Upload a Project Zomboid Save to Your Server

Overview

A good Project Zomboid save can take a while to build. If you already have a singleplayer world with a stocked base, explored towns, and a questionable number of canned beans, starting over on a server is not ideal.

Project Zomboid dedicated servers can load an existing save as long as the world folder is uploaded to the correct location and the server is told to use that exact folder name. The steps below cover preparing the save, uploading it through FTP, selecting it in your server control panel, and checking the usual problems if the wrong world loads.

Prepare the Save Folder

On your computer, open the Project Zomboid save directory. From there, go into the `Saves` folder, then open `Survivor`.

Find the world folder you want to upload. This folder name matters, so keep it exactly as it is unless you intentionally rename it before uploading.

For a cleaner transfer, compress the entire world folder into a `.zip` file with a tool such as 7-Zip. Uploading one zip file is often more reliable than transferring a large folder with many small map files.

Using FTP, upload the world folder or zipped world file into:

`/Saves/Multiplayer/`

Check the Upload on the Server

Open your server control panel and stop the server before changing world files. This prevents the server from writing new save data while the upload is being adjusted.

Go to your FTP or file manager, then open `Saves`, followed by `Multiplayer`.

If you uploaded a zip file, select it and use the unzip option. After extraction, confirm that the world folder appears inside `/Saves/Multiplayer/` and that the folder contains the save files, not another nested folder level.

Once the folder structure looks correct, the save is ready to be loaded.

Load the Uploaded World

Return to the main server panel and find the world selection option. Use the change world button to set the server's active world.

Enter the world name exactly as the uploaded folder is named. Capital letters, spaces, and symbols should match. Servers are not famous for reading minds.

Restart the server. When it finishes starting, Project Zomboid should load the uploaded world instead of generating a fresh one.

Common Problems

A brand new world loads instead. This usually means the server cannot find the uploaded save or the configured world name does not match the folder. Check `/Saves/Multiplayer/` through FTP and confirm the world folder is present. If only the `.zip` file is there, unzip it first. Then return to the panel, set the world name again, and restart the server.

Only part of the world is present. Missing chunks or areas usually point to an incomplete upload. Project Zomboid stores map data across many files inside the world folder, so even a few failed transfers can cause visible problems. Compress the full world folder into a zip file, upload that single file, unzip it through FTP, and try loading the world again.

Helpful Links

• Project Zomboid on Steam
• Project Zomboid server guides
• Project Zomboid commands