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How to upload a singleplayer world to your Minecraft server

2 min readUpdated Oct 31, 2026

Move a world from singleplayer (or another host) onto your server: find the world folder, zip it, upload, set level-name and start. Includes Paper's split nether/end folders.

You can keep playing the world you built in singleplayer, now with friends. The world is just a folder, so moving it is a copy and a setting.

1. Find your world folder #

  • Windows: press Win+R, type %appdata%\.minecraft\saves and press Enter.
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves.
  • Linux: ~/.minecraft/saves.

Each folder in saves is one world. Close Minecraft first so the files aren't in use.

2. Upload it #

  1. Zip the world folder (right-click, Compress or Send to, Compressed folder).
  2. In the panel, stop your server and open Files.
  3. Rename or delete the old world folder if you don't need it (keep a copy if you might).
  4. Upload your zip, open its menu (the three dots) and choose Unarchive.
  5. Make sure the folder sits directly in the top folder and contains level.dat (not a folder inside a folder).
  6. Open server.properties and set level-name to your folder's exact name, or rename the folder to world.
  7. Start the server and watch the Console until it says Done.

Big world? Upload over SFTP instead; see upload files.

Paper and Purpur: nether and end #

Singleplayer keeps the nether and end inside the world folder (DIM-1 and DIM1). Paper and Purpur keep them in separate folders (world_nether and world_the_end). On first start Paper usually moves them for you. If your nether or end looks new, stop the server and move DIM-1 into world_nether and DIM1 into world_the_end.

Versions #

  • A server can load a world from an older version and upgrade it, but not one from a newer version. Keep a copy before upgrading.
  • Worlds from modded singleplayer need the same mods on the server (Fabric or Forge).

Bedrock worlds #

Bedrock worlds use a different format and can't be loaded by a Java server directly. You need a conversion tool first.

Next: invite friends with the friends guide.

FAQ #

Can I put my singleplayer world on a server? #

Yes. Zip the world folder, upload it in Files, unarchive it and set level-name in server.properties to its name.

Where is my Minecraft world saved? #

In the saves folder of your .minecraft directory; on Windows that's %appdata%\.minecraft\saves.

Why is my nether reset after uploading? #

Paper keeps the nether in world_nether. Move your DIM-1 folder there (and DIM1 into world_the_end).

Can I upload a Bedrock world to a Java server? #

Not directly. Bedrock worlds must be converted to Java format first.

Still stuck? Use the live chat on the panel or ask in the ESN Systems Discord. Last updated October 31, 2026.