How to Reset or Roll Back an Astroneer Dedicated Server Save

To start a fresh world on an Astroneer dedicated server, stop it and change ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName in AstroServerSettings.ini to a name no existing save uses, such as SEASON2; the server creates a new save with that name on its next start, and the old world stays on disk. To roll back, stop the server and make sure the save file you want is the newest one with the active name in Astro/Saved/SaveGames/, by moving the newer files out. The server always loads the newest file whose name before the $ matches the setting.

Both jobs come down to understanding how the server picks a save, so start there.

How the server chooses which save to load

Save files live in Astro/Saved/SaveGames/ and are named like:

SAVE_1$2026.09.30-21.14.07.savegame

The part before the $ is the save name. The part after is the date and time it was written. In Astro/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/AstroServerSettings.ini:

[/Script/Astro.AstroServerSettings]
ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName=SAVE_1
AutoSaveGameInterval=900
BackupSaveGamesInterval=7200

On start, the server looks for files whose save name matches ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName and loads the one with the newest date. If there is none, it starts a new world under that name. Depending on how the world was created and moved, you may find one file or several dated files for the same world.

AutoSaveGameInterval is how often the server saves, in seconds (900 is every 15 minutes). BackupSaveGamesInterval is how often it keeps an extra backup copy (7200 is every 2 hours).

Before you touch anything

1. Stop the server. Editing saves or settings while it runs can be overwritten on its next save.
2. Back up the whole Astro/Saved folder. That covers saves, backups and settings in one go. It takes a minute and it is the difference between a reset and a disaster.
3. Tell your crew. A reset or rollback affects everyone's progress.

Option 1: start a new world and keep the old one

The cleanest reset, because nothing is deleted:

1. Stop the server.

2. Open AstroServerSettings.ini and change the save name:

   ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName=SEASON2
   

   Use letters, numbers and underscores. Avoid spaces and the $ character.

3. Start the server. It finds no save called SEASON2, so it creates a new world.

4. Join and check you land on a fresh starting planet.

To go back to the old world later, set the name back to SAVE_1 (or whatever it was) and restart. Both worlds sit side by side in SaveGames.

Option 2: wipe completely

If you want the old world gone for good, for example to free space or to stop anyone loading it by mistake:

1. Stop the server and back up Astro/Saved.
2. Delete every file in Astro/Saved/SaveGames/ that starts with the current save name.
3. Start the server. With no matching save, it generates a new world under the same name.

Option 1 is safer. Use this only when you are sure.

Option 3: roll back to an earlier save

Something went wrong: a griefer, a bad experiment with explosives, a base that fell into a hole. If SaveGames holds older dated files for your world, you can roll back to one of them. If there is only one file, skip to the backup copies in the next section.

1. Stop the server and back up Astro/Saved.
2. In Astro/Saved/SaveGames/, sort the files for your save name by the date after the $.
3. Pick the file from before the problem.
4. Move every newer file for that save name out of the folder (into a folder on your PC, not into the trash).
5. Start the server. The file you picked is now the newest, so it loads.
6. Join and check the world. If it is still too late, stop and repeat with an earlier file.

Do not rename the file you want to make it look newer. The date part must stay a valid date in the original format, or the server ignores the file.

Restoring from the server's backup copies

If SaveGames has nothing old enough, look at the backup copies the server keeps every BackupSaveGamesInterval seconds, stored in the backup folder under Astro/Saved. To use one:

1. Stop the server.
2. Copy the backup .savegame file into Astro/Saved/SaveGames/.
3. Move out any newer files with the same save name, as in Option 3.
4. Start the server.

Backups only go back as far as the server has kept them, so for anything important, keep your own copies too.

Making future rollbacks painless

• Keep AutoSaveGameInterval at 900 or lower on a busy server, so you never lose much.
• Before big events, such as moving your main base, launching a new automation chain or inviting new players, stop the server and copy the save somewhere safe.
• Keep a short note of what happened when. "Base destroyed around 21:00 Tuesday" makes picking the right file easy.
• Clear out very old save files once in a while if the folder gets large, after copying the ones you care about.

On a GamezServers Astroneer server

On an Astroneer server with GamezServers, Astro/Saved/SaveGames and AstroServerSettings.ini are in the file manager, and saves upload or download over SFTP. One click backups in the control panel take a snapshot of the whole server before you reset or roll back, so a mistake costs a restore rather than a world. Stop, edit, start: every step above works the same. Two related guides: moving an Astroneer save to a dedicated server if your world started in single player, and whitelisting and banning on Astroneer if a griefer was the reason for the rollback.

FAQ

How do I start a new world on my Astroneer server?

Stop the server, set ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName in AstroServerSettings.ini to a new name, and start it. The server creates a new world with that name and keeps the old one.

Why does my Astroneer server keep loading the wrong save?

It loads the newest file whose name before the $ matches ActiveSaveFileDescriptiveName. Move newer files with that name out of SaveGames, or check the name matches exactly.

How often does an Astroneer server save?

Every AutoSaveGameInterval seconds, set in AstroServerSettings.ini. 900 means every 15 minutes.

Can I roll back an Astroneer server after griefing?

Yes. Stop the server, make a save from before the griefing the newest file with the active save name, using an older file or a backup copy, and start it again.