Resetting a Rust Server World Manually

Overview

A Rust world can only stay fresh for so long. Once players have stacked resources, unlocked key blueprints, and built bases that look like small industrial accidents, a wipe can bring the server back to an even starting point.

You can reset only player data, only the map, or both. Player data controls things like inventories, blueprint unlocks, and player positions. World data controls the generated map, player-built structures, placed storage, and changes made across the environment.

Reset Player Data Only

Use this option when you want players to lose their personal progress while keeping the current world and structures in place.

1. Open your control panel and stop the Rust server.
2. Open your FTP client and log in.
3. Open the `server` folder, then enter the active world folder for your server.

1. Find the `.db` files that begin with `player`.
2. Delete those player database files.

This resets player inventories, learned blueprints, locations, and related personal data. It does not remove bases, boxes, furnaces, turrets, or anything else stored in the world itself.

Reset World Data Only

Use this option when you want to clear the map, remove player-made structures, and force the server to generate a clean world.

1. Open your control panel and stop the Rust server.
2. Open your FTP client and log in.
3. Open the `server` folder, then enter the active world folder.
4. Locate the `.map` folder in that directory.
5. Delete the `.map` folder.

After deleting the map data, return to the main panel page and start the server again. Rust will generate the world again when the server boots.

If you want a complete wipe, delete both the player database files and the `.map` folder before restarting. That removes both personal player progress and world progress.

Common Problems

The world did not reset. Make sure the server was fully stopped before deleting files. If the server was still running, it may have recreated or kept using the old data. Stop the server, delete the `.map` folder again, then restart.

If you want the server to generate with a different seed, set the new custom seed in your server settings before starting it again.

Players still have items after a player data reset. This usually means only player data was removed. Items stored in boxes, lockers, furnaces, and other placed containers are part of the world. To remove stored items too, reset the world data so those structures and containers are deleted.