How do I create a manual backup and where is it saved?

Making a manual backup takes one click on your server's Backups page, and you can also save your own copy to your computer in a couple of minutes. This guide shows you how and where each is saved.

How manual backups work right now

Open your server → Backups and click Back up now. The backup is stored by us (not on your server's disk) and listed on the Backups page; the newest 3 manual backups are kept (a new one replaces the oldest), and they're always free to restore and download (as a .tar.gz, up to 2 GB). For an extra copy you control, you can also download your world and important folders to your own computer — that copy lives wherever you save it.

Step-by-step (your own copy)

1. Stop the server in the Console so files aren't mid-write.
2. Open the Files tab and select your world folder (and world_nether, world_the_end, plus plugins/mods/configs if you want a full copy).
3. Archive them to a .zip, then download the zip to your computer — that's your backup.
4. For large worlds, use SFTP (WinSCP or FileZilla) instead and drag the folders straight to your PC.

Tip: Do this before every big change — a version switch, adding mods, or a world edit. Keep dated copies on your computer so you can roll back to a specific point.

Frequently asked questions

Where is my backup stored? A Back up now backup is stored by us and listed on your server's Backups page. A copy you download yourself is on your own computer, wherever you saved the zip.

Do I have to stop the server first? For a copy you download yourself, yes, for a clean copy. Copying a running world can capture files mid-write and corrupt the copy.

When will automatic backups return? They're already back — every server is backed up automatically twice a day (00:00 and 12:00 UTC by default, or your own Backup times).