How to Move a Space Engineers World to a Dedicated Server

To move a Space Engineers world to a dedicated server, copy the whole world folder from %AppData%\SpaceEngineers\Saves\<SteamID64>\<World name>\ (it holds Sandbox.sbc, Sandbox_config.sbc and SANDBOX_0_0_0_.sbs) into the server's Saves folder. Then point LoadWorld in SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg at that folder's Sandbox.sbc, or set the panel's world name to the folder name. If the world uses Workshop mods, experimental mode must be on.

What you can and cannot move

What goes where

Your world folder is in %AppData%\SpaceEngineers\Saves\, inside a folder named with your 17 digit Steam ID. Paste the path into the Windows Run box (Win + R) to open it. In game, Load Game, then Open Folder (or the folder icon) takes you straight there.

On a self hosted Windows server the destination is the Saves folder in the server's data folder, usually %AppData%\SpaceEngineersDedicated\Saves\ (see the Space Engineers wiki's dedicated server guide). On GamezServers it is config/Saves/ on the Standard type and Instance/Saves/ on the Torch type.

Before you start

• Save and exit the world in game so every file is written.
• Back up the whole world folder.
• Update both sides. The game and the dedicated server should be on the same version.
• Know your mods. Open Sandbox_config.sbc and look at the <Mods> section, or check the mod list on the world's Edit Settings screen.

Step 1: Stop the server and back it up

Stop the server so it does not autosave over your upload, then back it up. A fresh server already has a starter world, normally in a folder called World.

Step 2: Upload the world folder

The simplest path is to put your files where the server already looks. Empty the server's Saves/World/ folder and upload the contents of your world folder into it: Sandbox.sbc, Sandbox_config.sbc, the .sbs files, any .vx2 files and Storage/. Big worlds are hundreds of megabytes, so zip the folder and extract it on the server, or use SFTP.

Keeping your own folder name is fine too. Then go to Step 3.

Step 3: Point the server at the world

If you kept your own folder name, set LoadWorld in SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg to its Sandbox.sbc. On a Windows server it looks like this:

<LoadWorld>C:\SEServer\Saves\Red Ship Base\Sandbox.sbc</LoadWorld>

On a hosting panel with a World Name setting, set it to your folder name exactly instead, because the panel rewrites LoadWorld from it on every start. On GamezServers that path becomes config/Saves/<World Name>/Sandbox.sbc.

Step 4: Match the world settings and start

Turn on experimental mode if the world uses any Workshop mod, and in game scripts if it uses programmable blocks. Then start the server and watch the console. It downloads the mods in the world's list, loads the grids, and reports when the session is ready. Join through Join Game and Direct Connect.

The gotcha: panel settings rewrite your world's config

Space Engineers keeps game mode, max players, experimental mode, in game scripts and autosave inside the world's own Sandbox_config.sbc. The dedicated server's own config has a copy of the same session settings, and hosting panels with toggles for them write them into the world config on every start, so the server's version wins. Upload a Creative world to a server set to Survival and it starts as Survival. Upload a modded world with Enable Experimental Mode off and the server refuses to load the mods, so modded blocks vanish from your grids.

Before the first start, set every panel toggle to match the world. On GamezServers those settings are written into the world in Saves/World/, which is one more reason to upload into that folder rather than a new one.

Smaller trap: if you ever edit SANDBOX_0_0_0_.sbs by hand, delete the matching .sbsB5 file too. The .sbsB5 is a faster binary copy, and the game loads it instead of your edited file when it exists. For a plain move, copy both and change nothing.

What happens to characters and ownership

Characters, faction membership and block ownership are stored in the world against each player's Steam identity. When the world moves, players who join with the same Steam account usually find their character, their faction and ownership of their grids as they were. Admin rights do not move: add admins in the server config by Steam ID.

Common problems

• Server loads the starter world: LoadWorld or the panel world name does not match your folder, or the files went one folder too deep (for example Saves/World/Red Ship Base/).
• Modded blocks missing: experimental mode is off, or a mod failed to download. Check the console for mod errors.
• Game mode or limits changed: a panel setting overwrote Sandbox_config.sbc. Match the panel to the world.
• Heavy lag after the move: a single player world often has block limits and PCU off. Turn on block limits in Sandbox_config.sbc and clean out old debris.
• Crash while loading: an incomplete upload or a version mismatch. Re-upload and update the server.

Moving it to GamezServers

On a Space Engineers server from GamezServers, upload the world in the file manager (it handles zips, extracting and downloading a file from a link straight to the server) or over SFTP from Settings. Set World Name, Game Mode and Enable Experimental Mode to match before the first start, and click Backup first. Refineries keep running without anyone's PC on. For mods, see how to add mods to a Space Engineers server.

FAQ

Where are Space Engineers saves stored?

In %AppData%\SpaceEngineers\Saves\<SteamID64>\, one folder per world. Each holds Sandbox.sbc, Sandbox_config.sbc and the SANDBOX_0_0_0_.sbs grid data.

Will my friends keep their ships and characters?

Usually yes. Ownership, characters and factions are stored with each player's Steam identity, so they carry over when that player joins with the same account.

Why did my mods not load after the move?

Workshop mods only load with experimental mode on. Turn it on in the server or panel settings, then restart.

Do I need to upload the Backup folder?

No. It holds the game's older autosaves. Leave it out to make the upload smaller.