How to Move a Co-Op Save to Your Project Zomboid Server

Started a world with friends using the in-game "Host" option and now ready to move it onto an always-on MintServers dedicated server? Good news: your progress is not lost. Project Zomboid stores co-op ("Host") saves in the exact same format as a dedicated server, so you can transfer the whole world across instead of starting over.

This guide walks you through finding your local save, matching it to your server's world folder, and getting it uploaded correctly.

Step 1: Locate Your Co-Op Save On Your PC

Project Zomboid stores all of its data in a folder named Zomboid in your user directory, separate from the actual game installation. Depending on your operating system, you can find it at:

Windows: C:\Users\YourUsername\Zomboid\Saves\Multiplayer
Mac / Linux: ~/Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer

Inside the Multiplayer folder, you will see a folder for every co-op session you have hosted, named after whatever you typed into the "Name" field when you clicked Host. Open the folder for the world you want to move.

Step 2: Package The Save For Upload

Inside your world's save folder, you will find several files. The two you actually need are:

• map_*.bin files (and similarly named chunk data) — this is your explored world, buildings, and loot.
• players.db — this is every character's inventory, skills, health, and position.

Compress the entire save folder into a single .zip file. This makes it much faster to upload than sending dozens of individual files one at a time.

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Step 3: Find Your Server's World Folder Name

On MintServers, your server's identity is set by its configuration file, which controls both the settings file name and the matching world folder. Unlike some other hosts, MintServers uses mintservers.ini instead of the default servertest.ini, so your world folder will need to match that same name.

1. Log into your MintServers panel and click the Stop button.
2. Click on the Files tab on the left-hand sidebar.
3. Navigate to your configuration file to confirm the exact name:

Step 4: Upload The Save To Your Server

1. Still inside the Files tab, navigate to the Saves folder, then Multiplayer, then the folder matching your server's name (mintservers).
2. Delete only the default files you are replacing (the fresh map_*.bin and players.db created on your server's first boot). Avoid a blanket delete of the whole folder.
3. Upload the .zip file you created in Step 2, then extract it directly into this folder.
4. Confirm the files landed directly inside the mintservers folder, and not nested inside an extra subfolder from the zip.

Step 5: Match Your Mods (If You Used Any)

If your co-op world used Steam Workshop mods, your server needs the exact same mods listed before it will load the save correctly.

1. Navigate back to mintservers.ini from Step 3.
2. Find the WorkshopItems= and Mods= lines and add the same mods you used in your co-op session.
3. Save the file.

Need help finding the correct Workshop or Mod IDs? Our guide to installing mods on Project Zomboid covers exactly where to find them.

Step 6: Start Your Server

Head back to the Console tab and click Start. Give it a minute to load, then connect using your server's IP and port to confirm your world, buildings, and characters are all exactly where you left them.

And that is it, your world and your friends' progress are now living on an always-on server instead of your PC. If anything does not load quite right, no worries! Just open a support ticket and our team will gladly help you get your world back up and running.