How to Move a Game Server to a New Host (Step by Step)

To move a game server to a new host, stop the old server so the world saves, download the whole server folder (saves, configs, admin and ban lists, mods or plugins) over SFTP, set up the new server on the exact same game version and mod loader, upload the files, start it and check the console, then give players the new address. Keep the old server until the new one is confirmed working.

What do I need to copy when moving a game server?

More than the world. A server is a save plus everything that makes it yours:

What	Why it matters	Examples
World or save	The map, bases and player progress	`world/`, `worlds_local/`, `SavedArks/`, `.wld`
Server config	Name, password, rules, rates	`server.properties`, `serverconfig.xml`, `GameUserSettings.ini`
Admin, whitelist and ban lists	Who is staff and who is not allowed	`ops.json`, `adminlist.txt`, `whitelist.json`
Mods or plugins	The server will not load the world without them	`mods/`, `plugins/`, `oxide/plugins/`, `BepInEx/plugins/`
Plugin or mod data	Economies, claims, kits, permissions	`plugins/<name>/`, `oxide/data/`
Databases	Player data for frameworks	MySQL or MariaDB for FiveM
Version and loader	Saves can fail on a different version	Paper 1.21.x, tModLoader version, Build 42

Write down the game version, the server type (vanilla, Paper, Fabric, Oxide, BepInEx, tModLoader) and the full mod list with versions before you start. That one note solves most migration problems.

Step 1: Stop the old server and take a final backup

Do not copy files from a running server. Many games keep the world in memory and write it on save or shutdown, so a copy taken while running can be half written or several minutes old.

Warn players and set a time, for example in your Discord announcements.
Run the game's save command if it has one (save-all in Minecraft, saveworld in ARK, /save in Factorio).
Stop the server cleanly from the panel or console. Avoid killing the process.
Take a backup on the old host as well, so you have a second copy.

Step 2: Download the server files

Connect to the old host with an SFTP client like FileZilla or WinSCP, using the host, port, username and password from the old panel. Download the entire server folder if you can. It is often faster to grab everything than to work out exactly which folders matter, and you can sort it out locally.

If the old host only offers a backup download, that works too. Unzip it locally to check the save is really inside before you cancel anything. Our what is SFTP guide covers connecting step by step.

For FiveM and other servers with a database, export it as well. A .sql dump from phpMyAdmin, HeidiSQL or mysqldump holds characters, money, vehicles and inventories. Without it, players start from scratch even though the resources are there.

Where does each game keep the files I need?

Game	Saves	Configs and lists
Minecraft: Java	`world/`, plus `world_nether/` and `world_the_end/` on Paper and Spigot	`server.properties`, `ops.json`, `whitelist.json`, `banned-players.json`, `plugins/` or `mods/`
Valheim	`.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/`	`adminlist.txt`, `bannedlist.txt`, `permittedlist.txt` in the same Valheim folder
Rust	`server/<identity>/` (the `.map` and `.sav` files)	`server/<identity>/cfg/`, `oxide/` or `carbon/` folders with plugins and data
ARK: Survival Ascended	`ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/<map>/`	`GameUserSettings.ini`, `Game.ini`
Palworld	`Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/<world id>/`	`PalWorldSettings.ini`
Project Zomboid	`Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer/<server name>/`	`Zomboid/Server/<server name>.ini` and `_SandboxVars.lua`, `Zomboid/db/<server name>.db` for accounts
Terraria	`Worlds/<name>.wld`	`serverconfig.txt`, TShock or tModLoader folders
Factorio	`saves/<name>.zip`	`server-settings.json`, `server-adminlist.json`, `mods/`
FiveM	Database dump	`server.cfg`, `resources/`, txAdmin data

Game specific upload steps are in how to move your world to a hosted server.

Valheim world with a built base, the kind of save you carry to a new host

Step 3: Set up the new server to match

On the new host, create the server with the same game, the same version and the same server type or mod loader. Then:

Start it once and stop it. This generates the folder structure and default configs, so you can see where your files belong on this host.
Match the version. If the old server ran an older version for a modpack, pin the same version on the new one. Loading a world on a newer version usually upgrades it, which you cannot undo.
Install the same mods and plugins, in the same versions, before the world loads for the first time. A world loaded without its mods can lose modded blocks and items permanently.

Step 4: Upload your files

Stop the new server, then upload over SFTP:

Replace the default world folder with yours, keeping the folder name the server expects (or change the world name setting to match yours).
Upload configs, admin lists, whitelists and ban lists.
Upload plugin and mod data folders.
Import the database dump into the new database for FiveM and similar setups, then update the connection string in server.cfg.

Watch for settings that should not move across. Ports, IP bindings and memory flags belong to the new host. In Minecraft, leave server-ip empty and keep the port the new host assigned. In general, if a setting in your old config names an IP address or port, check it against the new panel before you start.

Step 5: Start it and check the console

Start the server and read the console from the top. Look for:

The world name you expect being loaded, not a fresh world being generated.
Errors about missing mods, plugins or dependencies.
Version warnings or a world upgrade message.
Database connection errors on FiveM.

Join yourself before telling anyone else. Check your base is there, your admin rights work and the whitelist lets the right people in.

Step 6: Switch players to the new address

The new server has a new address, so tell everyone:

Update the pinned join message in Discord with the new address and port.
Ask players to remove the old server from their favorites and add the new one.
If you use a domain name, update its DNS record to the new IP. Minecraft servers on a non default port also need the SRV record updated. DNS changes can take a while to reach everyone, so post the raw address too.
Put a message on the old server, if it is still running, pointing to the new one.

Our guide on how to invite friends to your game server covers what each game needs in a join message.

Step 7: Cancel the old host last

Keep the old server, stopped, until players have been on the new one for a few days. Then download one more copy for your own records and cancel. Hosts usually delete files some time after a subscription ends, so do not count on the old copy staying around.

Common problems after moving

A brand new world loads instead of yours. The world name setting does not match your folder name.
Players kicked for mod mismatch. The new server has different mod versions. Compare against your note from the start.
Admins lost their rights. Admin lists were not copied, or the game expects IDs in a different format.
Players lost inventories on FiveM. The database was not imported or the connection string is wrong. See oxmysql unable to establish a connection.

FAQ

Can I move my game server without losing my world?

Yes. Stop the server so it saves, download the whole server folder, and upload it to a new server running the same game version and mods.

Will my server keep the same IP address on a new host?

No. A new host gives you a new address. Update your Discord, favorites and any DNS records, or use a domain name so future moves only need a DNS change.

Do I need to move mods and plugins too?

Yes. Copy the mod or plugin files and their data folders, and match the versions, or the world may fail to load or lose modded items.

How long does it take to move a game server?

Usually under an hour for a small server. Big modpacks, large worlds and database exports take longer, mostly because of upload time.

Should I cancel my old host first?

No. Keep the old server until the new one is tested and players have moved, then cancel.

Moving to GamezServers

If you are moving to us, the new server is ready minutes after paying, with full file access and SFTP so you can upload your folders exactly as described above. Every plan includes DDoS protection and 24/7 support from real people, and a new customer's first purchase has a 72 hour full refund if it does not work out. If you ever leave us, a server whose subscription ends shuts down and its files are deleted about 14 days later, so download your copy before then. Browse the game list or read getting started.