# How to Upload a World to Your Minecraft Server (/docs/minecraft/upload-world)



import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';
import { Files, Folder, File } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/files';

You can upload a world from your singleplayer game, a downloaded adventure map, or another server to your XGamingServer Minecraft server.

Find Your Local World [#find-your-local-world]

On **Windows**, singleplayer worlds are stored at:

```
%AppData%\.minecraft\saves\YourWorldName\
```

Paste this path into File Explorer's address bar to open the folder. Each world is its own subfolder containing `level.dat`, `region/`, and other files.

Expected Folder Structure [#expected-folder-structure]

<Files>
  <Folder name="world" defaultOpen>
    <File name="level.dat" />

    <File name="level.dat_old" />

    <Folder name="region" defaultOpen>
      <File name="r.0.0.mca" />

      <File name="r.0.1.mca" />
    </Folder>

    <Folder name="data" />

    <Folder name="playerdata" />

    <Folder name="DIM-1">
      <File name="(Nether dimension)" />
    </Folder>

    <Folder name="DIM1">
      <File name="(End dimension)" />
    </Folder>
  </Folder>
</Files>

The folder must contain `level.dat` at its root — that's how you know you have the right folder level.

Upload Your World [#upload-your-world]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Stop the server [#stop-the-server]

    In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), go to **Console** and stop your server.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Back up the existing world [#back-up-the-existing-world]

    Go to **Backups** and create a backup before overwriting.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Open Files [#open-files]

    Click **Files** in the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Delete or rename the existing world [#delete-or-rename-the-existing-world]

    Delete the existing `world/` folder, or rename it (e.g., `world_old`) to keep it as a backup.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Upload your world folder [#upload-your-world-folder]

    Upload your world folder. **It must be named `world`** to match the default `level-name` in `server.properties`. If you want to keep a different name, update `level-name=YourWorldName` accordingly.

    For large worlds, compress to `.zip` first, upload, then **Unarchive** in the panel.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Start the server [#start-the-server]

    Start from **Console**. The server loads your uploaded world.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Custom Maps (Adventure, Parkour, etc.) [#custom-maps-adventure-parkour-etc]

Custom maps work the same way:

1. Download the map (usually a `.zip`)
2. Extract it — find the folder containing `level.dat`
3. Upload that folder to the server, naming it `world`

> **Common gotcha:** Many downloaded maps are nested inside an extra folder. Make sure `level.dat` is at the **root** of the `world/` folder, not inside `world/MapName/level.dat`.

Nether and End Dimensions [#nether-and-end-dimensions]

Vanilla and Spigot/Paper handle dimensions differently:

| Server Type        | Nether Location       | End Location          |
| ------------------ | --------------------- | --------------------- |
| **Vanilla**        | `world/DIM-1/`        | `world/DIM1/`         |
| **Spigot / Paper** | `world_nether/DIM-1/` | `world_the_end/DIM1/` |

When uploading from singleplayer (vanilla format) to a Spigot/Paper server, you may need to:

1. Upload `world_nether/` and `world_the_end/` as separate folders alongside `world/`, **or**
2. Use a tool to convert formats — see [Convert World Formats](/docs/minecraft/convert-world-formats)

Version Compatibility [#version-compatibility]

> **Warning:** Uploading a world from a **newer** Minecraft version to an **older** server **will not work**. The server version must be **equal to or newer** than the world's version.

| Source World | Target Server | Result                            |
| ------------ | ------------- | --------------------------------- |
| 1.20.1       | 1.21          | ✅ Works (Minecraft auto-upgrades) |
| 1.21         | 1.20.1        | ❌ Fails to load                   |
| 1.21         | 1.21          | ✅ Works                           |

Upgrades are one-way — once a world has been opened on 1.21, it can't go back to 1.20.

Common Issues [#common-issues]

| Problem                       | Fix                                                                                               |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| World doesn't load            | Verify the folder is named `world` (or matches `level-name`) and contains `level.dat` at the root |
| Players see "Outdated server" | Update your server version. See [Switch Version](/docs/minecraft/switch-version)                  |
| Nether/End missing            | Check the dimension folder format (Vanilla vs Spigot/Paper paths above)                           |
| World version too new         | Upgrade your server to the same version or newer                                                  |
| Modded world won't load       | Install the same mods on the server. Modded blocks become missing without their mods              |

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Download World](/docs/minecraft/download-world)
* [World Reset](/docs/minecraft/wipe-world)
* [World Seed](/docs/minecraft/world-seed)
* [Convert World Formats](/docs/minecraft/convert-world-formats)
* [Server Properties](/docs/minecraft/server-properties)