The safest Sons of the Forest server backup is a dated copy of the server’s complete active user-data directory, made only after the server has been stopped and its file writes have finished. On a default Windows installation, that directory is C:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDS. If the launch command includes -userdatapath, back up the custom directory instead.
Managed hosts expose the same data through FTP or a web file browser. Download the dedicated-server save directory, retain several dated copies, and restore only while the server is stopped. The procedure below covers self-hosted machines, hosted servers, save-slot settings, Steam’s backup limitation, and the important difference between a client-hosted co-op save and a dedicated-server save.
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What a reliable backup must contain
A Sons of the Forest dedicated server does not depend on one universally named world file. Its active user-data directory contains the save tree and server configuration. Copying only a guessed file can leave you without the settings or access-control data needed to reproduce the server correctly.
A full-directory archive should include the Saves tree and configuration files such as:
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dedicatedserver.cfgSonsGameSettings.cfgownerswhitelist.txt
Keeping those files together preserves the server’s saved worlds, gameplay settings, and whitelist state. A save-folder-only copy is smaller, but it is less complete and may require you to recreate configuration after a restore.
Always stop the server before copying, deleting, renaming, or replacing data. A running process can still be writing the world while you copy it, producing a partial or inconsistent backup. Nitrado’s guidance is to stop the server and wait approximately five minutes before working with the files; use that as a practical minimum when the host does not provide a clearer “stopped” confirmation.
Find the active dedicated-server data directory
Default Windows location
For a self-hosted Windows dedicated server, the documented default root is:
C:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDS
Replace <user> with the Windows account that runs the server. The AppData directory is hidden by default, so entering the complete path in File Explorer’s address bar is often faster than browsing to it. Confirm that the directory contains the server’s save data and configuration before making it the source for a backup.
When the launch command uses -userdatapath
A launch command can redirect user data with -userdatapath. When that argument is present, the custom directory is authoritative; do not continue backing up the default LocalLow path merely because it exists. Inspect the command, shortcut, service definition, or startup script used to launch the dedicated server, then follow the value supplied to -userdatapath.
Back up the directory actually used by the running server. If more than one installation or Windows account exists, verify the active process and its launch parameters before copying anything.
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Do not confuse a client-hosted world with a dedicated-server world
A locally hosted co-op world uses a different Windows tree. Nitrado documents the Windows client path as:
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That path is not the dedicated-server root. Do not paste it into a dedicated-server backup job. First identify whether the world is being run by the game client or by the dedicated-server process, then back up the corresponding data set.
Back up a self-hosted dedicated server
- Stop the server. Use the server’s normal shutdown method and wait until its process has ended and file activity has stopped. If you cannot verify that immediately, wait approximately five minutes before touching the files.
- Identify the active root. Use
C:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDSunless the launch command specifies a different-userdatapath. - Create a dated destination. Copy the complete active directory to another disk or backup location. A clear name is
SOTF_server_backup_2026-10-15_0646Z; use your actual date and time. - Include all relevant contents. Confirm that the copy contains the
Savestree plus files such asdedicatedserver.cfg,SonsGameSettings.cfg, andownerswhitelist.txt. - Verify before restarting. Open the copied folder and check that the expected save slot and configuration files are present. A backup that completed with an empty or unexpected directory is not a usable backup.
- Restart only after the copy is complete. The server can resume normal operation once the archive has been checked.
Use multiple dated copies
Keep more than one known-good backup. A practical rotation is to retain several dates rather than overwriting one file on every run. If an update, configuration change, or accidental deletion is discovered later, the newest copy may already contain the problem. Never replace the last known-good archive until the new copy has been inspected.
Full directory or save folder only?
| Backup scope | What it preserves | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Complete active directory | The Saves tree, server configuration, gameplay settings, and whitelist files such as ownerswhitelist.txt |
Larger download or copy, but the most complete recovery point |
| Save folder only | The world/save data | Smaller and quicker, but configuration and whitelist state may need to be recreated |
Use a full-directory archive for routine disaster recovery. A save-only export is appropriate only when you deliberately want to move or archive world data and have separately recorded the server settings.
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Back up a managed server through FTP or a file browser
A managed provider normally hides the operating-system path but exposes an equivalent directory through FTP or a web file browser. The controls differ by provider, so use the credentials and file-management method shown in the host dashboard.
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For a managed game-server route, Godlike.Host provides Sons of the Forest hosting with a Pterodactyl-based game panel and FTP/SFTP access, plus up to three free backups a day with restore. Its Sons of the Forest plans list 4, 12 and 20 slots; the server’s MaxPlayers setting allows 1 to 8 players (Steam Community server guide, 11 Oct 2026).
Download the files
- Stop the server in the host dashboard. Do not begin a download while the server is still saving.
- Open the provider’s file access. Use the supplied FTP credentials with an FTP client such as FileZilla or WinSCP, or use the provider’s browser-based file manager.
- Open the dedicated save directory. Nitrado’s documented path is
sonsoftheforest/userdata/saves/dedicatedserver/multiplayer. - Download the world/save folder. Store it in a dated local directory or on an external backup drive. If the provider exposes higher-level configuration files, download those as well for a fuller recovery set.
- Check the local copy. Confirm that the expected save slot and files are present before starting the server again.
Hosted-server comparison
| Question | Self-hosted server | Managed host |
|---|---|---|
| Where you work | The active Windows user-data directory | An FTP or web-file-browser directory supplied by the host |
| Who controls access | You control the machine, account, and storage | The provider controls the dashboard, credentials, and available file tools |
| Typical save location | C:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDS, unless -userdatapath changes it |
Provider-specific; Nitrado documents sonsoftheforest/userdata/saves/dedicatedserver/multiplayer |
| Restore controls | Replace files directly after stopping the process | Stop the server, replace the remote save, select the Save Slot, and set Save Mode to Continue |
Restore a dedicated-server save
Restoration is a replacement operation, not an upload on top of an active world. Preserve the current remote data first, then put the dated copy in its place while the server is stopped.
Restore on a self-hosted Windows server
- Stop the dedicated server completely. Wait for the process and its file writes to end.
- Make a safety copy of the current directory. Rename or copy the existing active directory before replacing it. This gives you a way back if the selected backup is not the one you intended.
- Identify the same data root. Use the current
-userdatapathvalue, or the defaultC:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDS. - Clear or rename the old save data. Do not leave an old world mixed with the restored tree. Renaming the current folder is safer than deleting it immediately.
- Copy the dated backup into the active location. Preserve the directory structure, including the
Savestree and configuration files. - Check the intended slot and settings. Confirm that the restored copy contains the expected save slot and the configuration you want to use.
- Start the server and test with one client. Verify that the world loads, the expected progress is present, and the server settings and whitelist behave as intended before inviting everyone back.
Restore through a managed host
- Stop the server from the host dashboard.
- Open the FTP or web file browser.
- Protect the current remote save. Rename it, for example by appending
_old, or remove it only when you have a separate copy. - Upload the dated backup. Place it in the provider’s dedicated-server save directory. For Nitrado, that is
sonsoftheforest/userdata/saves/dedicatedserver/multiplayer. - Select the uploaded Save Slot. In the host’s server settings, choose the slot that contains the uploaded world.
- Set Save Mode to Continue. Save the settings so the server continues the uploaded world instead of creating or selecting a different state.
- Start the server and test it. Connect with a single client first and confirm the restored progress.
If the server starts with a new world, stop it again rather than allowing new progress to overwrite the recovery point. Recheck the remote folder, Save Slot, and Save Mode.
Can a co-op save be moved to a dedicated server?
A client-hosted co-op save and a dedicated-server save live in different directory trees. The client path documented for Windows is C:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestSaves<SteamID64>MultiplayerClient; the dedicated server uses its own SonsOfTheForestDS user-data root or a custom -userdatapath.
That difference means you should not simply point a backup script at the client folder and assume it is a dedicated-server backup. The available information establishes the separate locations, but it does not establish a universal, one-click conversion procedure for every client save and host. Treat a migration as a controlled experiment:
- Stop the client-hosted game and make an untouched copy of the client save.
- Back up the dedicated server’s complete active directory before attempting any import.
- Ask the managed host, or verify the dedicated-server documentation for your exact game version, whether the client save format is accepted.
- If an import is supported, upload or place only a working copy, select the corresponding Save Slot, and set Save Mode to Continue.
- Start the server with one test player and confirm the world before replacing your original backups.
Never delete the original client save during this process. If the host does not document compatibility, keep the client and dedicated-server backups separate and assume that a direct folder swap may fail or produce an unusable world.
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Why Steam Backup is not enough
Steam’s backup feature is useful for installation files, but Steam Support notes that it may not include saved games or configuration files and may not support games installed through third-party installers. A dedicated server’s world and its settings therefore require a direct copy of the active server data directory.
Use Steam Backup only as an installation-file aid. It is not the authoritative backup of the Saves tree, dedicatedserver.cfg, SonsGameSettings.cfg, or ownerswhitelist.txt.
Choose a storage and schedule strategy
Local disk versus removable storage
| Destination | Advantage | Risk or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Another folder on the server computer | Fast and convenient for frequent copies | A disk failure or machine loss can affect both the live server and backups |
| External USB hard drive or SSD | Separates copies from the server and is practical for downloaded host files | It must be connected, available, and protected from accidental loss |
For a managed server, downloading to a local computer and then copying to an external drive gives you a second location. Keep dated versions rather than one rolling file.
Manual versus scheduled backups
| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Manual | Small servers, planned updates, and changes that need an operator’s review | Transparent and easy to verify, but easy to forget |
| Scheduled automation | Servers that need regular recovery points | Reduces missed backups, but depends on host-supported tooling and must still stop or safely quiesce the server before copying |
Whatever schedule you choose, periodically open a dated archive and verify its contents. Automation that copies the wrong userdatapath, an empty folder, or a client save is not protection.
Troubleshoot common backup and restore failures
The backup folder is empty or missing the expected world
- Check whether the server was launched under another Windows account.
- Inspect the launch command for
-userdatapath. - Confirm that you opened the dedicated-server root rather than the client path ending in
MultiplayerClient. - Stop the server and wait for writes to finish before checking again.
The restored server starts a new world
- Verify that the dated folder was uploaded or copied into the correct dedicated-server save directory.
- In a managed dashboard, select the Save Slot containing that folder.
- Set Save Mode to Continue and save the settings.
- Stop the server immediately if it begins creating new progress, then repeat the restore with the current state protected as
_old.
Settings or whitelist entries disappeared
This usually indicates that only the save folder was restored. Restore the complete directory, or separately replace dedicatedserver.cfg, SonsGameSettings.cfg, and ownerswhitelist.txt from the same dated backup as the world.
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Keep the original backup untouched. Confirm that the server is stopped, the upload preserved the expected folder structure, and the selected Save Slot and Save Mode match the uploaded copy. If you are importing a client-hosted save, ask the host whether that save format is supported instead of repeatedly replacing the live world.
Pre-restore checklist
- The server process is stopped.
- File writes have finished; allow approximately five minutes when no clearer host status is available.
- The backup is dated and stored separately from the live directory.
- The backup contains the expected
Savestree. - Configuration files and whitelist data are present when a full recovery is intended.
- The active root matches the server’s
-userdatapath, if specified. - The current live save has been renamed or copied before replacement.
- The intended Save Slot is selected on a managed host.
- Save Mode is set to Continue.
- A single-player test confirms the restored world before normal play resumes.
Operational routine that minimizes lost progress
Take a manual backup before major server updates, configuration changes, or any migration. Keep several dated archives, including at least one copy away from the machine that runs the server. For a hosted server, download through FTP or the provider’s file browser; for a self-hosted server, copy the complete active user-data directory. After every backup, inspect the archive rather than assuming that a successful copy operation means a usable recovery point.
When an incident occurs, stop first, preserve the current state, restore one dated copy, and test with one client. This order prevents a failed restore attempt from destroying the only remaining copy of the newer world.
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