How to Reset the Nether on a Minecraft Server (or End)

To reset the Nether on a Minecraft server, make a backup, stop the server, then remove the Nether's folder: world/DIM-1 on vanilla, Fabric or Forge up to 1.21.11, world_nether on Paper, Purpur or Spigot up to 1.21.11, and world/dimensions/minecraft/the_nether on 26.1 and newer. Start the server and the Nether generates again the next time someone enters a portal. The End works the same way with DIM1, world_the_end or dimensions/minecraft/the_end. Your Overworld is not touched.

Server owners do this when the Nether is full of holes from netherite mining, after a season ends, or to give new players fresh End cities and elytra. It takes five minutes once you know the right folder.

Which folder holds the Nether and the End

The folder depends on your server software and Minecraft version. Replace world with your level-name from server.properties if you changed it.

The 26.1 change comes from Mojang's 26.1 snapshot notes, which moved all default dimensions into a dimensions subfolder, and Paper's 26.1 release notes, which say every dimension now lives in world/dimensions/. If your folders do not match the table, look for the one that holds a region folder for that dimension.

Before you reset the Nether on your Minecraft server

1. Tell players and get everyone out of the dimension. Anyone who logs out inside the Nether will log back in at the same coordinates in the new terrain, possibly inside rock or above lava.
2. Make a full backup. If something goes wrong, or someone forgot a shulker box full of netherite, you can bring it back.
3. Expect the same terrain. The Nether and End generate from your world seed, so the new dimension has the same layout as a fresh copy, with ores, fortresses and bastions back as they were before anyone touched them.
4. Portals relink. Overworld portals will create or find new linked portals in the reset Nether when someone uses them.

How to reset the Nether or End step by step

1. Go to Backups and create a backup. Wait until it shows as completed.
2. Announce the reset and stop the server from the Console (or run stop).
3. Open Files and find the folder from the table for your software and version.
4. Rename it, for example world_nether to world_nether_old, or DIM-1 to DIM-1_old. Renaming is safer than deleting because you can undo it.
5. Start the server from the Console.
6. Enter a Nether portal (or the End portal) and check that new terrain generates.
7. When everyone is happy, delete the _old folder in Files to free disk space, or keep it until the next backup.

On a server at home, do the same with your file explorer or an SFTP client while the server is stopped. Never rename a dimension folder while the server is running; it can write the old chunks back when it saves.

Resetting only part of the Nether

If only one area is damaged, for example a big region around spawn, you do not need to reset the whole dimension. Each .mca file inside the region folder of the dimension holds a 512 by 512 block area, named by region coordinates such as r.0.0.mca. Removing specific region files (with the server stopped and a backup taken) regenerates only those areas. Be careful: remove the wrong file and you lose a base you wanted to keep.

Resetting the End and the dragon

Resetting the End regenerates the main island, the outer islands, End cities and their elytra in new chunks. The dragon fight is a special case:

• Depending on version and software, the dragon fight state can be stored outside the End folder, so the dragon may not come back on its own.
• If the dragon does not appear, players can summon it the normal way: place four End crystals on the exit portal, one on each side.

Common problems after a reset

1. The old Nether is still there: the server was running when you renamed the folder, or you renamed the wrong one. Stop the server, check the table and try again.
2. Players spawn inside blocks: they logged out in the old Nether. Teleport them out from the Console with tp Name x y z, or ask them to log out in the Overworld next time.
3. Portal sends players to an odd place: the portal relinked to a new location in the fresh Nether. Rebuild the Nether side where you want it.
4. Lag right after the reset: new chunks are being generated as players explore. It settles once the area is loaded. See our Minecraft server lag fix if it continues.

Reset dimensions easily on TheGameHosting

On TheGameHosting you never need FTP for this: Backups saves the whole server in one click, Files lets you rename and delete folders in the browser, and the Console stops and starts the server. You can also set Schedules to take automatic backups before each new season. Servers run 24/7 in Dallas or Amsterdam on AMD 9950X or 7950X3D CPUs with NVMe, which makes generating a fresh Nether fast, and DDoS protection is included on every plan.

Plans start at $1.90 USD per month on Minecraft server hosting. Compare RAM sizes on the game server plans page, use FULL2026 for 15% off for life and pick your plan on Pricing. Running a season server? Our guide to starting a Minecraft SMP server pairs well with regular resets.

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