# Backing Up and Restoring Your Subnautica Nitrox Save (/docs/subnautica/backup-restore)



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

Nitrox stores your entire world inside a single per-save folder. That makes backups simple: copy the folder, you've copied the world. Restoring is the reverse.

> 📝 **Note:** Because Nitrox uses its own save format, these backups are **not** interchangeable with Subnautica single-player saves. They only restore on a Nitrox server.

Where Saves Live [#where-saves-live]

```
.config/Nitrox/saves/{SaveName}/
```

The default save name is `My World`. Inside that folder you'll find the world file, the per-save `server.cfg`, and any backups Nitrox has rotated.

If you've changed `SaveName` on the **Startup** tab over time, each name has its own folder under `.config/Nitrox/saves/`. Old saves stick around until you delete them.

Downloading a Backup [#downloading-a-backup]

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

    In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), click `Stop`. This guarantees the save isn't being written while you copy it.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Open File Manager [#open-file-manager]

    Navigate to `.config/Nitrox/saves/`.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Compress the save folder [#compress-the-save-folder]

    Right-click your save folder (e.g. `My World`) and choose `Compress` or `Download as ZIP`. Wait for the archive to build.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Download the ZIP [#download-the-zip]

    Click `Download` on the resulting `.zip`. Store it somewhere safe -- ideally outside the panel (Google Drive, Dropbox, a local backup drive).
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Restart the server [#restart-the-server]

    Start the server back up. Players can reconnect.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Restoring a Backup [#restoring-a-backup]

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

    You can't replace files Nitrox is actively reading.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Move the current save aside [#move-the-current-save-aside]

    In `File Manager`, navigate to `.config/Nitrox/saves/`. Rename your current save folder (e.g. `My World` → `My World old`) instead of deleting it. If the restore goes badly, you can fall back.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Upload your backup ZIP [#upload-your-backup-zip]

    Upload the backup ZIP into `.config/Nitrox/saves/` and extract it. Make sure the resulting folder name matches your `SaveName` -- if your panel is configured for `My World`, the folder must be `My World`.
  </Step>

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

    Start the server and reconnect. Verify the world looks right before deleting the renamed `My World old` folder.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Scheduled Backups [#scheduled-backups]

XGamingServer's panel supports scheduled tasks. To run a backup automatically:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Open the Schedules tab [#open-the-schedules-tab]

    In the panel, find `Schedules` (or `Tasks` depending on your panel version).
  </Step>

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

    Add a new schedule that runs `Create Backup` daily or weekly. The panel snapshots the entire server file tree -- which includes `.config/Nitrox/saves/`.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Set retention [#set-retention]

    Most plans cap how many backups can exist concurrently. Configure the schedule (or your manual habits) to delete old backups so new ones can land.
  </Step>
</Steps>

> 💡 **Tip:** Stagger your manual ZIP downloads with the panel's scheduled backups. Panel backups are convenient but live on the same infrastructure -- a manual download to your own machine is the real disaster recovery.

Restoring a Single File [#restoring-a-single-file]

If you need to roll back **just** one corrupted file (rare), you can extract the ZIP locally, copy out only the file you need, and upload it into `.config/Nitrox/saves/{SaveName}/` -- replacing the live version. The server must be stopped during the swap.

Common Pitfalls [#common-pitfalls]

**"My restore loaded but the world is empty / different."** Likely a save-name mismatch. Nitrox loads whatever folder matches the active `SaveName`. Make sure the extracted folder name matches the `SaveName` set on the **Startup** tab.

**"Restore worked but old players can't connect."** A version mismatch between the server's Nitrox version and players' clients. See [Updating Nitrox](/docs/subnautica/update-nitrox).

**"Backups keep failing."** Disk full. Use `File Manager` to delete unused saves, old ZIPs, or stale logs. Each saved world keeps a copy of the entire base structure, so multiple long-running saves can add up.

Related [#related]

* [Configure Your Server](/docs/subnautica/configure-your-server) -- save name, save interval
* [Reset Server](/docs/subnautica/reset-server) -- when you want to wipe instead of restore
* [Troubleshooting](/docs/subnautica/troubleshooting) -- corruption recovery flow