How to Reset the World on a 7 Days to Die Server

Context

After a few weeks of play, a 7 Days to Die server ends up carrying abandoned bases, fully looted towns and a map nobody wants to explore any more. Resetting the world gives everyone a clean start, often timed with a major game update.

There is not one way to do it but three, with very different consequences. Some keep the old game on disk, others erase it for good, and only one actually changes the terrain. Picking the wrong one leads either to wrongly believing the save is lost, or to deleting more than intended.

This guide separates the three cases and walks through each one from the Winheberg game panel.

Requirements

• An active 7 Days to Die server on the Winheberg game panel
• A recent backup of your world if you want to be able to roll back
• Access to your server's Console and Files tabs on panel.winheberg.com

1. Pick the right method

The key point is that the map and the game are two separate things. The map lives in a GeneratedWorlds folder, the game in a Saves folder. Erasing the second leaves the first untouched, and your players will find exactly the same terrain, towns and roads.

2. Locate the folders

The save path is driven by the UserDataFolder setting. The reliable way to know it is to read the UserDataFolder line printed at the top of the startup log, visible in the Console tab when the server boots.

Two folders in that directory matter here.

The running game sits inside Saves, in a folder named after the map, which itself holds a folder named after the GameName value.

On Winheberg servers, that directory is .local/share/7DaysToDie. A game named MyGame on Navezgane therefore lives in .local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves/Navezgane/MyGame.

3. Reset by changing GameName

This is the safest method, since it deletes nothing.

1. Stop the server from the Console tab with Stop
2. Open serverconfig.xml in the Files tab
3. Replace the GameName value with a new name, MyServer2 for instance
4. Save with Save Content and restart with Start

The server creates a fresh game in a new folder. The old one stays intact, and restoring the previous value is all it takes to get it back.

4. Delete the save for a clean start

If you want to free disk space or start over under the same name, the game folder has to go.

1. Stop the server
2. In the Files tab, open the Saves folder, then the map folder, then the folder named after GameName
3. Delete that folder entirely
4. Restart the server

The server rebuilds a blank game on the same map. Buildings, chests and player progress are lost, the terrain stays identical.

5. Generate a brand new map

To actually change the map, world generation has to be addressed, not just the game.

1. Stop the server
2. Delete the game folder in Saves as in the previous step
3. Delete the matching map folder in GeneratedWorlds
4. Open serverconfig.xml and adjust WorldGenSeed, and WorldGenSize if needed
5. Save and restart

The server regenerates a map on the next start. This takes noticeably longer than a normal boot, let the process finish without restarting.

Every serverconfig.xml property is detailed in How to Configure Your 7 Days to Die Server.

Troubleshooting

❌ The server restarted on the old map

• Check that the matching folder in GeneratedWorlds was deleted
• Confirm GameWorld is set to RWG, otherwise the seed is ignored
• Check the deletion actually completed, large folders can take several seconds to disappear from the listing

❌ The server takes a very long time to start after the reset

• That is expected during map generation, the duration depends on the size chosen
• Do not restart during generation, an interrupted process leaves an incomplete world
• Follow the progress in the Console tab

❌ My players lost their progress when I only wanted a new map

• Progress is stored in the game folder and disappears with it
• Restore your backup if you took one before the operation
• For a test without loss, prefer the GameName change method

❌ I cannot find the Saves folder

• Read the UserDataFolder line at the top of the startup log, it gives the real path
• Use the file manager search on the folder name
• Check the server started at least once, the folders are only created on first boot

Best practices

• Download a full copy of the game folder over SFTP before any deletion, it is the only way back
• Announce the reset to your players several days ahead, it gives them time to screenshot their bases
• Time resets with a major game update, players accept a wipe far better when it comes with new content
• Write down the seed used for each map, it lets you regenerate exactly the same one if needed
• Try a new seed on a test server before applying it to your main server

Need help

If the server does not restart after a reset, or if map generation appears stuck, open a ticket with our support team from your client area, Technical department, with the server in the Related Product field. Our team can check the folder state and the logs with you.

Your world starts fresh. 🎮