# How to Change the World Seed on Your Minecraft Server (/docs/minecraft/world-seed)



import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

The world seed determines how Minecraft generates terrain, biomes, structures, and ore placement. Same seed + same version = identical world layout.

> **Important:** Seeds **only apply when the world is first generated**. Changing the seed on an existing world has no effect — you'd need to delete the world folder to regenerate.

Set a Seed for a New World [#set-a-seed-for-a-new-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>
    Open server.properties [#open-serverproperties]

    Click **Files** in the sidebar and open `server.properties`.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Set level-seed [#set-level-seed]

    ```
    level-seed=your_seed_here
    ```

    Seeds can be:

    * **Numbers**: `12345`
    * **Text strings**: `my awesome world` (hashed to a number)
    * **Empty** (random): `level-seed=`
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Save and start [#save-and-start]

    If this is a fresh server with no existing world, the new seed takes effect on first start.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Change Seed on an Existing Server [#change-seed-on-an-existing-server]

To use a new seed when you already have a world, you need to delete the world folder:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Create a backup [#create-a-backup]

    In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), go to **Backups** and save your current world. **This is irreversible** without a backup.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Stop the server [#stop-the-server-1]
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Set the new seed [#set-the-new-seed]

    In `server.properties`, change `level-seed` to your new value.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Delete the world folder [#delete-the-world-folder]

    Click **Files** and delete the `world/` folder (and `world_nether/`, `world_the_end/` if present).
  </Step>

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

    A new world generates with your seed.
  </Step>
</Steps>

> **Warning:** Deleting the world folder **erases all player builds, progress, inventories, and chests**. Always back up first.

Find Your Current Seed [#find-your-current-seed]

In-game with OP permissions:

```
/seed
```

This prints the current world's seed to the chat. Useful for sharing the seed with others or saving it before a wipe.

Popular Seed Sources [#popular-seed-sources]

* **[Chunkbase](https://www.chunkbase.com)** — visual seed map preview, structure finder
* **[Minecraft Seeds](https://www.minecraft-seeds.com)** — categorized seed lists
* **[r/MinecraftSeeds](https://reddit.com/r/MinecraftSeeds)** — community-shared seeds with screenshots

Special Seed Notes [#special-seed-notes]

| Behavior            | Detail                                                                                                                     |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Java vs Bedrock** | Same seed produces **different** worlds across editions                                                                    |
| **Version-locked**  | Same seed produces different terrain across major Minecraft versions (e.g., 1.18 cave update changed everything below Y=0) |
| **Text seeds**      | Are hashed to numbers internally — `level-seed=hello` works                                                                |
| **Empty seed**      | Generates a truly random seed on first start                                                                               |

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Server Properties](/docs/minecraft/server-properties)
* [Wipe World](/docs/minecraft/wipe-world)
* [Reset Nether/End](/docs/minecraft/reset-nether-end)
* [Upload a Custom World](/docs/minecraft/upload-custom-world)