How to Sync Game Server Files to Your PC Automatically (SFTP)

You can keep an automatic copy of a hosted game server on your own PC by running an SFTP sync on a schedule: on Windows, a small WinSCP script started by Task Scheduler, and on Mac or Linux, rclone started by cron. The script connects with your server's SFTP login, downloads only files that changed, and saves them to a dated folder. Set it up once and you always have a copy of your world that does not depend on your host.

Why bother when the host makes backups

Host backups protect you from a corrupted save or a bad mod. A copy on your own drive also protects you from losing access to the host: a lapsed payment, a closed account, or the host itself going away. It is also the copy you take with you if you ever move to a new host.

Before you start

You need:

• Your server's SFTP host, port, username and password from the control panel.
• The folder that holds your world. Syncing only that folder is faster than the whole server. How to download your world from a game server lists it for each game.
• Enough free disk space for a few copies.

Common world folders:

Windows: WinSCP and Task Scheduler

Step 1: install WinSCP

Download it from the official site, winscp.net, and install. It includes WinSCP.com, the command line version used below.

Step 2: connect once by hand

Open WinSCP, choose SFTP, enter the host, port, username and password, and connect. Accept the server's host key when asked. This confirms the login works and lets you browse to the exact path of your world folder. Write that path down, for example /world.

While connected, use Session, Generate Session URL/Code, then the Script tab. WinSCP shows an open command with the correct host key filled in. Copy it.

Step 3: write the scripts

Create a folder like C:\GameBackups. First save the WinSCP part as C:\GameBackups\sync.txt. Replace the open line with the one WinSCP generated, and /world with your world path:

open sftp://USERNAME:PASSWORD@HOST:PORT/ -hostkey="ssh-ed25519 255 xxxxxxxx"
synchronize local "C:\GameBackups\minecraft\latest" /world
exit

synchronize local downloads from the server folder (/world) into the local latest folder, copying only what is new or changed, so after the first run it is quick.

Then save this as C:\GameBackups\sync.ps1. It runs the sync and keeps a dated snapshot of the result:

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "C:\GameBackups\minecraft\latest" | Out-Null
& "C:\Program Files (x86)\WinSCP\WinSCP.com" /script="C:\GameBackups\sync.txt" /log="C:\GameBackups\sync.log"
if ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 0) {
  $date = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd"
  Copy-Item "C:\GameBackups\minecraft\latest" "C:\GameBackups\minecraft\$date" -Recurse -Force
}

If WinSCP is installed somewhere else, adjust the path. On some installs it is C:\Program Files\WinSCP\WinSCP.com.

Step 4: test it

Open PowerShell and run:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File C:\GameBackups\sync.ps1

Check that the latest folder and a folder with today's date fill with your world files. If it fails, read C:\GameBackups\sync.log; it shows the exact error, such as a wrong password or path.

Step 5: schedule it

1. Open Task Scheduler and choose Create Basic Task.
2. Name it "Game server sync".
3. Pick Daily and a time when the server is quiet, like 5 AM.
4. Choose Start a program.
5. Program: powershell.exe
6. Arguments: -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File C:\GameBackups\sync.ps1
7. Finish, then right click the task, Properties, and tick Run whether user is logged on or not if you want it to run without you signed in.

Step 6: clean up old copies

Add these lines to the end of the script to keep only the last 14 days:

Get-ChildItem "C:\GameBackups\minecraft" -Directory |
  Where-Object { $_.Name -ne "latest" -and $_.CreationTime -lt (Get-Date).AddDays(-14) } |
  Remove-Item -Recurse -Force

Mac and Linux: rclone and cron

Step 1: install rclone

Follow the instructions at rclone.org. On a Mac with Homebrew, brew install rclone works.

Step 2: add your server as a remote

rclone config

Choose n for a new remote, name it gameserver, pick sftp, then enter the host, user, port and password when asked. Leave the rest at defaults.

Test it:

rclone lsd gameserver:/

Step 3: write the sync script

Save as ~/gamebackup.sh:

#!/bin/bash
DATE=$(date +%F)
rclone copy gameserver:/world "$HOME/GameBackups/minecraft/$DATE" --log-file "$HOME/GameBackups/sync.log"
find "$HOME/GameBackups/minecraft" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type d -mtime +14 -exec rm -rf {} +

Make it executable with chmod +x ~/gamebackup.sh.

Step 4: schedule with cron

Run crontab -e and add:

0 5 * * * /bin/bash $HOME/gamebackup.sh

That runs it every day at 5 AM.

Getting a clean copy

Copying a world while the server writes to it can catch a file halfway through a save. To reduce that:

• Schedule the sync for a quiet hour.
• In Minecraft, many groups run save-all before the sync, or use the host's backup feature right before.
• Keep several dated copies, so one bad copy is not the only one.
• Now and then, test a copy by loading it in single player or on a test server.

Keep your login safe

The script contains your SFTP password in plain text. Keep the folder private, do not share it, and do not commit it to a public repository. If the password leaks, change it in your control panel and update the script.

With GamezServers

Open Settings and click Show SFTP login to see the host, port, username and password for your script. Note that every time you click it, a new password is set and the old one stops working, so after you show it again, update the password in your script or rclone config. You also have one click backups stored off the server in the panel, and the Files tab lets you download any folder as a zip whenever you want a quick manual copy. See what SFTP is for game servers if you are new to it, or start a server.

FAQ

Can I back up my hosted game server to my PC automatically?

Yes. Any host with SFTP lets you run a scheduled sync from your PC with WinSCP on Windows or rclone on Mac and Linux.

Is it safe to copy a world while the server is running?

Usually, but a copy can catch a file mid save. Sync at a quiet time, keep several dated copies, and test one occasionally.

Why did my sync suddenly fail to log in?

The SFTP password changed. On some hosts, viewing the login again sets a new password. Update the script with the new one.

Can I sync to Google Drive or OneDrive instead?

Yes. Point the local folder at a folder your cloud drive syncs, or use rclone, which can copy from the SFTP remote straight to most cloud drives.