Uploading a Valheim world to your server is useful when you want to move an existing world from another server, transfer a world from your computer, restore a world from a backup, or continue playing an existing world on a dedicated server.
A Valheim world contains your world terrain, buildings, explored areas, player progress, and other world data.
This guide explains how to upload an existing Valheim world to your server using the File Manager in your Game Panel.
This guide is written for Valheim dedicated servers.
What Is a Valheim World Save? #
A Valheim world save contains the data required for the server to load your world.
Depending on the Valheim version and save format, world data may be stored using world save files or a world save directory.
The world data can contain:
- Terrain
- Buildings
- Explored areas
- World progression
- World modifiers
- World seed information
- Other world data
Always keep a backup of your world before transferring it.
Important: Stop Your Valheim Server First #
Stop your Valheim server completely before uploading or replacing a world.
This prevents the server from accessing the world while you are changing its files.
It also helps prevent the server from overwriting your uploaded world with an older save.
How to Upload a Valheim World to Your Server #
Step 1: Stop Your Valheim Server #
Stop the Valheim server completely.
Wait until the server has fully stopped before continuing.
Step 2: Find Your Valheim World #
Locate the Valheim world you want to upload.
On a Windows computer, Valheim world saves are normally stored under:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\ValheimThe exact save location can depend on your Valheim setup.
If you are moving a world from another server, download the world files from that server first.
Step 3: Open Your Server Files #
Open the File Manager in your Game Panel.
Find the directory where your Valheim server stores its world saves.
Your Game Panel may use a custom save directory.
If your hosting provider has configured a custom save location, use that location instead of the default Valheim save directory.
Step 4: Back Up Your Existing World #
If your server already has a world, create a backup before replacing it.
Download the existing world or create a server backup.
This gives you a way to restore the previous world if something goes wrong.
Step 5: Upload the World #
Upload your Valheim world save to the server using the File Manager.
Depending on the Valheim version and save format, this may be a world save directory or world save files.
For older save formats, you may see files such as:
MyWorld.db
MyWorld.fwlThe files must belong to the same world and should be transferred together.
Do not upload only one of the world files.
Step 6: Make Sure the World Name Matches #
Your Valheim server uses the:
-worldstartup setting to determine which world it should load.
For example:
-world "MyWorld"If your uploaded world is named:
MyWorldmake sure the server is configured to load:
-world "MyWorld"The world name must match the uploaded save.
Step 7: Save Your Configuration #
Save your server startup configuration.
Make sure the -world setting points to the world you uploaded.
For example:
-world "MyWorld"Step 8: Start Your Valheim Server #
Start the Valheim server.
The server should load the uploaded world instead of creating a new one.
The first startup may take longer than usual while Valheim loads the world.
Step 9: Join the Server #
Join your Valheim server.
Check that your existing world has loaded correctly.
Look for:
- Existing buildings
- Previously explored areas
- Your existing world terrain
- World progression
- Other saved world data
If these are present, your world has been successfully transferred.
Uploading a World From Singleplayer #
You can transfer a Valheim singleplayer world to a dedicated server.
Find the world save on your computer and upload the required world data to your server.
Make sure the world name used by the server matches the world you uploaded.
For example:
-world "MyWorld"If the world was previously named:
MyWorldthe server should use that same world name when loading the save.
Uploading a World From Another Server #
You can also transfer a world from another Valheim server.
First, stop the old server and download the world save.
Then upload the world to the new server.
Make sure the complete world save is transferred and that the new server is configured to load the correct world name.
Always keep a backup of the original world before transferring it.
Important: Do Not Mix World Save Files #
World save files contain different parts of the same world.
For older Valheim save formats, you may see:
MyWorld.db
MyWorld.fwlThe .db file contains the world data while the .fwl file contains important world information.
Do not mix files from different worlds.
For example, do not use:
MyWorld.dbwith:
AnotherWorld.fwlAlways transfer the complete save belonging to the same world.
Written by
relyzishere
Part of the Academy Hosting team — running game, bot, and web servers in production. Published September 15, 2026. • 5 min read.
