Already have a world going with friends and want to move it onto a dedicated server instead of hosting it yourself? Sons of the Forest lets you upload your existing save so you can keep playing right where you left off. This guide covers locating your local save, converting it if needed, and uploading it to your server.
⚠️ Important Warning:
Only Multiplayer saves can be uploaded to a dedicated server, Singleplayer saves must be converted first (covered below). Player-specific data such as inventory, stats, and position does not transfer, only world data like structures and dropped items carries over. Store any items you want to keep in a chest before making the switch.
Step 1: Locate Your Local Save File
- Press
Windows Key + Rto open the Run dialog. - Copy and paste the following path and press Enter:
- Open the folder named after your Steam64 ID, then open either the
MultiplayerorSingleplayerfolder depending on where your save was created. - Inside, you'll see one or more folders named with random numbers, each one is a separate save. Make a copy of the save folder you want to upload.
📁 Endnight
📁 SonsOfTheForest
📁 Saves
📁
📁 Multiplayer (or Singleplayer)
📁 1922034134 (copy this folder)
Step 2: Converting a Singleplayer Save to Multiplayer
Skip this section if the save you copied already came from the Multiplayer folder.
- Paste the save folder you copied from
Singleplayerinto theMultiplayerfolder instead. - Open Sons of the Forest and click
Multiplayer→Host Game→Continue→Load Game, select the world, and clickStart. - Once in-game, manually save using a Tarp or Tent, then close the game.
- Your save folder inside
Multiplayeris now ready to upload.
Step 3: Uploading Your Save to the Server
- Log into your MintServers panel and click Stop to shut down your server.
- Navigate to the Files tab on the left-hand sidebar.
- Navigate to the
Saves/DedicatedServer/Multiplayer/folder and upload your save folder. - Set your server's Save Slot to match the name of the save folder you just uploaded.
- Save your changes and start your server.
📁 serverconfig
📁 Saves
📁 DedicatedServer
📁 Multiplayer
📁 1922034134 (your uploaded save, set as Save Slot)
📌 Note:
Your server already has a default save folder created the first time it started. You can leave it in place and simply point the Save Slot setting at your newly uploaded folder instead of deleting anything.
🛠️ Troubleshooting Common Upload Issues
Server loads a fresh world instead of your save:Double check the Save Slot setting exactly matches the name of the folder you uploaded.Missing items or inventory after transferring:This is expected, player inventory and stats do not transfer between local saves and a dedicated server.Upload seems incomplete or corrupted:Make sure the entire save folder, including all its files, finished uploading before starting the server.Server won't start after uploading:Confirm your server was fully stopped before you uploaded the save folder.
Your world should now be live on your dedicated server! If you run into any trouble getting your save transferred over, no worries! Just open a support ticket and our team will gladly jump in and help you get it sorted out.