Upload an Advanced Generated World to a 7 Days to Die Server

Overview

7 Days to Die servers can run more than the default maps. If you have created an advanced generated world in singleplayer, you can upload it to your server so friends can join the same custom apocalypse. The process is more involved than uploading a normal save because the server needs both the save data and the generated world files.

This guide covers the full path: generating the world, zipping the correct folders, uploading them with FTP, updating the server configuration, and fixing the most common problems. The zombies will still be rude, but at least the folders will be in the right place.

Create the Advanced World

If the advanced world already exists on your computer, skip to the file preparation section. Otherwise, generate it in-game first.

1. Open 7 Days to Die through Steam and choose New Game.

1. Enter any value in the Game Name field. Write it down because it is needed later.
2. Change Game World to New Random World.
3. Set the World Generation Seed and World Size values you want to use.

1. Copy the seed and size values, then select Advanced Generation.
2. Paste the seed and size into their matching fields, then adjust the remaining generation settings as desired.

1. Select Generate World and wait for the process to finish.
2. When generation completes, go back and copy the Generated World Name.
3. Change Game World to the generated world you copied, then enter the same Game Name used earlier.

1. Select Start so the game creates the save for that generated world.

Before moving on, save these four values somewhere easy to find:

• Generated World Name
• World Generation Seed
• World Size
• Game Name

These values must match the uploaded files and server configuration exactly. Even one small mismatch can cause the server to ignore the custom map.

Prepare the World Files

Advanced worlds require two separate folders from your local 7 Days to Die files. One comes from `Saves`, and the other comes from `GeneratedWorlds`. Use a zip tool such as 7-Zip, WinRAR, or your operating system's built-in compression option.

Windows

1. Press Windows Key + R.
2. Enter `%appdata%\7DaysToDie\` and select OK.

1. Open the `Saves` folder.
2. Locate the folder named after your Generated World Name, then compress it into a ZIP file.
3. Return to the main `7DaysToDie` folder and open `GeneratedWorlds`.
4. Compress the folder with the same Generated World Name into another ZIP file.

You should now have two ZIP files with the same folder name, but they came from different locations. Keep track of which one belongs to `Saves` and which one belongs to `GeneratedWorlds`.

macOS

1. Press Command + Shift + G.
2. Enter `~/Library/Application Support/7DaysToDie` and open that location.

1. Go into the `Saves` folder.
2. Compress the folder matching your Generated World Name.
3. Return to the main `7DaysToDie` folder, then open `GeneratedWorlds`.
4. Compress the folder with the same Generated World Name there as well.

When finished, you should have two ZIP files with matching names, stored from two different source folders.

Upload the Files by FTP

Large generated maps are best uploaded with an external FTP client such as FileZilla or Cyberduck.

1. Install and open your preferred FTP client.
2. Log in with your server's FTP details from the HolyHosting panel.

1. Open the correct server profile directory so you can see the 7 Days to Die server files.
2. Open the `Saves` folder on the server.
3. Upload the ZIP file that came from your local `Saves` folder.

1. Open the server's `GeneratedWorlds` folder and upload the ZIP file that came from your local `GeneratedWorlds` folder.
2. If `GeneratedWorlds` does not exist, create it before uploading.
3. Wait for both uploads to complete, then confirm each ZIP file is in the correct folder.

Do not swap the two ZIP files. They may look nearly identical, but the server expects each set of data in its own location.

Configure the Server

After uploading, unzip the files and update the world settings in the configuration file.

1. Open the HolyHosting server panel and open the file manager.

1. Sign in with your panel password.
2. Open the `Saves` folder.
3. Select the uploaded ZIP for your generated world, then choose Unzip.

1. Submit the unzip action.
2. Repeat the same unzip process inside the `GeneratedWorlds` folder.
3. Return to the main server file area and open the server configuration XML file.

1. Edit the `GameWorld` value so it matches your Generated World Name.
2. Set `WorldGenSeed` to the seed copied during world creation.
3. Set `WorldGenSize` to the size used during generation.
4. Set `GameName` to the exact game name used when creating the local save.

1. Save the file and restart the server.

Once the server finishes starting, join and confirm it loads the advanced generated world instead of a default map.

Troubleshooting

Inverse Host Lookup Failed

This usually means the server could not load the advanced world correctly. Start by checking the values in the server configuration:

• `GameWorld`
• `GameName`
• `WorldGenSeed`
• `WorldGenSize`

Each value must match the world you generated in-game. If the settings are correct, check the uploaded ZIP files. The `Saves` ZIP must be in `Saves`, and the `GeneratedWorlds` ZIP must be in `GeneratedWorlds`. Upload failures are common with large maps, so reuploading both files through an FTP client can save time.

If the issue continues, regenerate or replace the configuration file, then enter the world settings again carefully.

Missing GeneratedWorlds Folder

Some servers may not already show the `GeneratedWorlds` directory. If it is missing, create it through FTP before uploading the generated world ZIP.

In setups that require the full path, create the folder chain `.local/share/7DaysToDie/GeneratedWorlds`. The final `GeneratedWorlds` folder is where the generated map files should be placed.

The Server Loaded the Wrong World

If the map does not match your singleplayer world, the configuration was likely not saved, was reset, or does not match the uploaded files. Recheck `GameWorld`, `GameName`, `WorldGenSeed`, and `WorldGenSize`, then confirm both uploaded folders were unzipped in the correct locations.

If everything looks right but the wrong world still loads, upload both ZIP files again. Advanced generated worlds can be large, and partial transfers are not exactly famous for being helpful.

Related 7 Days to Die Guides

• Uploading an existing 7 Days to Die world
• Installing 7 Days to Die mods on a server
• Becoming an admin on a 7 Days to Die server