To permanently reset a 7 Days to Die server world, stop the server, back up the current files, delete the active save at Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>, and—when the map is randomly generated—delete its matching folder in GeneratedWorlds/<world name>. Change WorldGenSeed to a new value, then start the server and allow time for map generation.
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If you want a reversible reset, change GameName instead of deleting anything. The server creates a separate save and leaves the existing world on disk. This is usually the safest way to test a new map.
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What a world reset actually removes
A server world is not one file. The save and, for a randomly generated (RWG) map, the generated terrain are stored separately. Removing only the save can leave the old terrain available for the server to load again.
| Data | Typical location | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Active save | Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName> |
Contains the save identified by the configured world and game name. |
| RWG terrain | GeneratedWorlds/<world name> |
Stores the generated map terrain. It must be removed for a genuinely fresh random map. |
| Client-side Linux terrain cache | ~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/GeneratedWorlds/<world-name>/ |
Relevant when checking or clearing a Linux client’s local generated-world data; it is separate from the server’s files. |
| Configured data location | Value set by UserDataFolder or SaveGameFolder in serverconfig.xml |
These settings can override the default save location. |
Host providers do not all use the same directory tree. Some place saves under Saves/Saves and generated worlds under Data/Worlds. Treat the paths above as the standard layout to look for, then follow the actual tree shown by your host’s file manager.
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- Explore – Huge, rich environments, with unique biomes and worlds up to 100 square kilometres in size.
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- Cooperate or Compete – Work together to build settlements or against each other in a wasteland where zombies and outlaws rule the land.
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Choose the right reset method
| Method | What you change | Reversible? | Risk of loading the old map | Disk and file work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full wipe and regeneration | Back up and delete the save; delete matching RWG terrain; set a new WorldGenSeed. |
Only if the backup is retained and restored. | Low when both folders are removed and the new identity does not collide. | Removes two folder sets for RWG worlds and requires a backup. |
| New save name | Change GameName; leave the existing save and terrain untouched. |
Yes. Return to the old name to load the old save. | Low, provided the new name has never been used. | Uses additional disk space but avoids deletion. |
Use the full wipe when the old world must be removed from the active data set and you have a verified backup. Use the new-GameName route when you may want to return to the existing world or want to test generation without destructive file operations.
Before editing anything
Stop the server completely
Use the host panel’s Stop control, or stop the dedicated-server process through your normal service manager. Wait until the panel reports that it is offline and file activity has ended. Do not edit serverconfig.xml or delete folders while the server is running; an active process can rewrite files or keep the old world loaded.
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Copy the entire active save folder and, for an RWG world, the matching generated-world folder to storage outside the live server directory. Include serverconfig.xml so you can recover the exact naming and generation settings. A backup is useful only if you know which world and game-name directories it came from.
Record the current identity
Open serverconfig.xml while the server is stopped and note these values:
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- Explore – Huge, rich environments, with unique biomes and worlds up to 100 square kilometres in size.
- Craft – Handcraft and repair weapons, clothes, armour, tools, vehicles, with hundreds of recipes and schematics.
- Build – Design your fort with traps, electricity, auto turrets, and gadgets to survive in a fully destructible and mouldable world.
- Cooperate or Compete – Work together to build settlements or against each other in a wasteland where zombies and outlaws rule the land.
- Farm or Hunt – Plant gardens for sustainable resources or head out to the wilderness and hunt over a dozen unique animals.
GameWorldGameNameWorldGenSeedWorldGenSizeUserDataFolder, if presentSaveGameFolder, if present
The first four values are the identity used to locate or recreate a save. The last two can redirect where saves are stored, so check them before searching the default folders.
Full wipe: delete the old world and generate a new one
1. Stop and verify the offline state
- Stop the server from the control panel or service manager.
- Refresh the panel or console until it clearly shows the server as stopped.
- Do not proceed if a backup task, file transfer, or restart action is still running.
2. Locate the live save directory
Use the values recorded from serverconfig.xml. In the usual layout, the active save is Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>. If your host uses Saves/Saves, Data/Worlds, or another root, follow the host’s displayed tree. If UserDataFolder or SaveGameFolder is set, search under that configured location rather than assuming the default.
3. Delete the active save folder
Delete only the folder matching the configured GameWorld and GameName. Do not delete the entire Saves directory unless you intentionally want to remove every save on the server. Confirm the folder name against your backup before using a permanent-delete action.
4. Delete the matching RWG terrain folder
If the server uses a randomly generated map, find the corresponding directory under GeneratedWorlds/<world name> and remove it. The terrain folder name must match the generated world shown by the server’s files. Deleting the save but retaining this terrain can allow the old map data to remain available.
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For a fixed, built-in world that does not use generated terrain, there may be no matching folder under GeneratedWorlds; in that case, remove the save only and continue with the configuration steps.
5. Set a new generation seed
Open serverconfig.xml and replace WorldGenSeed with a new value. Keep the XML syntax intact and save the file before restarting. A new seed is necessary for a different random map, but changing the seed alone is not a guaranteed reset if a save with the resulting name still exists.
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6. Start the server and wait for generation
- Start the server after the old save and RWG terrain folders have been removed.
- Watch the console or panel for world-generation activity instead of assuming that a quick return to the online state means generation is complete.
- Allow several minutes, depending on the map size and host storage speed, before connecting.
- Join only after the server reports that it has finished loading the new world.
7. Verify that the reset succeeded
- Stop the server once more and confirm that a new
Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>directory was created. - For an RWG map, confirm that a new generated-world directory exists.
- Check that
GameWorld,GameName,WorldGenSeed, andWorldGenSizein the configuration are the values you intended. - Reconnect and test in a location that would be recognizable on the previous map. A completely different terrain layout indicates that generation used the new identity.
Non-destructive reset: change GameName
Changing GameName is the safer route when you want a new map without deleting the old one. The new name points the server at a different save directory, so the previous world remains on disk.
- Stop the server completely.
- Back up
serverconfig.xmland note the currentGameName. - Change
GameNameto a name that has never been used on this server. - Optionally set a new
WorldGenSeedif you want a different random layout rather than a separate save using the same generation settings. - Save the configuration and restart the server.
- Wait for generation to finish. The server should create a new save under the new game name while the old save remains available.
To return later, stop the server and restore the previous GameName, along with the matching generation settings. Do not delete either save while switching between them.
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- Explore & Craft - Huge, unique and rich environments, offering the freedom to play the game any way you want while you craft and repair weapons, clothes, armor, tools, vehicles, and more.
- Build - Take over a ruin, or build from the ground-up. Design your fortress to include traps and defensive positions to survive the undead - the world is fully destructible and moldable.
- Cooperate or Compete - Includes two player split screen mode, with additional online multiplayer modes and features to be revealed in the near future.
- Create - Unleash your creativity and build the ultimate world by yourself friends. Enjoy unlimited access to nearly 400 in-game items and 1,200 unique building blocks in creative mode.
- Improve - Increase your skills in a multitude of active and passive disciplines. 7 to Die is the only true survival RPG with nearly 50 multi-tiered skill and perk groups.
Why changing only the seed can fail
The server can load an existing world when the resulting world identity already exists. Consequently, changing WorldGenSeed without removing or renaming the existing save may appear to do nothing: the server finds the existing folder and opens it instead of generating another map.
The safest ways around that collision are:
- Delete the old save and its matching RWG terrain before using the new seed.
- Change
GameNameto a never-used value so the server has a new save identity.
For a save to reload as the same world, GameWorld, GameName, WorldGenSeed, and WorldGenSize must match the original configuration. A mismatch can cause the server to create a new world instead. This rule also explains why restoring only part of a backup can produce an unexpected result.
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Finding or checking the seed in generated-world files
Guides disagree about where the stored seed is exposed. One commonly cited location is GenerationInfo.txt, with the original seed on line 2. Another is map_info.xml inside the generated-world directory. Treat those files as diagnostic references rather than universal locations: file names can vary by game build and host layout.
If you need to identify the seed used by an existing map, inspect both locations when they are present and compare the value with WorldGenSeed in serverconfig.xml. Do not edit an internal generated-world file while the server is running, and do not assume that changing an internal record alone will regenerate terrain.
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- Explore & Craft - Huge, unique and rich environments, offering the freedom to play the game any way you want while you craft and repair weapons, clothes, armor, tools, vehicles, and more.
- Build - Take over a ruin, or build from the ground-up. Design your fortress to include traps and defensive positions to survive the undead - the world is fully destructible and moldable.
- Cooperate or Compete - Includes two player split screen mode, with additional online multiplayer modes and features to be revealed in the near future.
- Create - Unleash your creativity and build the ultimate world by yourself friends. Enjoy unlimited access to nearly 400 in-game items and 1,200 unique building blocks in creative mode.
- Improve - Increase your skills in a multitude of active and passive disciplines. 7 to Die is the only true survival RPG with nearly 50 multi-tiered skill and perk groups.
Troubleshooting a reset that did not work
The old map loads after the restart
- Stop the server again.
- Check whether the old
GameNamesave still exists under a second path such asSaves/Saves. - Check
UserDataFolderandSaveGameFolderfor an alternate active location. - For an RWG world, remove the matching generated-world folder as well as the save.
- Confirm that the new
GameNameis not a name previously used on the server.
The server starts but no new map appears
- Verify that the XML remained valid after editing; a malformed setting can prevent the intended values from being read.
- Confirm that the server is using the file you edited, especially when the host exposes more than one configuration copy.
- Check the console for generation activity and wait several minutes before connecting.
- Ensure that the save directory was actually removed or that
GameNamewas changed to a new value.
You cannot find the folders
Start with the configured UserDataFolder and SaveGameFolder. Then inspect the host’s complete file tree for alternate layouts such as Saves/Saves and Data/Worlds. A panel may expose a virtual root that differs from the path shown in desktop guides.
The same seed produces a different map later
Seed reproducibility depends on the game build and version. A version change can alter the map generated from the same seed, so record the server’s game version with your backup if you need to reproduce a world.
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Practical safety checklist
- Server status is fully stopped.
- Backup contains the active save, matching RWG terrain when applicable, and
serverconfig.xml. - Current
GameWorld,GameName,WorldGenSeed, andWorldGenSizeare recorded. UserDataFolderandSaveGameFolderhave been checked.- Only the intended save folder is selected for deletion.
- The matching
GeneratedWorldsfolder is removed for an RWG reset. - The new seed or game name is saved before startup.
- Generation is allowed to finish before players connect.
- The newly created folders are verified after the first successful start.
Which approach should you use?
Choose a full wipe when the previous map must no longer be the active world and you have a tested backup. Choose a new GameName when reversibility matters, storage is available, or you are unsure whether the new generation settings will work. In both cases, stop the server first and verify the resulting save and terrain directories after startup.
Quick Recap
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