How do you move a Minecraft (or other game) server to a new host? Back up your world/save folder, server config files, and any mods or plugins, then upload them to your new server with drag-and-drop for small transfers or sFTP for large ones. For Minecraft, match your Java and server version in the Startup and Minecraft Versions tabs before first boot to avoid a corrupted world.
Know what to back up before you cancel your old server
Every game stores data a little differently, but the rule holds: back up your world/save folder, your server config files, and any mods or plugins you’ve added.
A few examples: Minecraft needs the world folder plus server.properties. Valheim needs the .db and .fwl files in worlds_local. ARK needs the SavedArks folder. Unsure? Back up the entire server root except logs and cache.
Two ways to get files onto your new server
Drag and drop through your panel’s file manager, right in the browser. Best for a handful of files or a folder under a few hundred MB.
sFTP, for large transfers, thousands of small files, or anything you’d rather queue up and walk away from. See our full sFTP guide for setup.
Uploading with drag and drop
Open your panel, go to File Manager, and navigate to where the files belong, usually the server root or a specific world folder.
Drag the files or folder straight from your desktop into the browser window. Larger uploads take a while, don’t close the tab until it finishes.
Tip: Stop your new server before uploading world files. Writing into a running server’s world folder can corrupt saves.
Zip large transfers before you upload
Compress your world folder into a single .zip before transferring, then extract it on the server using your panel’s built-in archive tool. One large file moves faster and more reliably than thousands of small ones.
Migrating Minecraft? Match your Java and server version first
Minecraft is picky about version mismatches. If your new server runs a different Java version or Minecraft version than the one your world was saved on, it can fail to load or get corrupted on first boot.
Set your Java version from the Startup tab in your panel. If you need to change the Minecraft server version itself, that’s in the Minecraft Versions tab.
Tip: Match versions before you start the server for the first time, not after. Changing versions on a world that already failed to load is a much harder fix.
Start the server and check the console
Start your server and watch the console on first boot, a missing file or wrong folder structure usually shows up immediately.
World won’t load? Double check the files landed in the exact folder your server expects, that’s the most common mistake.
Frequently asked questions
What files do I need to back up before moving a Minecraft server?
The world folder, server.properties, and any mods or plugins. If you are unsure, back up the entire server root except logs and cache.
Should I stop my server before uploading a world?
Yes. Stop the new server first, because writing into a running server’s world folder can corrupt saves.
Why won’t my migrated world load?
Most often the files are not in the exact folder the server expects, or the Java or Minecraft version does not match the one the world was saved on.