Manage and Switch Worlds on Your Valheim Server
Create new Valheim worlds, switch between existing worlds, and manage world files on your dedicated server.
Your Valheim server can store multiple worlds, but only runs one at a time. Switching between worlds is as simple as changing the world name in startup settings — the old world stays on disk and you can switch back anytime.
How Worlds Are Stored
Each world is two files:
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
WorldName.fwl | Metadata (name, seed, version) |
WorldName.db | World data (terrain, buildings, dropped items) |
The directory is typically worlds_local/ (location depends on server install).
Create a New World
Stop the server
In the XGamingServer Panel, go to Console and stop the server.
Open Startup
Click Startup in the sidebar.
Change the World variable
Find the World variable (maps to -world) and enter a new name like NewWorld.
Start the server
Start from Console. The server creates a new world with a random seed for that name. Your old world stays on disk untouched.
Switch Between Existing Worlds
Change the World variable
In Startup, set the World variable to the name of the world you want to load.
Start the server
The server loads the existing files for that world name.
List Your Worlds
Click Files in the sidebar and navigate to the worlds directory. Each .fwl file represents a world — the filename (without extension) is the name to use in Startup.
Delete a World
Delete the files
In Files, navigate to the worlds directory and delete both the .fwl and .db files for the world. Also delete the matching .fwl.old and .db.old backup files if you don't want to keep them.
Warning: Deletion is permanent. Download the files first via the Download action if you might want to restore them later.
Use a Specific Seed
Valheim auto-generates random seeds. 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 an Existing World.
Update the World variable
Set World in Startup to match the uploaded world name (without extension).
Related Guides
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How to Connect to Your Valheim Server
Join your Valheim dedicated server via the Community browser, direct IP, join code, or Steam friends list.
How to Install Mods on Your Valheim Server
Install BepInEx mods on your Valheim dedicated server using the built-in panel Mod Manager — no manual file uploads required.