | Sets the documented player-count ceiling for this configuration. |
These settings make a dedicated server compatible with supported cross-platform connections; they do not provide a documented method for extracting a save stored locally on a console. Do not assume that a console-local world can be copied using the PC Saves paths. The documented migration procedure applies to accessible local files and server user-data directories.
Choosing a managed host for an existing save
If you are moving an established world to a managed server, confirm the operational details before paying for or uploading anything. A suitable service should answer all of these questions in its current documentation or support response:
- Can you access the configured save path through FTP or a file manager?
- Can you upload an existing
Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/folder without manually recreating individual files? - Can you upload the matching
GeneratedWorldsdirectory for a random map? - Are automatic backups available, and how many restore points are retained?
- Can you select or lock the game branch or release needed by your save?
- Is cross-play supported with the settings required for your players?
- Will support perform or verify an existing-save import if the panel does not expose the underlying path?
Do not infer these capabilities from a generic “game server” label. File access, branch controls and backup retention determine whether you can recover from a failed import.
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- Stop the destination server.
- Back up the complete source game-name folder.
- Copy the matching random-world cache when the map was procedurally generated.
- Inspect
UserDataFolderandSaveGameFolderinserverconfig.xml. - Upload under the configured
Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/path. - Keep folder names, capitalization and nesting unchanged.
- Match client and server branch or release.
- Start the server with the same world and game name.
- Verify player identity, inventory, map exploration and world changes.
- Retain the original backup until the migrated world is proven healthy.
For Windows, begin with %APPDATA%7DaysToDieSaves; for Linux, begin with ~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves/. The complete save folder and the server’s configured data path matter more than the installation directory shown by Steam or a hosting panel.
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