The safest Minecraft Bedrock backup is a dated copy of the active world folder, stored away from the live server, together with the configuration and add-ons needed to open it again. On a Bedrock Dedicated Server (BDS), server.properties tells the server which subfolder in worlds/ is active. For Realms, use the in-game Download World control and keep the downloaded file independently. A seed can recreate terrain, but it cannot restore builds, inventories, or other progress.
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What a complete Bedrock backup should contain
A backup is useful only if it can return the world to a playable state. For a self-hosted Bedrock Dedicated Server, that means copying the entire active world folder rather than a handful of files. It also means preserving the selector that points the server to that folder and, when applicable, the files and packs that define how the server runs.
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worlds/directory. - World selector: the
level-namevalue inserver.properties, which must match the folder name exactly when you restore it. - Server settings: keep a copy of
server.propertiesso settings can be reproduced. Treat this as part of the recovery set even though the world itself is in a separate folder. - Access and content files: preserve
allowlist.json,permissions.json, and any behavior packs or resource packs used by the server when those are required to recreate the same setup. - Recovery notes: record the backup date, world name, Bedrock server version, and whether add-ons were enabled. This is administrative information, not a Minecraft requirement, but it makes choosing a restore point much safer.
The exact set beyond the world folder is an administrative choice. If you only need the map, the world folder may be enough; if you need the same permissions, allowlist, settings, and add-ons, include those files in the same dated backup set.
Back up a self-hosted Bedrock Dedicated Server
1. Schedule a short maintenance window
Tell players when the server will be unavailable, then stop the server cleanly before copying anything. A running world can be writing files while you copy it, leaving an inconsistent backup. The official Microsoft documentation describes the folder locations and transfer process, but it does not prescribe one shutdown command for every operating system or hosting setup; use the normal graceful-stop method provided by your server wrapper or service.
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2. Read the active world name
- Open the Bedrock Dedicated Server installation directory.
- Open
server.propertiesin a plain-text editor. - Find the line beginning with
level-name=and copy the value after the equals sign exactly, including capitalization, spaces, underscores, or hyphens. - Open the
worlds/directory and locate the subfolder with that exact name. The BDS guide describes this directory as the place where the server creates and stores worlds.
Do not assume that the newest-looking folder is active. The level-name entry, not the folder’s timestamp, is the authoritative pointer for this server instance.
3. Copy the entire world folder
Copy the matching folder as a single unit to a backup location. Do not pick individual files from inside it and do not move the live folder while the server is stopped. A practical filename includes the world name and date, for example Survival-2026-10-15; use your own naming convention as long as each copy can be identified unambiguously.
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Place the copy outside the live installation directory when possible. Keeping a backup beside the original protects against an accidental deletion, but it does not protect against a failed drive, stolen computer, or other event that affects both copies.
4. Add the configuration and packs you will need
Copy server.properties, allowlist.json, and permissions.json into the dated backup set when those settings matter to your server. Include the behavior packs and resource packs used by the world, along with the files that describe or enable them, if you expect the restored instance to behave as it did before the failure.
There is no universal requirement to copy every file in the BDS installation. Keep the complete world folder first, then add the configuration and content that are specific to your setup. Recording which add-ons were enabled prevents a later restoration from silently becoming a different game.
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5. Compress a copy for transport
Microsoft documents compressing a world folder into a ZIP archive when moving it to another machine. After making the original folder copy, create a ZIP of that copied folder, or of the complete backup set if you want configuration and packs to travel together. Compression makes a single transferable file and reduces the chance of omitting a nested file during a manual transfer.
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6. Store the backup separately from the host
Keep at least one dated copy on storage that is not the server’s internal drive, such as a portable external SSD. For a world that would be difficult to rebuild, keep another copy off-site as well. This separate-copy approach applies standard disaster-recovery practice to the documented folder-copy workflow; Minecraft does not impose a particular retention schedule for self-hosted servers.
You choose how many historical copies to retain and how often to create them. More frequent copies reduce the amount of progress you can lose, while more history consumes storage. Create an additional copy before a major update, add-on change, or large construction project when that event would be expensive to undo.
Move a backup to a replacement Bedrock server
Use this process when the original computer has failed, when you are migrating to a new machine, or when you want to test a backup without touching the live server.
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- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs.
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- Install the official Bedrock Dedicated Server package on the replacement computer and start with a clean instance.
- Stop the replacement instance before changing its files. This prevents the new server from writing a different world while you are installing the backup.
- Extract the ZIP if your backup is archived. The result must be a normal world folder, not a ZIP file left in place.
- Put the world folder under
worlds/. The folder can keep its original name, or you can rename it if you also change the selector in the next step. - Set
level-namein the replacement server’sserver.propertiesto the exact restored folder name. A mismatch causes the server to look for a different world. - Restore configuration and content. Copy back the required
allowlist.json,permissions.json, behavior packs, resource packs, and relevant settings from the same dated backup. - Start the server and verify the result. Confirm that the expected world opens, recent builds are present, players’ inventories and permissions are correct, and any required packs load. Stop the instance again if you discover a problem and correct the files before allowing players to connect.
Microsoft describes the same copy, rename, and level-name sequence for moving a world between computers. Keep the original backup untouched while testing so you can repeat the restore if a configuration change goes wrong.
Download an independent backup from a Bedrock Realm
Realms creates managed backups automatically. Minecraft Help states: “Minecraft Realms worlds are backed up automatically to help keep your creations safe.” Those managed copies are convenient, but Minecraft also warns: “Do not rely on your Realm’s backups, because they are not retained indefinitely.” Download copies you control instead of treating the Realm history as permanent storage.
Download the current world
- Open Minecraft Bedrock and choose Play.
- Open the Realms tab.
- Choose Realms Hub.
- Select the Realm and open World.
- Open Slots and select the slot containing the world.
- Choose the three-dot menu next to Edit world.
- Select Download World and wait for Minecraft to finish saving the local copy.
Give the downloaded file a date and a world name as soon as it is available, then copy it to storage separate from the device on which you play. A downloaded Realm world is now an independent local backup rather than a save that exists only inside the Realm service.
Download an older Realm backup
To select an earlier point, open the slot’s Edit World screen and choose Backups. Select the save you want, then use Download World. Download the desired backup before replacing the slot or making other changes, because the available history is not guaranteed to be retained indefinitely.
Use a Realm download on a dedicated server
When you want to move a downloaded Realm world to a self-hosted BDS instance, place the extracted world folder under the new server’s worlds/ directory and set level-name to that folder name. Then restore any server-side allowlist, permissions, behavior packs, or resource packs that are relevant to your target setup. The Realm download supplies the world; it does not automatically configure a separate dedicated server around it.
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Restore after accidental changes or file damage
Self-hosted server
- Stop the damaged or replacement server before touching its files.
- Move the selected dated world backup into the server’s
worlds/directory. If a damaged folder has the same name, move it out of the way rather than deleting it until the restore is confirmed. - Extract the archive first if the backup is a ZIP.
- Set
level-nameinserver.propertiesto the restored folder’s exact name. - Restore the matching configuration files and packs when the world depends on them.
- Start the server and check the world, player progress, permissions, and add-ons before reopening it to everyone.
Use the oldest backup that is known to contain the missing work, not automatically the newest file. Keep the failed instance and the original backup until you have verified the recovery.
Local Bedrock world
For a local Bedrock world, Minecraft Help describes manual restoration as moving the backup file to the current world-file location for the relevant platform. The exact location differs by device, so use the platform’s current world-file location and preserve the existing save until the restored copy has been tested.
Realm world
For a Realm, use the slot’s backup controls to select the desired save, download it, and then replace or restore the slot through the current Realm-management interface. Download the save you want before replacing the slot so you retain an independent copy of the state you are about to change.
What a seed can—and cannot—recover
A seed is a recipe for generating terrain. It can help recreate the broad landscape of a world, but Minecraft Help explicitly distinguishes that from restoring progress. A seed does not bring back player-built structures, inventories, explored state, containers, permissions, or other changes made after world creation. If the builds matter, recover the world folder or a downloaded world backup; do not treat the seed as a substitute.
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| Consideration | Self-hosted BDS copy | Realm download | Seed only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control | You control when copies are made, where they are stored, and how long they are retained. | Backups are managed by the Realm service; you should download independent copies. | You control the seed, but not a snapshot of progress. |
| Portability | A world folder or ZIP can be moved to another BDS installation when extracted and selected with level-name. |
The world is obtained through the Realm interface first, then can be treated as a local world or moved into BDS. | Terrain can be regenerated wherever the seed is supported, without the original save. |
| Retention | Determined by your storage and retention policy. | Minecraft warns that Realm backups are not retained indefinitely; the exact duration is not stated in the cited guidance. | No saved history or progress is retained. |
| Recovery scope | Can include world data, settings, permissions, allowlists, and packs when you copy them. | Downloads preserve the Realm world; a separate server still needs its own configuration and packs where applicable. | Terrain generation only; it does not restore progress. |
| Resilience | A copy on another device or off-site is protected from a failure affecting the live host. | An exported copy protects you from relying solely on the Realm’s managed history. | Useful as a reference, not as a backup. |
Troubleshooting a backup or restore
The server opens a new world instead of the backup
Check the folder name and the selector together. The restored folder must be directly under worlds/, and level-name must match it exactly. A renamed folder with an unchanged selector, or a selector that includes a typo or different capitalization, points BDS somewhere else.
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The ZIP appears to contain another folder level
Extract the archive and inspect its layout before starting the server. The folder that represents the world must be the one placed under worlds/; do not point level-name at a parent folder that merely contains the extracted world.
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The world loads but the server behaves differently
Restore the configuration and content saved with the same backup: server.properties, allowlist.json, permissions.json, and the required behavior or resource packs. Also check the metadata you recorded for the Bedrock server version and add-on state, then test with the server closed to players until the setup matches expectations.
Recent work is missing
Compare the backup dates and choose a later copy if one exists. A seed cannot fill in missing builds or inventories, and a Realm’s retained history may not include every older state, which is why downloading independent Realm copies matters.
You copied files while the server was running
Make a new backup after a clean stop. The earlier copy may be usable, but files could have changed during the operation; keep it labeled as uncertain rather than replacing your only known-good backup with it.
A practical backup routine
For a dedicated server, announce maintenance, stop the process cleanly, read level-name, copy the matching folder under worlds/, add the configuration and packs needed for your setup, create a dated ZIP for transport, and place at least one copy away from the host. Record the server version and add-on state with the files. For a Realm, download the current world from Play → Realms → Realms Hub → World → Slots → Edit world → Download World, or select an older save through Backups first. In both cases, keep the independent copy before making changes that would be hard to reverse.
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