How to transfer a Minecraft server to a new host

1. Before you move

• Note your current server software (Paper, Purpur, Fabric, Forge, Vanilla), its Minecraft version and, for modded servers, the loader version. The console's first lines show them.
• Tell players there'll be a short downtime and that the address will change.
• Don't cancel the old host until the new server is tested.

2. Download everything from the old server

1. Run save-all flush, then stop the server so nothing changes during the copy.
2. Download the whole server folder. On a host, use its backup download, SFTP (FileZilla or WinSCP) or its file manager's zip feature. Zipping first is much faster than downloading thousands of small files.
3. Check the download: the world folder should contain level.dat and a region folder.

What matters most: the world folders (world, plus world_nether and world_the_end on Paper), plugins/ or mods/ and config/, server.properties and the other .yml configs, and whitelist.json, ops.json and the ban lists.

3. Create the new server

Set up the new server with the same software and Minecraft version, start it once so it creates its folders, then stop it. On NS5: pick Minecraft: Java Edition and the matching server type when you order, set the version in the Startup tab, and you're ready to upload. A free trial is a good way to test the move before paying.

4. Upload your files

1. Connect with SFTP. On NS5 the host, port and username are in your server's Settings tab and the password is your panel password. You can also drag and drop in the Files tab, and upload a zip and extract it there, which is quickest for big worlds.
2. Delete the new server's freshly generated world folders, then upload yours.
3. Upload plugins/ or mods/ and config/, and the JSON player lists.
4. For server.properties, copy your settings across but don't copy server-port or server-ip. The new host assigns those. (NS5 sets the network settings automatically each time the server starts, so they can't be broken by accident.)
5. If your world folder isn't called world, either rename it or set level-name to match.

5. Start and test

• Start the server and read the console for errors, especially plugins or mods that failed to load.
• Join and check: your builds are there, inventories are intact, the Nether and End are right, claims and homes still work.
• Check memory: if you moved from a bigger machine, make sure the new plan has enough RAM. See how much RAM you need.

6. Move your players over

Post the new address in your Discord and anywhere you've listed the server. If you own a domain and players join through it, update its DNS record (an A record, or an SRV record if the port isn't 25565) to point at the new server, and the address players use doesn't change at all.

Common problems

• Everyone's inventory is empty: you uploaded the world into the wrong folder, or level-name doesn't match, so the server generated a new world.
• The Nether or End is reset: you moved from Paper to Vanilla/Fabric (or the reverse) and the dimension folders are in the wrong place. See switching software.
• Chunks look old or corrupted: the world was copied while the server was running. Copy again after a clean stop.
• Mods or plugins fail: the Minecraft or loader version doesn't match the old server.

Common questions