How to Download a Minecraft Server World (Java, 2026)

To download a Minecraft server world, stop the server (or run save-all flush first), then download the folder named in level-name in server.properties, usually world. On Paper, Spigot or Purpur before 26.1, also download world_nether and world_the_end, because those servers keep the Nether and End outside the main folder. Zip the folders before downloading, or use SFTP for big worlds. To play it in single player, put the folder in .minecraft/saves.

What you are downloading

If you changed level-name, replace world with that name in everything below. On Paper the extra folders follow it, so a level-name of smp gives smp_nether and smp_the_end on older versions.

What else is worth downloading

The world folder holds the map, chests, player inventories (in playerdata/ or, from 26.1, players/data/), advancements and data packs. It does not hold the server's settings. For a full copy, also grab:

Step 1: Save and stop the server

Minecraft keeps recent changes in memory and writes them to disk on save. A copy taken from a running server can miss the last few minutes or catch a region file halfway through being written.

1. Run save-all flush in the console. Wait for "Saved the game".
2. Stop the server. This is the safest option and takes seconds.

If you cannot stop it, run save-off, then save-all flush, copy the files, then run save-on again so the server goes back to saving normally.

Step 2: Zip the world folders

Thousands of small region files download slowly one by one and are easy to lose halfway. Zip them on the server first:

• In a web file manager, tick world (and world_nether and world_the_end if you have them) and choose zip or compress, then download the zip.
• With no zip option, use SFTP instead (Step 3).

Step 3: Use SFTP for big worlds

Worlds that have been explored for months reach several gigabytes. A browser download that fails at 90% starts again from zero, while an SFTP app like FileZilla or WinSCP resumes and shows progress.

1. Find the SFTP host, port, username and password in your host's panel.
2. Connect, open the server's main folder and drag the world folders to your PC.
3. Check the size on your PC matches the size on the server before deleting anything.

Step 4: Open it in single player (optional)

Copy the folder into your saves folder:

Use a Minecraft version at least as new as the server's. Opening a world in an older version can corrupt it, and 26.1 worlds cannot go back to 1.21.x at all.

The Nether and End trap on Paper worlds

This is what catches most people. Paper, Spigot and Purpur before 26.1 split every world into three folders, and the Nether and End inside them sit one level deeper than single player expects:

If you only copy world, the Overworld is perfect but the Nether and End generate fresh: your portal leads to an unbuilt Nether and the dragon is back. Copy the DIM-1 folder from inside world_nether and the DIM1 folder from inside world_the_end into world, and the whole world comes across. On Paper 26.1 and newer this is already done, since Paper migrates the old folders into world/dimensions/ on its first start (PaperMC's 26.1 notes). The Minecraft Wiki level format page lists the full layout.

Common problems

• The Nether or End is empty in single player: the world came from Paper before 26.1 and DIM-1 and DIM1 were not moved into the main folder. See the table above.
• The world is missing from the singleplayer list: the folder is nested, for example saves/world/world/. level.dat must sit directly inside the folder in saves.
• Your inventory is empty in single player: on 1.21.11 and older, single player reads its player from level.dat, not from playerdata, so you spawn fresh. Everything is still in the world, and your server character is safe in playerdata/<uuid>.dat.
• The zip is tiny or will not open: the download was cut off, or you zipped while the server was saving. Stop the server and zip again.
• "Session lock" or failed copy errors: the server is still running. Stop it first.

Downloading your world on GamezServers

On a Minecraft server from GamezServers, press Stop, open Files, tick the world folders and choose Download as zip. For big worlds, click Show SFTP login in Settings and use FileZilla or WinSCP. Press Backup before any big change, too, so there is always a copy off the server. To go the other way, see how to upload a world to a Minecraft server.

FAQ

Where is the world folder on a Minecraft server?

In the server's main folder, named by level-name in server.properties. The default is world.

Do I need world_nether and world_the_end?

Yes on Paper, Spigot or Purpur before 26.1, because they hold the Nether and End. Vanilla, Fabric, Forge and Paper 26.1 or newer keep everything inside world.

Can I download a server world while it is running?

It is risky. Run save-off and save-all flush first, then save-on afterwards, or simply stop the server.

Can I play my server world in single player?

Yes. Put the folder in .minecraft/saves and open it on the same or a newer Minecraft version, moving the Nether and End in first if it came from older Paper.