For a safe Terraria server backup, stop the server before copying files, or run save from a TShock console and then copy the world data. Save the .wld file, include the matching .twld file for tModLoader worlds, and preferably copy the entire Worlds folder to storage outside the server. To restore, stop the server, replace the files in that folder, set the server’s world name to the filename without .wld, and start it again.
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The safe backup and restore procedure
A Terraria world is actively rewritten while the server is running. Copying it during a write can leave you with a partial or unusable file. Use this sequence whenever you need a manual backup:
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match- Stop the Terraria server cleanly. If you are running TShock and cannot stop immediately, enter
savein the TShock server console first, then wait for the save to finish. - Open the server’s
Worldsdirectory. - Copy the world’s
.wldfile. For a tModLoader world, copy the same-named.twldfile as well. - Copy the entire
Worldsfolder when possible. This keeps the world, its companion files and any recovery copies together. - Store the copy somewhere outside the server machine or hosting account.
To restore, stop the server, place the backed-up files in the active Worlds directory, replace the damaged or newer copy, verify that the configured world name matches the filename without the .wld extension, and start the server.
What the files do
The .wld file
The .wld file is the main Terraria world file. It contains the map and the world state that players normally mean when they ask for a world backup. A backup that omits this file cannot restore the world itself.
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The .twld file
tModLoader worlds also use a matching .twld file. Treat the pair as one unit: if the world is named Adventure.wld, look for Adventure.twld and copy both. Restoring only the .wld can lose mod-specific world data or prevent the modded world from loading as expected.
The automatically generated .bak file
Terraria writes a .bak copy of the previous save. That file is overwritten on the next save, so it protects against one bad write rather than providing a history of recoverable versions. Keep dated copies in separate storage instead of relying on the server’s current .bak.
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World backups do not automatically guarantee a backup of every player’s character and inventory. Server-Side Characters (SSC) data is separate from the world. A third-party backup utility, TDiffBackup, states that it does not back up SSC data; this illustrates why you must verify what any tool actually includes and maintain a separate copy of character data when SSC matters. The precise SQLite storage path for SSC is not established here, so do not assume a guessed path is complete. Check the SSC implementation or your server administrator’s documented storage layout.
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Where Terraria world files are stored
| Server type | World directory | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla Terraria on Windows | DocumentsMy GamesTerrariaWorlds |
The .wld file and, for tModLoader worlds, the matching .twld |
| Vanilla Terraria on Linux | ~/.local/share/Terraria/Worlds/ |
The same world-file pair where applicable |
| Hosted server | Usually saves/Worlds/ |
The active world’s files; the exact panel path can differ |
On a hosted service, use the file manager, SFTP access or the provider’s documented server root to locate saves/Worlds/. If several worlds are present, use the filename configured for the server rather than copying a similarly named test world.
How to make a manual backup
Local vanilla server
- Close the dedicated server process or issue its normal stop command.
- Wait until the process has exited and no server window is still writing files.
- Navigate to the appropriate
Worldspath for your operating system. - Copy the active
.wldfile to a dated backup directory, for example a folder named with the date and world name. - Copy the entire
Worldsdirectory as an additional safeguard, especially if it contains several worlds or recovery files. - Open the copied file only as a check; do not edit the original or the backup while the server is running.
Hosted server
- Use the hosting panel’s Stop control and wait for the status to show that the server is offline.
- Open the panel’s file manager and browse to the server’s
saves/Worlds/directory, or connect through SFTP if the panel provides it. - Download the active
.wldfile and its matching.twldfile when present. Downloading the completeWorldsdirectory is preferable. - Rename the downloaded archive or folder with the world name and date so an older copy cannot be mistaken for a current one.
- Keep at least one copy on a different machine or storage service. A backup stored only on the same host is vulnerable to account, disk or panel failure.
- Start the server again only after the download has completed.
Many panels expose backup controls separately from their file manager. Those controls can be useful, but verify whether they include only world files or also player, SSC and configuration data.
TShock server
- Open the actual TShock console, not merely the panel’s web-console view.
- Enter
saveand wait for the save operation to complete, then stop the server. The default hosted web console does not accept typed commands, so use the server process console or a panel console that explicitly supports TShock commands. - Locate the
Worldsfolder beneath the server’s save location. - Copy the
.wld, matching.twldwhen applicable, and preferably the whole folder. - Copy the TShock configuration and any separately maintained SSC data according to your installation’s documented layout if you need to reproduce the complete server, not just its map.
Set up automatic TShock backups
TShock exposes automatic backup settings in config.json, located in the tshock folder beside TerrariaServer.exe. Stop the server before editing JSON, make a copy of the existing file, and preserve valid JSON syntax.
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| Key | Meaning | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
BackupInterval |
Minutes between automatic backups | Backups are disabled when the effective interval is zero; the generated configuration is authoritative |
BackupKeepFor |
Minutes to retain automatic backups | Older timestamped files are removed after the retention period according to the server’s backup implementation |
SaveWorldOnLastPlayerExit |
Whether TShock saves the world when the last player leaves | This setting controls a save event; it is not a substitute for keeping off-server copies |
Published TShock configuration copies disagree about the defaults: one copy lists BackupInterval as 0 and BackupKeepFor as 60, while general-development documentation lists 10 and 240. TShock versions and generated files can differ, so read the config.json created by your own installation instead of assuming either pair.
Automatic files are commonly reported under tshock/backups/, but that location is not confirmed for every build or hosting layout. After enabling the interval, trigger or wait for a save, stop the server if necessary, and verify that timestamped backup files actually appear. An interval value alone is not proof that backups are being written.
Editing the settings
- Stop TShock and open
tshock/config.jsonin a text editor or the hosting panel’s file manager. - Find the existing keys rather than adding duplicate keys elsewhere in the file.
- Set
BackupIntervalto the number of minutes you want between backups andBackupKeepForto the retention period, using JSON numbers rather than quoted text. - Decide whether
SaveWorldOnLastPlayerExitfits your shutdown workflow. - Save the file, restart TShock, and confirm the server starts without a JSON parse error.
- Check the expected backup directory after the interval has elapsed. Keep an off-server copy even when the automatic job is working.
If no automatic backup appears
- Confirm the edited file is the active
config.jsonbeside the running server installation, not a template or an unused copy. - Check that
BackupIntervalis greater than zero and that the JSON remains valid. - Restart TShock after changing the file; a restart has resolved configuration-activation problems in some reported cases.
- Make sure the process can create files in the TShock directory.
- Look for a different backup directory in the hosting panel, because panels can expose these settings while storing files in a provider-specific location.
- Do not delete the original world while troubleshooting. Continue making manual stopped-server copies until an automatic file is visible and restorable.
How to restore a Terraria world file
Standard restoration
- Stop the server completely. Do not overwrite a world while the process is running.
- Make a safety copy of the current
Worldsfolder, even if the current world appears damaged. It may contain newer progress you will later want to recover. - Open the active
Worldsdirectory. - Upload or copy the backed-up
.wldfile into that directory, replacing the current file only after the safety copy is complete. - If the world was created or operated under tModLoader, restore the matching
.twldfile beside it. Keep the base names identical, including capitalization where the host filesystem distinguishes it. - Set the server’s world selection or world-name field to the filename without
.wld. ForAdventure.wld, the value isAdventure, not the full filename and not a different old world name. - Start the server and watch the startup log for the expected world name and any load errors.
- Join with a test account before inviting players. Check the spawn area, a few known builds and any modded content that should be present.
When the restored world does not load
- Recheck the directory: a correct file in a non-active
Worldsfolder has no effect. - Verify that the configured name exactly matches the base filename and that the file still ends in
.wld, not a doubled extension such as.wld.wld. - For a modded world, restore the matching
.twldand use the same mod loader context that created the backup. - Check file ownership and permissions so the server process can read the replacement.
- If the server generated a new world, stop it immediately and inspect the configured path and name before allowing players to build on the new file.
What to back up before risky changes
Create a stopped-server copy before updating TShock, changing mods, migrating between server types or changing the host. These operations can alter how a world is loaded even when the .wld file itself is intact. Keep the original files untouched and make a separate working copy for any conversion or troubleshooting.
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A practical set of dated folders might contain the complete Worlds folder, a note of the server software and mod-loader state, and separately exported character or SSC data. The world copy is the essential recovery item; the extra notes and character data determine whether the restored server feels like the same server to players.
Backup checklist
- Server stopped, or TShock
savecompleted before copying. - Active
.wldcopied. - Matching
.twldcopied for every tModLoader world. - Entire
Worldsfolder retained when practical. - Copy stored outside the live server.
- SSC and character data handled separately.
- Automatic TShock settings checked in the generated
config.json, not assumed from an example. - At least one restore test performed with the server stopped before declaring the backup reliable.
Common questions
Is copying the .bak file enough?
No. Terraria overwrites that file on the next save, so it is a short-lived fallback rather than a versioned backup. Keep independent dated copies of the world files.
Can I copy a world while players are online?
It is unsafe to treat a live copy as reliable because the world may be half-written. Stop the server, or save through TShock and then stop it before copying.
Why did the map restore but players lose their inventories?
Character and SSC data are separate from the world. A world-only backup can restore the map while leaving player data at its current state or absent; maintain and restore that data through the SSC system used by your server.
What if my hosting panel has no typed console?
Use the panel’s Stop control and back up the files through its file manager or SFTP. The default hosted web console does not accept TShock commands, so do not assume that typing save there worked.
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