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The safest reset is: stop the server, copy the active save folder somewhere outside it, then use the least-destructive option that matches your goal. Renaming Game Name creates a reversible fresh save; deleting Region/ rebuilds the map while retaining characters; deleting the whole save directory is a complete wipe.
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Before deleting anything, treat the operation as destructive. A verified backup is the only dependable rollback, and the server must be fully stopped so it is not writing the same files you are changing.
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Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFind the active save before changing anything
A reset only works if you edit the save the server actually loads. A dedicated server normally stores worlds in Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/, but UserDataFolder and SaveGameFolder settings can redirect that location. Hosting panels may show a path such as userdata/Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/. The official server reference describes the dedicated layout at 7daystodie.wiki.gg/wiki/Server, while the migration guide explains how custom folders affect saves: wiki.7d2d.net/guides/save-migration-local-to-dedicated.html.
- Open the server configuration or provider panel and note the values for
UserDataFolder,SaveGameFolder,GameWorldandGame Name. - Follow those values to the matching save directory. Do not assume the first
Savesfolder you find is active. - Record the complete path and the current game name so you can restore the old world if necessary.
- If the panel has more than one instance or profile, confirm that you are editing the instance players actually join.
When several seasons have been created, compare the configured game name with the folder timestamps and contents. A folder that contains the expected Region/ and Player/ directories is a useful sanity check, but configuration values remain authoritative.
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Stop, back up and announce the maintenance
Tell players when the reset will happen, then stop the service completely. The Host Havoc support procedure, published June 9, 2026, explicitly warns: “Stop your server completely before making any file changes.” A graceful stop lets the game finish writing region and player data instead of leaving a partially written file. Check that an automatic restart task, watchdog or scheduled update has not started the server again.
With the service stopped, copy the entire active <GameName> directory to a different location. An external SSD is suitable for a local backup; a provider download is useful when the server is hosted remotely. Keep the copy outside the active save path so a panel cleanup cannot remove both versions. Open the backup and confirm that it contains the expected subfolders, especially Region/ and Player/, before proceeding. The world-wipe protocol at wiki.7d2d.net/guides/v25-world-wipe-protocols.html recommends this rollback copy before any deletion.
Label the backup with the date, game name, game world and seed. Keep the original directory structure inside the copy; restoring individual files from a renamed or flattened archive makes it easier to put files in the wrong level. Do not delete the backup immediately after the first successful launch. Wait until players have checked their characters, bases, map and schedule.
Choose the reset that matches your goal
| Goal | Action | Character progress | Map and world state | Undo path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try a fresh save without risk | Stop the server, change Game Name, restart |
New save starts with new characters; the old characters remain in the old save | New save generates independently | Change the name back to the original |
| Rebuild terrain but keep players | Delete only Region/ |
Levels, perks, inventory and status effects remain in Player/ |
Placed blocks, bases, dug areas and harvested trees regenerate | Restore the backed-up folder |
| Rebuild terrain and reset the clock | Delete Region/ and main.ttp |
Character files remain | Day, time, weather and Blood Moon counter start over with the new world state | Restore the backed-up folder |
| Clear discoveries as well | Delete Region/, main.ttp and map_*.dat |
Character files remain | Terrain, world clock and each player’s explored-map data reset | Restore the backed-up folder |
| Erase everything | Delete the entire <GameName> directory |
Nothing survives; new characters begin at level 1 | Entire save is generated again | Restore the complete backup |
| Generate a different random terrain layout | Set GameWorld=RWG, change WorldGenSeed, restart |
Changing the seed does not itself delete Player/; character retention depends on the files you keep |
RWG creates a layout from the new seed | Return to the previous seed or restore the backup |
The file-level behavior in this table follows the documented protocol and reset guide: World Wipe Protocols and Host Havoc’s reset guide. The most important distinction is between terrain state and character state: Region/ is the map lever, while Player/ is the progression lever.
Option 1: make a reversible fresh save by changing Game Name
This is the lowest-risk way to test a clean world. It does not alter the existing save; it points the server at a different save name.
- Stop the server and make the backup described above.
- Open the server configuration and change only
Game Nameto an unused name, such asSeason2. KeepGameWorldand other generation settings unchanged unless you also want a different terrain type. - Save the configuration and start the server. It creates
Saves/<GameWorld>/Season2/(or the equivalent custom path). - Join once and verify that the intended new world and spawn behavior appear.
The original directory is still present under its old name. To return to it, stop the server, change Game Name back exactly, and restart. Do not create a second directory with a nearly identical spelling; the configured name must match the original folder. This method is especially useful when the community has not agreed on a permanent wipe, because the previous world remains available without reconstructing files.
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Use this when players should keep their progression but bases, terrain edits and the explored world should be rebuilt. The important boundary is Player/: leave it untouched.
What each file controls
Region/contains placed-block and terrain state, including bases, dug areas and harvested trees. Removing it forces the map state to regenerate while player files remain.Player/contains each character’s level, perks, inventory and status effects. Deleting it removes that progression.main.ttpstores world-level state such as the current day, time, weather and Blood Moon counter.map_*.datstores per-player exploration data. Removing these files clears what players have revealed on their maps without deleting their characters.
These files are separate aspects of one save. A map reset does not automatically mean a new random layout, a new day or a blank map. Decide each of those outcomes independently before deleting anything.
Soft-reset procedure
- Stop the server completely and verify that no restart task immediately starts it again.
- Copy the complete save directory to your rollback location.
- Inside the active save, delete the
Region/directory only. - If the new world should begin on a fresh day and Blood Moon cycle, delete
main.ttptoo. - If players should have blank maps, delete the files matching
map_*.dat. Leave every file inPlayer/in place. - Start the server and wait for world generation to finish before players connect.
Deleting only Region/ does not necessarily create a different underlying RWG layout. It rebuilds the stored terrain state for the save. If the goal is a genuinely different random landscape, use the seed procedure below. If the goal is merely to remove old bases and mined areas, a region reset is the narrower operation.
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Option 3: perform a complete wipe
A full wipe removes the entire Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/ directory. It discards terrain, world-clock state, exploration files and player characters, so players return as new level-1 characters when the server creates the save again.
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- Double-check the configured
GameWorldandGame Nameagainst the folder you are about to remove. - Delete the complete
<GameName>directory, not the parentSavesdirectory. - Start the server and allow it to create a new save before changing additional settings.
- Join with a test account to confirm a level-1 character, a new spawn and the expected world settings.
If you want a clean map but existing characters, do not use this method unless you first save Player/ separately. Host Havoc’s provider-specific workflow is to download Player/, let the new save generate, stop the service, and upload that folder into the new save directory. The same idea can work on another host, but its panel labels, permissions and upload paths may differ. A complete wipe is irreversible from the live directory, so the external copy is what makes recovery possible.
Option 4: generate a different RWG map
Random World Generation (RWG) uses the WorldGenSeed value to derive terrain. Set GameWorld=RWG and change the seed before restarting when you want a different generated layout. The dedicated-server setup guidance is at wiki.7d2d.net/hosting/dedicated-server/.
- Stop the server and back up the active save.
- Set
GameWorldtoRWGif it is not already using RWG. - Replace
WorldGenSeedwith the seed you want. Keep the old value in your notes if you may need to reproduce the previous layout. - Choose whether to retain the existing save and players or start under a new
Game Name. A seed change alone does not removePlayer/; deleting that folder or the entire save does. - Restart, wait for generation, and test the terrain before inviting the whole player group.
The seed setting applies to RWG worlds. Keeping the same seed requests the same generated layout; changing it requests a different one. A handcrafted or otherwise non-RWG world does not become a new random map merely because a seed value was edited. For the clearest test of a new seed, use a new game name or remove the old region state according to the reset goal.
Preserve characters during a full replacement
Some administrators want the strongest wipe of world data while keeping established characters. The documented hosted-panel approach separates those operations: download the old Player/ directory, generate the replacement save, stop the service again, and place Player/ into the new save directory. Do not mix files from different saves casually. Keep the downloaded profile directory as a separate backup, and verify that its files are copied into the new save’s exact Player/ location.
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Hosted-panel workflow and path differences
On Host Havoc, the documented shortcut is to stop the service and either rename Game Name for a reversible reset or delete the folder matching that name for a full wipe. The article also documents downloading and restoring Player/ when profiles must survive a newly generated save: hosthavoc.com/wiki/game-servers/7-days-to-die/reset-world.
Other providers may expose the same operations through buttons such as a file manager, FTP browser or configuration editor, but the labels and directory roots are not universal. Use the configured UserDataFolder and SaveGameFolder values rather than copying a path from another host’s tutorial. If a panel offers an automated “reset world” action, read whether it deletes player data, changes the seed or merely changes the game name before confirming it.
Provider automation can also recreate a default save if a configuration value is changed back during restart. Record the intended values before starting the service, and inspect the generated directory after launch. The operation is complete only when the running server and the files on disk agree.
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Verify the result after restart
Do not treat a successful service start as proof that the intended reset happened. Perform these checks with the server online:
- Confirm the server log or panel reports the expected
GameWorld,Game Nameand seed. - Join with a test player and check the spawn location, character level, perks, inventory and status effects against the reset you chose.
- Inspect a known former base location. A soft reset should no longer contain the old structure; a reversible name change should leave the old world accessible only when its original name is selected.
- Check the day, time and Blood Moon schedule if you removed
main.ttp. - Open the map to determine whether exploration was retained or cleared according to your treatment of
map_*.dat. - Keep the backup until every player confirms that the new save is correct.
Test before inviting everyone because a wrong path can produce a perfectly healthy server that is still loading the old world. A single test account is enough to catch an unexpected level reset, missing inventory or wrong spawn before the whole community logs in.
Troubleshoot a reset that appears not to work
Players spawned without their levels or inventory
The wrong save path may have been edited, or Player/ may have been deleted or replaced. Stop the server, compare the configured folder with the directory you changed, and restore the backed-up Player/ files before starting again.
Old bases or terrain edits are still present
Usually the server is loading another Game Name, another SaveGameFolder, or a copy that was edited while the service was running. Stop the service, verify the active path, and check that Region/ was removed from that exact directory.
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The map did not change after editing WorldGenSeed
Ensure GameWorld is RWG. A seed affects RWG generation only. Also confirm that you did not continue using an existing save whose stored terrain was retained; creating a new Game Name is the clearest way to test a new generated world.
The day or Blood Moon cycle did not reset
main.ttp was probably retained, or the server loaded a different save. Recheck the path and remove that file only after making another backup.
The server fails to load after a wipe
Restore the complete backup first so the service is available again. Then review the current game and mod release notes. Major game-version boundaries and major overhaul-mod changes can require a fresh world, while minor stable updates may not; compatibility is version-specific according to the wipe protocol at wiki.7d2d.net/guides/v25-world-wipe-protocols.html.
The panel recreated the wrong folder
Stop the service and compare the configured Game Name, GameWorld, UserDataFolder and SaveGameFolder with the directory that appeared. A spelling or capitalization difference can point the server at a new save while leaving the intended backup untouched.
Version and mod considerations
World resets are not a substitute for checking compatibility. Before wiping a long-running server, read the release notes for the exact game version and every major gameplay overhaul installed. A reset may be required across a major version boundary or a major overhaul-mod change, but a minor stable update may continue using the existing world. Because mod behavior varies, preserve the backup even after a successful first launch.
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If a mod’s release notes specifically require a new world, plan the reset together with the mod change rather than deleting files first and troubleshooting afterward. Conversely, do not wipe solely because a minor update was installed when the compatibility notes say existing saves remain supported.
Safest order of operations
- Announce maintenance and stop the server gracefully.
- Identify the active path from
UserDataFolderandSaveGameFolder. - Copy the entire save outside the active directory.
- Choose a name change, selective file deletion, full wipe or RWG seed change.
- Restart only after all file operations are complete.
- Verify players, terrain, clock, exploration and seed behavior.
- Retain the backup until the community accepts the result.
Reset planning checklist
- Write down the old
Game Name,GameWorldandWorldGenSeed. - Decide separately whether characters, exploration, world time and terrain should survive.
- Use a new game name when you want a reversible trial.
- Delete only
Region/for a map rebuild that keeps characters. - Delete
main.ttponly when the day, weather and Blood Moon state should restart. - Delete
map_*.datonly when players should lose their revealed-map data. - Delete the complete game-name directory only for a full wipe.
- Keep at least one complete backup and, when moving profiles, a separate copy of
Player/.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I wipe a 7 Days to Die server without losing player levels?
Stop the server, back up the active save, and delete only its Region/ directory. Leave Player/ untouched; it stores levels, perks, inventory and status effects. Delete main.ttp or map_*.dat only if you also want to reset the clock or map exploration.
What is the safest reversible reset?
Change Game Name to an unused name and restart. The server creates a separate save while the old directory remains on disk. To return, stop the server and change the setting back to the original name.
Where is the dedicated-server save folder?
The usual layout is Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/. A configured UserDataFolder or SaveGameFolder can redirect it, and hosted panels may show a path such as userdata/Saves/<GameWorld>/<GameName>/. Verify the active settings before editing files.
What happens if I delete the entire save directory?
Terrain, world time, exploration data and player characters are removed from that save. On restart, the server creates a new save and players begin as level-1 characters. Recovery requires restoring the complete backup.
How do I reset the day and Blood Moon cycle but keep characters?
Delete Region/ and main.ttp after stopping the server and making a backup. Keep Player/ so character progression survives.
How do I clear explored maps without deleting characters?
Delete the per-player files matching map_*.dat and leave Player/ in place. This clears map exploration while preserving the character files.
How do I generate a new random map?
Use GameWorld=RWG, change WorldGenSeed, and restart after backing up. A changed seed affects RWG generation; it does not by itself delete Player/. A non-RWG world will not become a new random map from a seed edit alone.
Can I keep characters after a full wipe?
Yes, if you preserve Player/ separately. Host Havoc documents downloading that folder, generating the new save, stopping the service, and uploading Player/ into the replacement directory. Other providers may use different paths and file tools.
Why did my reset appear to do nothing?
The server may be loading a different game name or custom save path, or it may have been running while files were changed. Stop it, verify UserDataFolder and SaveGameFolder, confirm the exact directory, then repeat from a backup.
The Bottom Line
Stop the server, verify the active save path, and make a complete external backup first. Rename Game Name for a reversible fresh save; delete Region/ to rebuild terrain while keeping characters; remove main.ttp or map_*.dat only for the additional resets you actually want; and delete the whole game-name directory only when you intend to erase everything. For a different generated landscape, use GameWorld=RWG with a new WorldGenSeed, then verify the result before removing the backup.
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