Manage and Switch Between Worlds
Create new worlds, switch between existing worlds, and manage world files on your Valheim server.
Your Valheim server can store multiple worlds, but only runs one at a time. Switching between worlds is simple — just change the world name in your startup settings.
How Worlds Work
Each world is a pair of files:
[WorldName].fwl— metadata (name, seed, version)[WorldName].db— world data (terrain, builds, items)
All worlds are stored in:
.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/Create a New World
Go to Startup
In the sidebar, click Startup.
Change the world name
Enter a new name in the World Name field. For example: NewWorld.
Start your server
The server automatically creates a new world with a random seed if no files exist for that name.
📝 Note: Your old world is not deleted — it stays in the worlds folder and you can switch back anytime.
Switch Between Worlds
Change the world name
Go to Startup and enter the name of the world you want to load.
Start your server
The server loads the existing world files for that name.
List Your Worlds
Go to Files and navigate to:
.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/Each .fwl file represents a world. The file name (without extension) is the world name you use in Startup.
Delete a World
Delete the world files
Go to Files, navigate to the worlds folder, and delete both the .fwl and .db files for the world you want to remove.
⚠️ Warning: This permanently deletes the world and all progress in it. Download the files first if you want a backup.
Use a Specific Seed
Valheim generates a random seed for new worlds. To use a specific seed:
Create the world locally
In singleplayer Valheim, create a new world with your desired seed.
Upload to the server
Upload both the .fwl and .db files to your server's worlds folder. See Upload a Singleplayer World.
Set the world name
Update Startup to match the uploaded world name.
Related Guides
See also: Upload a Singleplayer World | World Save Files | Find World Seed | Reset Server
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