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Manage Worlds on a Valheim Server

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A Valheim server can store several worlds at once, but it only loads the one selected under World Name. That makes it easy to test a fresh map without sending your favorite longhouse to Valhalla.

Use the steps below to view, switch, create, download, upload, or remove worlds from your Nodecraft server.

Find Your Current World

  1. Navigate to your Nodecraft dashboard.

  2. Locate your Valheim server and click Manage.

  3. Click Game Settings in the menu on the left.

  4. Locate World Name.

    The Valheim Server Settings page showing the World Name field set to world2.

The value shown here is the world your server will load when it starts. For example, if World Name is set to world, the server will look for world.db and world.fwl.

View Your Saved Worlds

  1. Stop the server.

  2. Click Server Files in the menu on the left, then click Files.

  3. Open /.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local. Each active world uses matching .db and .fwl files; .old and backup files are copies, as shown below.

    The Nodecraft File Manager showing multiple saved Valheim world file pairs in the worlds_local folder, including kevin, oldworld-DONOTDELETE, world, and world2.

Switch to Another World

  1. Stop the server.

  2. Confirm that the desired world's matching .db and .fwl files are in worlds_local.

  3. Open Game Settings.

  4. Set World Name to the exact filename without .db or .fwl.

  5. Save the changes and start the server.

For Nodecraft.db and Nodecraft.fwl, enter Nodecraft. The previous world remains in worlds_local so you can switch back later.

Important: The World Name needs to match the world files exactly.

Create a New World

  1. Stop the server.

  2. Open Game Settings.

  3. Enter a World Name that does not match an existing world.

  4. Save the changes and start the server.

Valheim generates a new .db and .fwl pair for that name. Existing worlds remain stored on the server.

Download a World

  1. Stop the server.

  2. Open /.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local.

  3. Select the matching .db and .fwl files for the world.

  4. Click Compress, select the new TZST file, and click Download.

    The Nodecraft File Manager showing the matching kevin.db and kevin.fwl Valheim world files selected, with the Compress button highlighted.

Upload an Existing World

  1. Stop the server.

  2. Open /.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local.

  3. Upload a ZIP containing the matching .db and .fwl files.

  4. Select the uploaded ZIP and click Unzip.

  5. Set World Name in Game Settings to the uploaded filename without its extension.

  6. Confirm that the uploaded .db and .fwl files appear in worlds_local, as shown below. Save the changes and start the server.

    The Nodecraft File Manager open to the Valheim worlds_local folder, with the Upload button highlighted above the list of saved world files.

Keep the .db and .fwl files directly inside worlds_local rather than inside another folder.

Delete a World

Only delete a world after you're certain you no longer need it. Downloading a backup first is strongly recommended.

  1. Stop the server and open worlds_local.

  2. Select the matching .db and .fwl files for the world you want to remove.

  3. Click Delete.

    The Nodecraft File Manager showing the matching oldworld-DONOTDELETE.db and oldworld-DONOTDELETE.fwl Valheim world files selected, with the Delete button highlighted.

If the deleted world is still entered under World Name, change that setting before starting the server again. Otherwise, Valheim may generate a new world using the same name. You can also remove the matching .old or backup files if you no longer want to keep copies of that world.

Final Thoughts

Once the file pairs are organized, switching between Valheim worlds is pleasantly uneventful. World Name selects the active save while the others wait in worlds_local, usually until everyone admits the old base had better storage.

Need Help?

If you have questions or run into any issues, our support team is here to help! Reach out using the support widget on our website or visit our support center for further assistance.