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To move an existing Valheim world to a dedicated server, stop both the game and destination server, back up the saves, copy the complete world data, place it in the server’s active save directory, and launch the server with -world set to the save’s exact name. Older worlds usually contain a matching .db and .fwl pair; current post-1.0 saves may be folders containing several numbered files, all of which must be transferred together.
Godlike.Host offers hosted Valheim servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
The procedure is the same in principle on a managed host and a self-hosted machine, but the file-manager screens and default directories differ. The critical details are the complete file set, the active -savedir, and an exact world-name match.
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A Valheim dedicated server does not import a world through an in-game menu. It reads world-save data from its configured save directory when it starts. Your task is therefore a controlled file migration: identify the local save, copy every file belonging to it, place those files where the server looks, and tell the server which world name to open.
The world contains more than the terrain seed. A successful migration preserves explored map data, structures, containers, defeated bosses, world modifiers and player progression associated with that save. Uploading only one file, mixing files from different backups or pointing the server at a different directory can make the server generate a fresh world or load an apparently empty state.
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| Save situation | What you should expect | Required action |
|---|---|---|
| Older save format | A matching .db and .fwl pair sharing the same base name |
Copy both files together; never upload one without the other |
| Current post-1.0 save | A world folder containing multiple numbered files and related data | Copy the complete folder and every file inside it |
| Cloud-managed save | The game keeps the world in cloud storage rather than ordinary local storage | Use Valheim’s save-management controls to move or copy it to local storage before uploading |
Before copying: stop writes and make backups
Do not copy a world while Valheim or the server is writing to it. A file set captured during a save operation can be internally inconsistent, even if every filename appears to be present.
- Exit Valheim on the computer that currently hosts the world. Wait for the game to close completely.
- Stop the destination dedicated server from its control panel or operating-system service. A running server can overwrite your upload with its own save state.
- Make a separate backup of the source save before changing it. Keep the backup outside the live Valheim save directory, with the date and world name in the backup folder name.
- If the destination already contains a world with the same name, back up that destination too. This gives you a rollback point if the import is wrong.
- Record the source world’s exact name, platform, save format and last-modified time. Those details make it easier to identify the correct files when several worlds have similar names.
Keep the original source copy until you have joined the server and verified the seed, map exploration, builds and progression. Do not treat a first successful boot as proof that the migration is complete.
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Find the existing world on Windows or Linux
Windows local saves
Iron Gate’s documented Windows save root is %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalLowIronGateValheim. Open File Explorer, paste that path into the address bar and press Enter. Locate the active local-world data, commonly beneath a worlds_local directory.
Sort candidate files or folders by modification time and compare their names with the world name shown in Valheim’s save-management screen. If you have several similarly named worlds, open each candidate only after the game is closed and use the most recent complete set that matches the world you intend to migrate.
Linux local saves
Iron Gate’s documented Linux save root is ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim. In a terminal, you can inspect it with:
ls -la ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/ValheimLook for the local-world data, commonly under worlds_local. The tilde expands to the home directory of the user running Valheim, so make sure you are checking the same account that created the save.
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When the world is stored in the cloud
A cloud-managed world might not appear in the local folder you expect. Open Valheim’s save-management controls and use the option to move or copy the world to local storage. Close the game after the operation, then check the local save directory again. Upload the local copy, not a partially synchronized cloud representation.
If the game offers both move and copy, copy is safer for a first migration because it leaves the cloud version intact. After validation, you can decide whether to keep both versions or remove the duplicate.
Identify the complete save set
Legacy two-file saves
In the older format, the base name is shared by a .db database file and a .fwl world-metadata file. For a world named MeadowsRun, the expected pair would be conceptually similar to MeadowsRun.db and MeadowsRun.fwl. The names must match exactly apart from the extension.
Copy the pair together. Do not rename one file, combine files from different dates or assume the larger database file is sufficient by itself.
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Current post-1.0 saves may use a folder containing multiple numbered files instead of only the old two-file pair. The folder is the unit of migration: preserve its internal filenames and hierarchy, and transfer every file required by the destination host’s current import procedure.
An old tutorial that tells you to search only for .db and .fwl can therefore be incomplete. If the source contains a world folder and numbered files, do not select a couple of files by extension and leave the rest behind.
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Integrity checks before upload
- Compare modification times so all files come from the same backup point.
- Check that the source set is not still changing; a stable timestamp after the game is closed is a useful indication.
- Preserve capitalization, punctuation and spaces in the world name.
- Do not place two different backups in one destination folder and expect the server to choose correctly.
- Keep a compressed archive or copied folder of the original set before uploading.
Upload to a managed server panel
Managed hosts commonly provide a File Manager, an “upload world” tool or an import wizard. Labels differ, but the sequence below prevents the most common mistakes.
- Stop the server. Use the panel’s Stop button and wait until the status shows that the process has exited. A restart button is not enough if the old process is still shutting down.
- Open the active save location. Use the panel’s world or save-directory link when available. If the panel exposes a configurable save path, note it; that path is more important than a generic directory shown in an old tutorial.
- Preserve the destination copy. Download or rename the existing save before replacing it. If the panel provides snapshots, create one now.
- Upload the complete source set. For a legacy world, upload the matching
.dband.fwlfiles. For a post-1.0 world, upload the entire folder and its numbered contents. If the panel accepts an archive, use the format it documents and verify that extraction keeps the expected folder level. - Check the resulting path. Avoid an extra nested directory such as
worlds_local/MeadowsRun/MeadowsRun/...when the host expects the files one level higher. The panel’s import instructions determine the correct layout. - Set the world name. In the server configuration or startup arguments, set
-worldto the exact base name expected by the uploaded save. Do not add an extension unless the host specifically requests one. - Save the configuration and start once. Watch the console for the world-loading messages. Leave the original backup untouched until validation is complete.
If the panel has a dedicated import control, it may copy files into a provider-specific location and update the startup setting automatically. Still verify the displayed world name and save path; an import wizard cannot correct a source folder that contains mixed or incomplete files.
Self-hosting on your own machine
A self-hosted server reads its default save root unless the launch command supplies -savedir. The official dedicated-server configuration also lets you select an existing world with -world. Iron Gate’s wording is: “You may also choose an already existing World by entering its name.”
Choose or confirm the save directory
Decide whether to use the server’s default save root or a dedicated directory on a disk that is backed up. If you use a custom location, include it explicitly with -savedir and make sure the operating-system account running the server can read and write that directory.
A conceptual launch configuration looks like this:
valheim_server -name 'My Server' -port 2456 -world 'MeadowsRun' -password 'your-password' -savedir '/srv/valheim-saves'The executable name and service wrapper vary by installation, but the important arguments are the same: -world identifies the save and -savedir identifies where the server looks for it. On Windows, use the path syntax required by your service or batch file; on Linux, use an absolute path when possible to avoid ambiguity.
Copy the files while the process is stopped
- Stop the server service and confirm no server process remains.
- Back up the current directory selected by
-savedir. - Copy the complete source pair or folder into that directory, preserving names and permissions.
- Set
-worldto the exact save name and save the service configuration. - Start the server and monitor its log for errors, missing files or a world-generation message.
If the server generates a new world, stop it immediately rather than exploring or building. A newly generated save can overwrite the directory you intended to import and make diagnosis harder.
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Start the server and validate the migration
Join with the same character or account you normally use, then check several independent signs that the old world loaded:
- The seed or world identity matches the original.
- Known bases, portals, roads, farms and storage buildings are present.
- Previously explored map areas remain explored.
- Bosses defeated and world progression are unchanged.
- World modifiers, weather-related settings and other server options are what you expect.
- Recent player inventories and shared containers contain the latest known items.
Test from a second player account if possible. A local administrator connection can succeed while ordinary players still fail because of firewall, port or backend settings.
Iron Gate’s current dedicated-server guide lists ports 2456 and 2457 as the defaults: Valheim uses the selected port and port plus one. If you changed the port, open the corresponding pair in the host firewall and router, and use the same value in your connection instructions.
The documented default save interval is 1,800 seconds, or 30 minutes. Do not rely on that interval during migration: stop the server before copying, and make an immediate backup after you confirm the imported world is correct.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Self-hosting versus a managed panel
Both approaches can load the same world data. The practical difference is who controls the filesystem, networking and recovery process.
| Consideration | Self-hosted server | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| File and launch control | Full control of -world, -savedir, service files and operating-system permissions |
Usually exposes a panel, file manager and selected launch settings; provider limits may apply |
| Uploading and restoring | You copy files with the operating system, SFTP or a scripted backup process | Often offers browser uploads, import tools and snapshot restoration |
| Networking | You handle firewall rules, router forwarding, public address and port conflicts | The provider normally supplies network access, but you must follow its current connection instructions |
| Cross-platform play | You choose whether to add -crossplay and configure the server accordingly |
Availability depends on the host’s supported backend and panel options |
| Cost and limits | Uses your own hardware, electricity and bandwidth; capacity depends on that equipment | Recurring price and provider-specific limits apply; verify storage, backup retention, regions and import controls before subscribing |
Choose self-hosting when you need unrestricted launch arguments, direct filesystem access or an existing machine. Choose managed hosting when an assisted importer, automated backups and provider-managed networking are more valuable than low-level control.
Crossplay is separate from world migration
Add -crossplay only when players on supported platforms need the PlayFab networking backend. Iron Gate describes this option as: “Runs the Server on the Crossplay backend (PlayFab), which lets users from any platform join.”
Crossplay does not convert, repair or relocate save files. First make the world load correctly without changing unrelated variables; then enable the backend if your player group requires it. If players cannot see or join the server afterward, check the selected backend, firewall and port settings, and the host’s current connection procedure separately from the world files.
Troubleshooting common migration failures
The server creates a completely new world
- Stop the server and inspect the directory selected by
-savedir; the files may have been uploaded to a different path. - Check that
-worldmatches the uploaded save name exactly, including capitalization, spaces and punctuation. - Confirm the process was fully stopped during the upload.
- Look for an extra nested folder created by a panel extraction step.
- Verify that the server account can read the files.
The world loads but looks empty or older
Stop the server and re-copy a known-good complete save set. Compare modification times and do not combine a newer database with an older metadata file, or mix numbered files from different backups. An apparently empty map often indicates that only part of a current folder was uploaded.
The panel says the import succeeded, but startup ignores it
Read the effective startup command or configuration after importing. Some panels copy files successfully but leave the previous -world value unchanged. Update the launch setting, save it, stop and start the server again, then inspect the active save path.
Players cannot see or join the server
Separate world validation from connectivity testing. Confirm the seed and structures locally first. Then check the selected crossplay backend, the firewall, router forwarding and ports 2456 and 2457 when those are the configured defaults. Managed hosts may use a different connection address or instructions.
The source uses a folder and numbered files
Follow the destination host’s current import instructions and transfer the entire folder. Do not apply a two-file-only guide to a post-1.0 save.
Cloud and local copies diverge
Close Valheim, use its save-management controls to make a local copy, and compare timestamps before uploading. Keep the cloud version as a backup until the local migration has been validated.
Rollback and ongoing backups
- Stop the server before restoring anything.
- Move the failed imported set out of the active save directory instead of deleting it.
- Restore the destination backup or the original source copy as a complete set.
- Restore the matching
-worldvalue and, if applicable, the original-savedir. - Start the server, validate a known structure and progression point, then create a fresh dated backup.
For ongoing operation, schedule backups while the server is stopped or use a host feature that creates consistent snapshots. Retain multiple dated generations rather than overwriting one archive. Test a restoration periodically on a separate directory so a backup is proven usable before you need it.
Quick Recap
Final verification checklist
- Source and destination backups exist.
- The source game and destination server were stopped before copying.
- The complete legacy pair or post-1.0 folder was transferred.
- The files are in the directory selected by
-savedir. -worldexactly matches the save name.- The server starts without generating a replacement world.
- Seed, explored map, structures and progression match the original.
- Connectivity, ports and crossplay settings have been tested separately.
- The original source copy remains untouched until all checks pass.
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