So, you’re running a 7 Days to Die dedicated server. Awesome! Maybe you want to back it up, move it to a new machine, or even just peek inside and see what kind of crazy base your friends are building. The first step? Finding that save game location.

Let’s dive into how to find that precious data.

Why Bother Knowing the Save Location?

Before we get into where it is, let’s quickly talk about why you might need it:

• Backups: This is the big one. Losing your server’s progress sucks. Regular backups are essential, especially before big updates or if you’re messing with mods. Knowing the save location makes creating backups a breeze.
• Server Transfers: Upgrading your hardware or moving to a different hosting provider? You’ll need to transfer your save to keep the game going.
• Modding: Some mods require you to manually edit the save files (though this is less common now).
• Troubleshooting: If your server is acting weird, sometimes digging into the save files can give you clues about what’s going wrong.
• Curiosity: Admit it, you’re a little curious to see what the game is storing about your world.

Where is the Save Game Located?

Okay, let’s get to the nitty-gritty. The save location depends on a few things: your operating system and how you set up your server.

For Windows Servers

This is the most common scenario. By default, 7 Days to Die dedicated server saves are usually located here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\7 Days To Die Dedicated Server\Saves

Important Notes for Windows:

• “Program Files (x86)” vs. “Program Files”: If you installed Steam into the regular Program Files folder instead of Program Files (x86), that’s where you’ll find the Steam folder.
• Custom Installation: If you chose a different installation directory for Steam or the dedicated server, you’ll need to navigate to that location.
• Hidden Folders: Make sure you have “Show hidden files and folders” enabled in Windows. Sometimes configuration files can be hidden. You can find this setting in File Explorer under the “View” tab, then “Options,” then “View” tab again.
• User Permissions: Double-check that the user account running the dedicated server has the necessary read/write permissions to the Saves folder.

Inside the Saves folder, you’ll find subfolders named after your world’s name and then a ‘region’ name. Each world folder contains your save data.

For Linux Servers

Linux servers are also popular for 7 Days to Die, offering performance and control. The default save location is similar to Windows, but with a Linux-style path:

~/.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves/

Important Notes for Linux:

• Hidden Folder: The ~/.local directory is a hidden directory. In most file managers, you’ll need to enable “Show Hidden Files” (usually Ctrl+H) to see it.
• User Account: The ~ symbol represents the home directory of the user account that’s running the dedicated server. If you’re logged in as a different user, the save will be in that user’s home directory.
• SteamCMD: If you installed the server using SteamCMD, the path might be slightly different depending on where you extracted the SteamCMD files. The 7DaysToDie folder should be under the steamapps/common directory within your SteamCMD installation.
• Permissions: Linux permissions can be tricky. Make sure the user account running the server has read/write access to the save directory. chmod and chown are your friends here!

For Hosting Providers

If you’re using a hosting provider (like Survival Servers, GTXGaming, or Pingperfect), the save location will vary depending on the provider’s setup. Usually, they provide a web interface or FTP access to your server files.

How to Find the Save Location with a Hosting Provider:

1. Check the Control Panel: Most hosting providers have a control panel where you can manage your server. Look for options related to “File Management,” “File Browser,” or “FTP Access.”
2. Read the Documentation: The provider’s documentation or knowledge base should have information about the server’s file structure and where the save files are stored.
3. Contact Support: If you’re still stuck, don’t hesitate to contact the hosting provider’s support team. They should be able to tell you exactly where to find the saves.

Regardless of which method you use, once you have FTP access, the save files are typically within a folder called “Saves”, “SaveGames”, or something similar.

Finding the World Name

Once you are in the appropriate directory, you will see that each world is stored in its own folder. You’ll have the name of the world followed by the region name. If you used the Random Gen tool, you’ll find a randomly generated name here. Otherwise, if you picked Navezgane, you’ll see Navezgane followed by the region name.

Understanding the Save File Structure

Inside the world folder, you’ll find a bunch of files and folders. Here’s a quick rundown of what they are:

• *.map files: These files contain the actual world data, including terrain, buildings, and zombie spawns.
• *.ttp files: These files contain the player data.
• Region folder: This folder contains the individual chunks of the world that have been generated and modified.
• players.xml: This files stores player-related information.

Backing Up Your Save Game

Okay, you’ve found the save location. Now, let’s talk about backing it up. This is super important!

The Simplest Method: Manual Copy

1. Stop the Server: Before you do anything, stop your 7 Days to Die dedicated server. This prevents any data corruption during the backup process.
2. Navigate to the Save Location: Use the methods described above to find the correct folder.
3. Copy the Folder: Copy the entire world folder (e.g., “MyAwesomeWorld”) to a safe location, such as an external hard drive, cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), or another folder on your computer.
4. Restart the Server: Once the backup is complete, you can restart your server.

Important Considerations for Backups:

• Frequency: How often should you back up? It depends on how much you play and how much you’re willing to lose. Daily backups are a good starting point, but you might want to increase the frequency if you’re making significant changes to your world.
• Automation: For more advanced users, consider automating the backup process using scripts or cron jobs. This ensures that backups happen regularly without you having to remember to do them manually.
• Offsite Backups: Storing backups in a separate physical location (e.g., cloud storage) protects you against data loss due to hardware failure, fire, or other disasters.

Restoring a Save Game

If something goes wrong and you need to restore a backup, here’s how:

1. Stop the Server: Again, stop the server before making any changes.
2. Navigate to the Save Location: Find the location where the current save is stored.
3. Delete the Existing World Folder: Delete the folder of the world you want to replace.
4. Copy the Backup: Copy the backed-up world folder into the Saves directory.
5. Restart the Server: Start the server. It should now load the restored save game.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• “I can’t find the Saves folder!” Double-check your installation directory, make sure you’re showing hidden files/folders, and verify that you’re looking in the correct user account’s home directory (especially on Linux).
• “My server won’t start after restoring a backup!” Make sure you copied the entire world folder. Also, verify that the user account running the server has the necessary permissions to access the restored files.
• “My world is corrupted!” Sometimes save files can get corrupted, especially if the server crashes unexpectedly. If this happens, try restoring an older backup. If that doesn’t work, you might be out of luck.
• “The server loads a new world instead of my save!” Ensure that the world name in your server configuration file (serverconfig.xml) matches the name of the restored world folder.

Conclusion

Finding your 7 Days to Die dedicated server save location is crucial for backups, server transfers, and troubleshooting. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to locate your saves, back them up regularly, and restore them if needed. Happy surviving!