A Project Zomboid server has two separate backup systems. The panel's Backups tab copies the whole server on demand or on a timer. The game also has backups of its own that it can zip every time it starts. This guide covers the game's own backups, what we set by default, and when the panel's backups are the better tool. Checked against Build 42.21, October 2026.
The game's own backups
The game's settings file has four backup settings:
On our servers the first boot writes BackupsOnStart=false, so the game does not zip your save on every start. We do that because the panel's Backups tab does the same job without filling the server's temporary space.
Change the game's backup settings
- Open Server Settings and go to the Advanced card.
- Find Game's own backup on start, Game's own periodic backup (minutes) and Game's own backups to keep.
- Change the values and press Save changes on that card.
- Restart the server from the Console tab so the game reads them.
BackupsOnVersionChange isn't in the tab. To change it, stop the server and edit .cache/Server/<world>.ini in the File Manager. The Startup tab shows the World / Save Name the file is named after. Project Zomboid server and sandbox settings explains the tab and the files.
Game's own backups to keep sets how many of the game's backups are kept. If you turn the game's backups on, set it to a number you are happy to hold.
Use the panel's backups for anything important
The Backups tab takes a copy of every file on the server (world, settings, mods) and restores it from the same tab. Use it:
- before you change the Game build, reset a world or wipe part of one
- before you add or remove mods on a world people have played
- on a schedule, so a bad day costs you hours and not weeks
How to create and restore backups shows each step, including Schedule a weekly backup. The Worlds tab also has Back up first, in the Saved worlds header beside Refresh.
Common problems
- A change didn't apply. Check that you pressed Save changes on the card (the button greys out once saved), then restart.
- You need the world from before a mistake. Restore a panel backup. On our servers
BackupsOnStartandBackupsPeriodstart off, so don't count on the game's own backups for a mistake you find later.
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