# How to Restore a Backup on Your Valheim Server (/docs/valheim/backup-restore)



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

Valheim has two layers of backup protection: the game's own automatic `.old` backup files, and the panel's **Backups** system in the sidebar.

<Tabs items={['Game .old Files', 'Panel Backups']}>
  <Tab value="Game .old Files">
    Valheim automatically creates `.old` backup files alongside your save files:

    | File                | Purpose                 |
    | ------------------- | ----------------------- |
    | `WorldName.db`      | Current world data      |
    | `WorldName.db.old`  | Previous world save     |
    | `WorldName.fwl`     | Current world metadata  |
    | `WorldName.fwl.old` | Previous world metadata |

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

        Go to **Console** in the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com) and stop the server.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Open the worlds directory [#open-the-worlds-directory]

        Click **Files** in the sidebar and find the worlds directory.

        {/* Screenshot needed: File Manager showing worlds directory with .db and .old files */}
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Rename the .old files [#rename-the-old-files]

        Rename `WorldName.db` to something else (e.g., `WorldName.db.broken`) and rename `WorldName.db.old` to `WorldName.db`. Do the same for `.fwl` / `.fwl.old`.
      </Step>

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

        Start from **Console**. The server loads the previous backup.
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    Configure Backup Frequency [#configure-backup-frequency]

    In **Startup**, the relevant variables are:

    | Variable       | Default | Description                                       |
    | -------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
    | `-backups`     | 4       | Number of backup files to keep                    |
    | `-backupshort` | 7200    | Short backup interval (seconds) — 2 hours default |
    | `-backuplong`  | 43200   | Long backup interval (seconds) — 12 hours default |
  </Tab>

  <Tab value="Panel Backups">
    The panel's **Backups** feature creates full server snapshots that can be restored in one click.

    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Open the Backups page [#open-the-backups-page]

        In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), click **Backups** in the sidebar.

        {/* Screenshot needed: Backups page */}
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Find your backup [#find-your-backup]

        The list shows all available backups with their creation date.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Restore [#restore]

        Click the three-dot menu on the backup and select **Restore**. Optionally check **Delete all files before restoring** for a clean restore.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Start the server [#start-the-server-1]

        Start from **Console** and verify the world loads correctly.
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    > **Tip:** Combine panel backups with **Schedules** to run automatic snapshots every 6–12 hours. See [Scheduled Restarts](/docs/valheim/scheduled-restarts) for the schedule UI.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [World Save Files](/docs/valheim/world-save-files)
* [Wipe & Reinstall](/docs/valheim/wipe-reinstall)
* [Scheduled Restarts](/docs/valheim/scheduled-restarts)