How to Reset or Wipe Your Valheim World

 

    Sometimes you want a fresh start — a new seed, a clean map after an update, or a do-over for your group. Valheim doesn't have a "wipe" button; instead the server loads whichever world you point it at, so resetting means creating/selecting a new world (and optionally deleting the old one). This guide shows the safe way to do it.

 

First: back up the old world

 

    A reset means the server stops loading your current world. Before anything, take a backup so you can return to it:

 

• Set up and run a backup from Schedule & Backups / the Backups tab (see backup & restore), or
• Download the .db and .fwl pair over FTP from the File Manager.

 

    Skip this and a "fresh start" can erase your old map for good. Don't skip it.

 

Start a new world by changing the World name

 

    The cleanest reset: point the server at a new world name.

 

1. Open Settings → Server settings.
2. Change World name to a new, unused name (e.g. World2).
3. Save, then Restart.

 

    On restart the server finds no world by that name and generates a brand-new one (new seed, new map). Your old world files stay on disk under their old name, so you can switch back later by setting the World name to the old one.

 

Choosing the new world's seed and rules

 

    A fresh world is your chance to set it up right:

 

• Pick a specific seed by naming the world after it, or let it roll a random one.
• Apply world modifiers / a preset for difficulty and resource rules on the new world.

 

Actually deleting the old world

 

    To free space or truly wipe it, delete the old .db, .fwl (and any .db.old/backup variants) over FTP in the File Manager, under the worlds folder:

 

/home/server/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/

 

    Only delete files you've backed up or no longer want — deletion is permanent. See the save system for exactly which files make up a world.

 

Note: characters are separate

 

    Wiping the world doesn't touch players' characters — those live on each player's own PC, not the server (see transferring your character). So a world reset starts a fresh map, but everyone keeps their Viking's skills and inventory unless they also start a new character.

 

Additional Tips

 

• Back up before resetting — download the .db/.fwl or snapshot first.
• New World name = new world — the simplest, reversible reset.
• Old world stays unless you delete its files — switch back anytime.
• Characters aren't wiped — they're client-side.
• Delete carefully — removing .db/.fwl over FTP is permanent.

 

Conclusion

 

    Resetting a Valheim server is really "load a different world": back up the current map, change the World name on Server settings, and restart to generate a fresh one — your old world stays on disk to switch back to. Delete the old .db/.fwl only when you're sure. Characters are untouched, so your crew keeps their Vikings and just explores a brand-new Valheim.

 

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