Protecting your Valheim world saves is crucial for preserving your Viking adventures. This guide covers backup procedures, world transfers, and save management.
World Save Locations
Know where your world files are stored.
- 1Windows: C:\Users\Username\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds\
- 2Linux: ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds/
- 3Each world has two files: .db (world data) and .fwl (metadata)
- 4Both files are required for a complete backup
Backing Up Your World
Regular backups prevent data loss from corruption or mistakes.
- 1Stop the server or exit the game
- 2Navigate to the worlds folder
- 3Copy both the .db and .fwl files for your world
- 4Store the backup in a safe location (different drive, cloud, etc.)
- 5Include a date in the backup folder name
Tip
- Backup before major building projects
- Keep multiple backup copies
- Test restoring from backup occasionally
Transferring Worlds
Move worlds between local games and dedicated servers.
- 1Copy both .db and .fwl files from the source
- 2Place them in the worlds folder of the destination
- 3Ensure file names match exactly
- 4Start the server with the -world parameter matching the world name
- 5Characters are stored separately and transfer with players
Server Automatic Backups
Many hosting solutions offer automatic backup features.
Tip
- Loafhosts creates hourly backups automatically
- Keep 3+ days of backups for safety
- Don't store backups inside the worlds folder
- Test backup restoration before you actually need it
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