World Management

Whether you want to upload an existing world, download a backup, reset your world, or use a custom seed, this guide covers everything you need to know about managing Minecraft worlds on Witchly.

World Folder Structure

Minecraft stores world data in a specific folder structure. Understanding this helps when uploading or downloading worlds.

Java Edition (Paper/Spigot/Purpur)

/world/             — The Overworld
/world_nether/      — The Nether
/world_the_end/     — The End

Java Edition (Vanilla/Forge/Fabric)

/world/             — The Overworld
/world/DIM-1/       — The Nether
/world/DIM1/        — The End

Note that Paper and its forks (Spigot, Purpur) separate the dimensions into different top-level folders, while Vanilla, Forge, and Fabric keep them inside the main world folder.

Key Files Inside the World Folder

level.dat — World metadata (seed, spawn point, game rules, time).
region/ — Chunk data files (.mca format). This is where the actual terrain and builds are stored.
playerdata/ — Individual player data (inventory, position, stats).
data/ — Map data, structure data, and other persistent information.
datapacks/ — Custom data packs installed in the world.

Downloading Your World

Regularly downloading your world is the best way to maintain backups.

Using the File Manager

Log in to Dashboard and select your server.
Go to the File Manager tab.
Select the world folder (and world_nether/world_the_end if on Paper/Spigot).
Click Compress to create a zip archive.
Download the compressed file.

Using SFTP

Connect to your server via SFTP on port 2022.
Navigate to the root directory.
Download the world folder (and dimension folders if applicable).

For large worlds, SFTP is recommended as it handles big file transfers more reliably than the browser-based file manager.

Uploading a World

To use an existing world on your Witchly server:

Step 1: Prepare the World

If the world was played in singleplayer, the folder is usually named after the world name. Rename it to world.
Make sure the folder structure matches what your server software expects (see the folder structure section above).
Compress the world folder into a .zip file for easier uploading.

Step 2: Upload

Stop your server from the dashboard.
If there is an existing world folder, rename or delete it first.
Upload the world using the File Manager (click Upload and select the .zip file, then extract it) or via SFTP on port 2022.
Make sure the world files are in the correct location — the level.dat file should be at world/level.dat, not world/world/level.dat.

Step 3: Start the Server

Start your server and verify the world loads correctly. Check the console for any errors.

Converting Between Server Software Formats

If you are moving a world from Vanilla/Forge/Fabric to Paper/Spigot (or vice versa), you may need to reorganize the dimension folders:

Vanilla to Paper:

Move world/DIM-1/ to a new folder called world_nether/DIM-1/.
Move world/DIM1/ to a new folder called world_the_end/DIM1/.

Paper to Vanilla:

Move world_nether/DIM-1/ into world/DIM-1/.
Move world_the_end/DIM1/ into world/DIM1/.

Resetting Your World

To generate a brand new world:

Stop your server.
In the File Manager, delete (or rename) the world folder.
If on Paper/Spigot/Purpur, also delete world_nether and world_the_end.
Optionally, set a custom seed in server.properties before starting (see below).
Start the server. A new world will be generated automatically.

Back up your old world before deleting it. Once deleted, it cannot be recovered unless you have a backup.

Using a Custom Seed

To generate a world with a specific seed:

Stop your server.
Open server.properties in the File Manager.
Set the level-seed property to your desired seed:
```
level-seed=123456789
```
Delete the existing world folders (see “Resetting Your World” above).
Start the server. The world will generate using the specified seed.

The seed only affects initial world generation. Changing the seed on an existing world will not alter already-generated chunks — only new chunks will use the new seed, which creates jarring terrain boundaries.

Managing World Backups

Built-In Backups

Your Witchly server includes backup slots. Use the Backups section in your dashboard to create and restore snapshots of your server at any point.

Manual Backups

For additional safety, periodically download your world folder using the File Manager or SFTP. Store backups on your local machine or cloud storage.

Backup Recommendations

Back up before installing mods, plugins, or modpacks.
Back up before changing Minecraft versions.
Back up before resetting or modifying the world.
Set a regular backup schedule (daily or weekly depending on activity).

Data Packs

Minecraft data packs let you customize game mechanics, crafting recipes, loot tables, and more without mods.

Download a data pack (usually a .zip file) from Planet Minecraft or Modrinth.
Upload the .zip file to world/datapacks/ using the File Manager or SFTP.
Restart the server or run /reload from the console.
Verify with /datapack list to see all active data packs.

Need Help?

If you have trouble uploading, downloading, or managing worlds, join our Discord and our team will help you out.