--- title: "How to upload your own world to your Minecraft server" url: https://help.endercloud.in/docs/how-to-upload-your-own-world category: "Minecraft Hosting" type: Guide tags: ["files", "minecraft", "sftp", "world"] keywords: "upload world, import world, singleplayer world to server, saves folder, map upload, mcworld, bedrock world upload, level-name, custom map, transfer world, upload world to server, upload minecraft world, singleplayer to server, use my own world, upload map, import map, world not loading after upload, level-name not working, world upload kaise kare" difficulty: beginner time: "10 minutes" updated: 2026-11-14 source: Endercloud Knowledge Base (official) --- # How to upload your own world to your Minecraft server > Zip your world folder, stop the server, upload and extract it in Files (or use SFTP), then set level-name in Properties to the folder name and start. To use a world you already have, upload its folder to your server and tell the server to load it with the `level-name` setting. The whole process takes about ten minutes for a normal-sized world. ## 1\. Find your world folder A Java world is a folder that contains a file called `level.dat`. Single-player worlds are in the `saves` folder: | System | Location | | --- | --- | | Windows | Press **Win + R**, type `%appdata%\.minecraft\saves` and press Enter | | macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves` | | Linux | `~/.minecraft/saves` | The Minecraft launcher can also open it for you: in single-player, select the world, click **Edit** → **Open World Folder**. If you use a different launcher (CurseForge, Modrinth, Prism), look in that instance's `saves` folder. ## 2\. Check the version and zip it - The server should run the **same or a newer** Minecraft version than the world was last played on. A world cannot be loaded on an older version. - Modded worlds need the same mods on the server. - Right-click the world folder and compress it into a `.zip` (Windows: **Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder**). One zip uploads much faster than thousands of small files. ## 3\. Upload and extract 1. In the Game Panel, click **Stop**. Never replace a world while the server is running. 2. Make a backup in **Backups** if you want to keep the current world. 3. Open **Files** and use **Upload → Upload Files** to send the zip to the main folder (the one with `server.properties`). **Upload Folders** also works for small worlds, but one zip is faster. For big worlds, SFTP is more reliable: see [How to connect with SFTP](/docs/how-to-connect-to-your-server-with-sftp). 4. Extract (unarchive) the zip in **Files**, then delete the zip. 5. Check the result: open the new folder and make sure `level.dat` is directly inside it, not inside another folder of the same name. If it is nested, move the inner folder up one level. ## 4\. Point the server at your world 1. Rename the folder to something simple without spaces, for example `myworld` (optional but avoids problems). 2. Open **Properties**, search for `level-name`, type the folder name, and click **SAVE**. 3. Click **Start** and watch the **Console**. Alternatively, delete the old `world` folder and name your upload `world`; then you do not need to change `level-name`. ## The Nether and End on Paper, Purpur and Spigot - **Minecraft 26.1 and newer:** single-player, Vanilla and Paper worlds all use the same layout. Upload the world folder as it is. - **1.21.11 and older:** Paper, Purpur and Spigot keep the Nether and End in separate folders named `_nether` and `_the_end`. When they first load a single-player world, they move its Nether and End into those folders automatically. If you are replacing a world, delete the old `_nether` and `_the_end` folders first, or the old dimensions will be used with your new overworld. ## Bedrock worlds On a Vanilla Bedrock server, worlds live in `worlds/`, and each world folder contains `level.dat` and a `db` folder. 1. In Bedrock, open the world's settings and use **Export World** to get a `.mcworld` file. 2. A `.mcworld` file is a zip. Rename it to `.zip`. 3. Stop the server. In **Files**, open the `worlds` folder, click **Create Directory** to make a new folder (for example `myworld`), upload the zip into it and extract it there. `level.dat` and `db` must be directly inside `worlds/myworld`. 4. Set `level-name` in `server.properties` to `myworld` and start the server. If the world used add-ons, upload those packs too. See the [Bedrock server guide](/docs/bedrock-server-guide). ## Frequently asked questions **Q: The server made a brand-new world instead of loading mine** The server could not find `level.dat` at the path in `level-name`. Check the spelling (it is case-sensitive) and make sure the world is not nested one folder too deep. **Q: My world upload is very large** Use SFTP, or upload the zip to a cloud drive and use **Upload from URL** in **Files** with a direct download link. Make sure your plan has enough disk space for the zip and the extracted world together. **Q: Will my inventory come with the world?** Single-player inventory is stored for the host player in a special way. On a server it is not linked to your account, so you will usually start with an empty inventory. Other world content (builds, chests) stays.