Where Are Minecraft World Backups Saved? (2023)

As an avid Minecraft gamer and content creator, one of the most common questions I get from new players is "where are my world backups saved?" Keeping regular backups of your builds and creations in Minecraft is crucial to avoid losing progress from griefing, bugs, or computer issues. So today, I want to provide a comprehensive guide on exactly where Minecraft stores world backups on various platforms.

Where Minecraft Backups Are Saved on Windows

For most Windows 10 and Windows 11 users, your Minecraft world backups can be found in the following location:

C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\Roaming.minecraft\saves

To quickly open this folder, hit the Windows key + R to open the run dialog, then copy and paste:

%appdata%\.minecraft\saves

Inside this saves folder, you‘ll see individual folders for each of your Minecraft worlds, with names like "World1" or "My Favorite Build." Inside each folder is where the actual world data and backups are stored.

Now let‘s break this down bit-by-bit:

• C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\ – Points to your user account‘s folder on your local C drive. This will match whatever your user account name is.
• AppData\Roaming – The AppData folder contains application data and settings that are specific to your user profile.
• .minecraft – The dot at the beginning makes this a hidden folder on Windows, but it‘s where all of Minecraft‘s data is stored locally.
• saves – And within the .minecraft folder, your individual world save data and backups can be found int the saves subfolder.

So in summary, Minecraft world backups on Windows can always be found in your AppData Roaming folder, under the hidden .minecraft directory.

When Are Backups Created?

Minecraft actually creates a backup of each world automatically whenever you exit that world properly through the menu or by logging out.

So as long as you don‘t forcibly crash the game or shut down the computer incorrectly, exiting a world safely should trigger a backup.

However, I still strongly advise manually backing up worlds as well on occasion to another location like external drive or cloud storage. Because world corruption can still happen even with auto backups enabled.

Backup Locations For Other Platforms

Here‘s a quick overview of where to find world backups in some other popular editions of Minecraft:

• Android – games > com.mojang > minecraftWorlds
• iOS – On your computer, in the Minecraft folder under Apps > com.mojang.minecraftpe > games > com.mojang > minecraftWorlds
• MacOS – Users> [user name] > Library > Application Support > minecraft > saves
• PlayStation 4 – Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Minecraft
• Nintendo Switch – Via Nintendo Switch Online cloud backups
• Xbox One – Settings > System > Storage > saved data

So in summary, while the save location differs slightly across platforms, generally look for a Minecraft or Mojang folder, then a subfolder called saves or minecraftWorlds. That‘s typically where local backups will be saved.

Why World Backups Are Important

Now that you know where to find your backups, I want to emphasize why regularly backing up worlds is so crucial:

• Prevent Loss from Bugs/Corruption – Sadly bugs still plague Minecraft. Backups give you restore points.
• Restore After Griefing – Having backups means you can revert damage from thieves and trolls!
• Recover from Crashes – Program or hardware crashes can wipe out work, backups keep you safe.
• Protect Progress – It‘s heartbreaking losing your hard work. Backups are insurance.

Trust me, there‘s almost nothing worse than booting up Minecraft after days of dedicated building only to find your pristine world corrupted or destroyed. Maintaining backups is like having an emergency stash of resources in a chest – you might not need it often, but when you do, it‘s a lifesaver!

Here are some of my top tips for efficiently backing up Minecraft worlds…

Best Practices For Backing Up Worlds

1. Batch Backup Important Worlds

I like to periodically backup my "mission critical" worlds to external media once a week or so. This gives me added assurance if my main copies somehow get corrupted.

2. Rename Backup Folders By Date

Label backups like "AwesomeCityCopy_01-25-2023" so it‘s obvious which is newest.

3. Only Load Backup As Last Resort

Don‘t go swapping backup files willy-nilly or load the same world from two places at once. Only restore when you‘ve lost the main save.

4. Personal Server = Redundant Backups

If you run a personal home server, configure regular cronjob backups of important worlds for maximum protection!

Restoring From Backups – Step-By-Step

If disaster does strike, here are the basic steps to restore your world from the local Windows backup:

1. Locate your latest backup copy from the saves folder. It will be in a subfolder matching the world name.
2. Delete, rename or move the corrupted/lost original world folder if it still exists. We don‘t want conflicts.
3. Copy your chosen backup folder out from the saves folder temporarily to desktop.
4. Delete the remaining corrupted world folder from %appdata%.minecraft\saves if it exists.
5. Paste your backup copy back into the saves folder. It should now be restored as the main world copy again!
6. Load Minecraft and access restored world.

And that‘s it! With your world now rolled back from a backup, you can breathe easy and get back to building, mining and slaying.

So remember to backup early, backup often! It‘s the best insurance policy around for preserving your hard work. Never again lose precious creations to the abyss of bits and bytes!

Do you have any other questions about locating or managing Minecraft backups? Let me know in the comments!