How to Backup a Project Zomboid Server (and Restore It)

To backup a Project Zomboid server, save the world, stop the server and copy three things: the world folder in Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer/<server name>, the settings in Zomboid/Server/ and the player database in Zomboid/db/. On TheGameHosting the Backups tab copies everything in one click. Project Zomboid can also make its own copies with the BackupsOnStart, BackupsPeriod and BackupsCount settings in servertest.ini.

Below: what each folder holds, the panel method, the built-in backup settings, a schedule that does it for you, and how to restore.

What to include in a Project Zomboid server backup

The PZwiki dedicated server page separates the world from the settings. On a default server named servertest, the files that matter are:

If you started the server with -servername, every servertest above uses that name instead. A copy of only the Saves folder is the most common mistake: the world comes back, but admins, passwords and the whitelist do not.

How to backup a Project Zomboid server from the panel

1. In Console, type save and press Enter so the latest changes are written to disk.
2. Stop the server. A stopped server gives a clean copy with no half-written files.
3. Open Backups and click to create a new backup.
4. Give it a clear name, such as before-b42-update or before-new-mods.
5. Wait until the backup shows its size and date, then start the server again.
6. For an extra copy off the server, download the backup from its menu and keep it on your PC.

A panel backup copies your server's files, so the world, settings and database are saved together. If you are not sure the Zomboid folder is inside it, check the backup size or ask us on live chat. Make one before every mod change, every sandbox change and every game update.

The built-in backup settings in servertest.ini

Project Zomboid can make its own backups. The PZwiki lists these settings in servertest.ini:

A sensible setup for an active server:

BackupsOnStart=true
BackupsOnVersionChange=true
BackupsPeriod=60
BackupsCount=10

These copies go to a backups folder inside Zomboid, on the same disk as the world. They help with a bad night of play, but they will not save you if the whole server is wiped, so keep panel backups too. Every copy also takes space; large worlds with a high BackupsCount fill a disk fast. The rest of the file is explained in our servertest.ini settings guide.

Separately, SaveWorldEveryMinutes sets how often the world itself is saved. It is not a backup, but a short interval means less is lost after a crash.

Back up on a schedule

Most worlds break at night, when nobody is watching. With Schedules in the panel you can automate a nightly routine:

1. A Send command task with servermsg "Restart in 5 minutes" to warn players.
2. A Send command task with save, a few minutes later.
3. A Create backup task.
4. A Send power action task to restart the server.

The full walkthrough, with time offsets and cron examples, is in how to schedule automatic server restarts.

How to restore a Project Zomboid backup

1. Stop the server.
2. Make one more backup of the current state, even if it is broken.
3. In Backups, open the menu of the copy you want and choose Restore. Tick the option to delete current files first if you want an exact copy.
4. If you restore by hand instead, replace the folder in Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer/ and the file in Zomboid/db/ with the copies, using Files or SFTP.
5. Start the server and join to check your base and admin rights.

To roll back to one of the game's own backups, open the backups folder in Files, find the copy with the right date and copy its contents in place of the world folder with the server stopped.

Common backup problems

Run Project Zomboid with backups built in

On your own PC, a backup means stopping the game, finding hidden folders and copying gigabytes by hand. On a Project Zomboid server from TheGameHosting you get the Backups tab, Schedules, Files in the browser and full SFTP on every plan. Project Zomboid starts on the 8 GB plan at $6.96 USD a month, on AMD 9950X and 7950X3D CPUs with DDR5 and NVMe, in Dallas or Amsterdam, with DDoS protection and 24/7 support in English and Spanish. Compare the plans and prices and use FULL2026 for 15% off for life.

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