Saves live in .config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local in Files. Newer worlds are a folder (with files like _main.1.fwl2, _main.1.db2, .chunk files and _main.1.ok). Older worlds are two loose files, Name.db and Name.fwl.

Upload your own world

If your world shows a cloud icon in game, use Manage Saves and Move to Local first.

1. On Windows, open %userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local.
2. In the panel , stop the server and open worlds_local.
3. Folder worlds: create a folder with the exact world name and upload every file from your folder, including the chunk files and the .ok file. Loose-file worlds: upload both the .db and .fwl into worlds_local.
4. In the server’s settings or startup page, set the World Name to your exact world name (case-sensitive).
5. Start the server. Use SFTP for large worlds.

If you spawn in a brand-new world, the server could not find your save: re-check the file list and the name.

New server resets to a blank world

A new server only writes the world after its first autosave, which takes about 20 minutes. Restarting before that makes a new blank world. To force a save, add yourself as admin (see admin), join, and type /save in chat. A folder world should then show a _main.1.ok file.

Restore an automatic backup

Valheim keeps a few automatic backups, taken hours apart, named with backup_auto- and a timestamp.

1. Stop the server and open worlds_local.
2. Add _old to the name of your current world (folder, or both .db and .fwl).
3. Rename the backup you want to your exact world name. For loose files, rename both files of the same timestamp.
4. Start the server and check the world. Delete the _old files once you are happy.

Characters are saved on each player’s PC, so players restore those themselves under Manage Saves, Characters.

Start a new world

Change the World Name to a new name and restart. The old files stay in the folder. To reuse the same name, delete the old world files first.