Move the complete Minecraft Java world folder, including its player data and dimensions. A Bedrock .mcworld export needs a separate conversion.
Prepare the world
- Close Minecraft or stop the old server so saving finishes.
- Copy the whole world folder and keep the original. level.dat should be directly inside it. Include any separate Nether and End folders.
- Use the same Minecraft version, server software and required mods for the first move.
Minecraft 26.1 changed world storage. Older saves may contain region, DIM-1 and DIM1; newer saves use dimensions. Preserve the original layout.
Upload and select the world
- Stop the destination server and back it up before replacing its world.
- In Files, upload the world archive and extract it. Use SFTP to transfer an entire folder.
- Place the world folder beside server.properties. For MyWorld, level.dat must be at MyWorld/level.dat, not MyWorld/MyWorld/level.dat. Keep separate dimension folders in their original layout.
- Open Properties under Minecraft and search for Level Name, or edit level-name in server.properties through Files. Set it to the exact folder name, such as MyWorld.
- Save and start the server. Join and check builds, inventory and the dimensions you used.
If the wrong world loads
Stop the server and check level-name, capitalization and extra folder nesting. Missing Nether or End data usually needs a check of the source software and dimension layout. If a singleplayer inventory is missing, keep the original save and ask support to check its player data.
Use the Paper migration instructions when changing software. The 26.1 release notes explain the storage change. Do not open a newer world in an older game version; restore a backup made before the upgrade instead.
Related: SFTP transfers · Change Minecraft version · Minecraft hosting.
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