Automatic Saves vs Backups Explained

Minecraft has two different save systems — auto-saves and backups. They serve different purposes.

Auto-Save

Minecraft automatically writes world data to disk every few minutes. This is built into the game.

• Purpose: Prevents data loss from crashes
• How it works: Saves loaded chunks, player data, and entities periodically
• Limitation: Overwrites the same files — you can't "go back" to a previous state
• Configurable: Via /save-all, /save-off, /save-on commands

Panel Backups

The Backups feature on the XGamingServer panel creates complete snapshots of your server.

• Purpose: Lets you restore to any previous backup point
• How it works: Copies all server files into a restorable snapshot
• Advantage: You can roll back mistakes, corruption, or unwanted changes
• Configurable: Create manually or schedule via Schedules

Comparison

Best Practice

Use both together:

1. Auto-save runs continuously (default behavior)
2. Create manual backups before major changes (updates, mod installs, world edits)
3. Schedule automatic backups via Schedules (daily or more frequent)

💡 Tip: Always create a manual backup before doing anything destructive — installing mods, resetting dimensions, or updating versions.

See also: Configure Auto-Saving | Auto Restart Schedule

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