Last updated: June 4, 2026 — right after the “Built Different” force wipe.
When is the next Rust wipe?
The next Rust force wipe is Thursday, July 2, 2026, at roughly 2:00 PM EST (19:00 UTC), when Facepunch ships July’s monthly update. Like every monthly update, it forces a map wipe on every Rust server. Facepunch always releases the monthly update — and the forced wipe that comes with it — on the first Thursday of each month.
If you run your own server, you can also wipe more often than that — weekly and biweekly cycles are the most popular. We cover how to set that up further down.
2026 Rust force wipe schedule
Every date below is the first Thursday of the month — the day the monthly update drops and a map wipe is forced on all servers. Times are approximate; Facepunch usually pushes the update around 2:00 PM EST but it can run an hour or two late on heavy updates.
| Month | Force Wipe Date | Approx. Time |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 (done — “Built Different”) | Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 2:00 PM EST / 19:00 UTC |
| July 2026 (next) | Thursday, July 2, 2026 | 2:00 PM EST / 19:00 UTC |
| August 2026 | Thursday, August 6, 2026 | 2:00 PM EST / 19:00 UTC |
| September 2026 | Thursday, September 3, 2026 | 2:00 PM EST / 19:00 UTC |
| October 2026 | Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM EST / 19:00 UTC |
| November 2026 | Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 2:00 PM EST / 19:00 UTC |
| December 2026 | Thursday, December 3, 2026 | 2:00 PM EST / 19:00 UTC |
| January 2027 | Thursday, January 7, 2027 | 2:00 PM EST / 19:00 UTC |
Want a live countdown to the exact minute? Use our free Rust Wipe Tracker — it counts down to the next forced wipe and lets you track your own server’s custom schedule too.
Force wipe vs. map wipe vs. blueprint wipe
“Wipe” gets used loosely in the Rust community, but there are really three things going on:
- Map wipe — the game world regenerates: bases, loot and resources are gone, and a fresh procedural map is created (new seed, or the same seed for a fresh copy). Player progress on the map resets, but learned blueprints stay.
- Blueprint (BP) wipe — every player’s learned blueprints are reset, so everyone starts from scrap and has to research gear again. This is the “true fresh start.”
- Force wipe — the monthly wipe tied to Facepunch’s update on the first Thursday. Because the update changes the network protocol, every server must at least map-wipe — there’s no opting out. Most servers also wipe blueprints on force-wipe day, which is why “force wipe” usually means a full fresh start.
So: the first-Thursday force wipe is mandatory (map), the blueprint wipe on that day is conventional but optional for community servers, and any extra wipes between force wipes are entirely up to the server owner.
What time does the Rust wipe happen?
Facepunch typically releases the monthly update at around 2:00 PM EST (11:00 AM PST / 7:00 PM UTC / 8:00 PM CEST) on the first Thursday. The map wipe happens the moment your server updates to the new build and restarts. On XGamingServer this is automatic — your server detects the Steam update, pulls it, and wipes without you lifting a finger. Self-hosters have to update the server build manually and reinstall Oxide/uMod or Carbon afterward.
Common community wipe schedules
Most servers wipe more often than once a month to keep things fresh. The popular patterns:
- Monthly — map + blueprints on force-wipe day only. The most “vanilla” experience; rewards long base progression.
- Biweekly — a map wipe every two weeks, blueprints wiped monthly on force-wipe day. A good middle ground for most communities.
- Weekly — a map wipe every week (often Thursdays or Fridays), blueprints monthly. Fast-paced; great for PvP and zerg servers.
- Bi-weekly BP / weekly map — map every week, blueprints every two weeks for groups that want quicker resets.
There’s no single “best” schedule — it depends on your community. Hardcore PvP crowds love weekly resets; build-focused and roleplay servers lean monthly so bases have time to grow.
How to set your own wipe schedule
On a dedicated server you control exactly when and what to wipe. The mechanics:
- Map wipe — delete the server’s map and player data files (the
.mapand.savfiles in your server identity’s storage folder). On next boot the server generates a fresh map. Change theserver.seedinserver.cfgif you want a brand-new layout. - Blueprint wipe — delete the blueprint data so every player relearns from scratch (this is the file that stores learned BPs in your server identity folder).
- Automate it — schedule the wipe so you’re not doing it by hand at 2 AM. On XGamingServer you set the wipe schedule from the control panel; self-hosters use a cron job or a wipe plugin.
Full step-by-step: read our Rust wipe guide and the server.cfg configuration guide. If you change the map size or seed at wipe time, our Rust server status tool is handy for confirming everything came back up clean.
Why wipes matter for your server
Wipes are the heartbeat of a Rust server. Get the cadence right and your player count surges on wipe day; get it wrong and people drift to a server that resets on a schedule they like. Two practical tips:
- Announce your wipe schedule clearly (in your server name, Discord and a pinned message). “Weekly Thursday / monthly BP” tells players exactly what to expect.
- Make sure your hardware can take wipe-day load. Fresh-wipe nights are the highest-population, highest-stress moment a Rust server faces — everyone logs in at once to grab map spots. A weak host eats ticks and lags out exactly when first impressions matter most.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a forced blueprint wipe every month?
The map wipe is forced every first Thursday because of the protocol change. A blueprint wipe is only strictly forced when Facepunch updates the item/blueprint system — but in practice most servers choose to wipe blueprints on force-wipe day anyway, which is why “force wipe” is treated as a full fresh start.
Can I avoid the monthly force wipe?
No. The monthly update changes the network protocol, so every server must update and map-wipe to let players connect. You can, however, keep the same map seed for a “fresh copy” of the same layout, and you can choose not to wipe blueprints.
What’s the difference between a wipe and a restart?
A restart just reboots the server — your base, loot and progress are all still there. A wipe deletes world and/or blueprint data so everyone starts over. Restarts happen daily for performance; wipes happen on a schedule.
Does the wipe time change for my timezone?
The force wipe goes out globally at the same moment (when Facepunch publishes the update, ~19:00 UTC). Convert that to your local time: 2 PM US Eastern, 11 AM US Pacific, 7 PM UK, 8 PM Central Europe, 5 AM (next morning) Australian Eastern. Our Wipe Tracker shows the countdown in your local time automatically.
Start a Rust server that’s ready for wipe day
XGamingServer runs Rust on AMD Ryzen 9 7950X hardware with NVMe storage and DDoS protection — built to hold frame time steady through the wipe-night rush. Automatic monthly force wipes, one-click custom wipe scheduling, Oxide/uMod and Carbon support, and instant setup. Get your Rust server hosting from $7/month with 30% off your first month using code XGAMEON.
