# Save Snapshots & Rollback (Subnautica 2 / Beacon) (/docs/subnautica-2/save-snapshots)



import { Callout } from "fumadocs-ui/components/callout";

Beacon keeps your Subnautica 2 world safe with **atomic save snapshots** — point-in-time copies of the world you can roll back to if something goes wrong (a base wiped by a creature, a bad mod change, a griefing incident).

Automatic snapshots [#automatic-snapshots]

With `SnapshotsEnabled = true` in `appsettings.json` (the default), Beacon takes snapshots on a server-controlled schedule. You don't need to manually snapshot before normal play — there's already a recent restore point.

To turn automatic snapshots off (not recommended), set `SnapshotsEnabled = false` and restart the server.

Manual snapshots [#manual-snapshots]

Take a snapshot right before anything risky — installing a mod, changing world settings, or letting a new player loose near your main base.

**From the launcher admin panel:** click **Take snapshot** on the server card.

**From RCON:**

```text
> save snapshot
snapshot ok: 2026-05-17T03-12-04Z (4317829 bytes, sha=a91e3f04b2c97d18)
```

Listing snapshots [#listing-snapshots]

**Launcher:** click **Browse snapshots** — shows every snapshot with timestamp and size.

**RCON** (`save list` shows the 20 most recent):

```text
> save list
2026-05-17T03-12-04Z  4317829B  age=42s   sha=a91e3f04b2c97d18
2026-05-17T02-44-19Z  4317021B  age=1665s sha=7c81f9302b03e9d4
```

Each row is: snapshot id (UTC timestamp), size in bytes, age, and a short SHA of the save content.

Restoring (rollback) [#restoring-rollback]

Use the launcher's **Restore snapshot** action and pick a snapshot. When you restore:

1. The server **pauses**
2. The save file is swapped **atomically** (no half-written world)
3. The server **resumes** on the restored world
4. Connected players are **dropped** and can reconnect

<Callout type="warn">
  Restoring replaces the current world with the snapshot. Anything that happened after that snapshot is lost. If you're not sure, take a fresh snapshot *first* (so you can undo the rollback), then restore.
</Callout>

Where snapshots are stored [#where-snapshots-are-stored]

Snapshots are kept on your server alongside the world save. Browse and manage them through the panel File Manager, or list them over RCON with `save list`. A new server creates its world automatically on first start (map **Awake**, save slot `savegame_0`) — no save upload needed.

Good habits [#good-habits]

* **Before any mod install or update:** take a manual snapshot.
* **Before letting in a new/untrusted player:** snapshot.
* **After a big building session you're proud of:** snapshot, so a later mistake can't erase it.
* Automatic snapshots cover the routine case — manual snapshots are your "I'm about to do something risky" insurance.

Related [#related]

* [RCON & Admin API →](/docs/subnautica-2/rcon-and-api)
* [Configure Your Server (SnapshotsEnabled, SaveDir) →](/docs/subnautica-2/configure-your-server)
* [Install Mods (snapshot first!) →](/docs/subnautica-2/install-mods)