# How to Soft Reset Your Project Zomboid Server (/docs/project-zomboid/soft-reset)



A soft reset refreshes the game world (buildings, loot, zombies) while preserving player characters and progress. This is useful when the world feels "looted out" without forcing everyone to start over.

Soft Reset vs Hard Reset [#soft-reset-vs-hard-reset]

| Type           | World | Players | Config |
| -------------- | ----- | ------- | ------ |
| **Soft Reset** | Reset | Kept    | Kept   |
| **Hard Reset** | Reset | Reset   | Kept   |

A hard reset (full wipe) deletes everything. See [Reset Server](/docs/project-zomboid/wipe-server) for a complete wipe.

Perform a Soft Reset [#perform-a-soft-reset]

<div className="fd-steps">
  <div className="fd-step">
    Back up your server [#1-back-up-your-server]

    Always create a backup before resetting. See [Back Up and Restore](/docs/project-zomboid/backups).
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Stop your server [#2-stop-your-server]

    Stop the server from the **Dashboard**.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Navigate to the save folder [#3-navigate-to-the-save-folder]

    Go to **Files** and open:

    ```
    Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer/[servername]/
    ```
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Delete world data (keep player data) [#4-delete-world-data-keep-player-data]

    Delete these files and folders:

    * `map_*` files — chunk and map data
    * `zpop_*` files — zombie population data
    * `vehicles.db` — vehicle positions and states

    **Keep these files:**

    * `players.db` — player characters and inventories
    * `map_sand.bin` — sandbox settings
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Start your server [#5-start-your-server]

    The world will regenerate fresh while players keep their characters.
  </div>
</div>

What Gets Reset [#what-gets-reset]

| Data                     | Reset?                                          |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Buildings and structures | Yes — all buildings return to default           |
| Loot in containers       | Yes — all containers refill                     |
| Zombie positions         | Yes — zombies respawn at default locations      |
| Vehicles                 | Yes — vehicles reset to default spawns          |
| Player-built structures  | Yes — **player bases are removed**              |
| Player characters        | No — characters, skills, inventory preserved    |
| Player position          | Depends — players may spawn at default location |

> ⚠️ **Warning:** Player-built bases and fortifications **will be removed** in a soft reset. Warn your players before performing one.

Selective Soft Reset [#selective-soft-reset]

If you want to reset only certain aspects:

Reset Only Zombies [#reset-only-zombies]

Delete only `zpop_*` files. Zombies respawn at default positions but everything else stays.

Reset Only Vehicles [#reset-only-vehicles]

Delete only `vehicles.db`. Vehicles respawn at default positions.

Reset Only Loot [#reset-only-loot]

This isn't directly possible through file deletion. Instead, use the loot respawn settings:

```lua title="SandboxVars.lua"
HoursForLootRespawn = 24,
MaxItemsForLootRespawn = 0,
```

See [Loot Respawn](/docs/project-zomboid/loot-respawn) for details.

Schedule Regular Soft Resets [#schedule-regular-soft-resets]

For long-running servers, you can schedule soft resets to keep the world fresh:

1. Announce the reset to players (give 24–48 hour notice)
2. Create a backup
3. Perform the soft reset
4. Announce the reset is complete

> 💡 **Tip:** Many servers do a soft reset every 1–3 months to keep the world feeling alive and give new players a fair start.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

See also: [Reset Server](/docs/project-zomboid/wipe-server) | [Reset World](/docs/project-zomboid/world-reset) | [Back Up and Restore](/docs/project-zomboid/backups) | [Loot Respawn](/docs/project-zomboid/loot-respawn)

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