Backing up a Minecraft world means copying its save folder to a safe location before anything changes it. On Java, that folder lives inside `.minecraft/saves`. On Bedrock, the path depends on your platform, but the idea is the same: find the world files, copy them somewhere else, and keep that copy until you know the original is safe.
Where Minecraft stores your worlds
Every Minecraft world is a folder of files on your device. The location differs by edition and platform. If you have already found your mods folder, the saves folder is right next to it.
Java Edition
- Windows: press Win+R, type `%appdata%\.minecraft\saves`, and press Enter
- macOS: open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G, and paste `~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves`
- Linux: open a file manager at `~/.minecraft/saves`
Each subfolder inside `saves` is one world. The folder name matches the world name you see in the singleplayer menu.
Bedrock Edition
- Windows 10/11: press Win+R, type `%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds`, and press Enter
- Android: open your file manager and navigate to Internal Storage > games > com.mojang > minecraftWorlds (if your storage is set to external)
- iOS: world folders are not directly accessible through the Files app, so use the in-game export instead (see the Bedrock backup steps below)
- Console (Switch, Xbox, PlayStation): world folders are locked. The only backup option is the in-game Copy World feature, which keeps the copy on the same console
How to back up a world on Java
- 1.Close Minecraft completely. Copying files while the game is running can produce a corrupt backup.
- 2.Open the saves folder using the path for your operating system above.
- 3.Find the world folder you want to back up.
- 4.Copy the entire folder (right-click > Copy, or Ctrl+C on Windows, Cmd+C on macOS).
- 5.Paste it somewhere safe: a dedicated backups folder, an external drive, or a cloud service like Google Drive or OneDrive.
- 6.Rename the copy with a date or label so you can tell backups apart later, for example `MyWorld-2026-08-30`.
To restore a backup, copy the world folder back into the `saves` directory and launch Minecraft. The world appears in the singleplayer menu immediately.
How to back up a world on Bedrock
Bedrock backup works differently depending on whether you can access the file system. Java and Bedrock handle files differently, so the steps are not interchangeable.
Windows and Android (file system access)
- 1.Close Minecraft completely.
- 2.Navigate to the minecraftWorlds folder using the Bedrock path above.
- 3.Open `levelname.txt` inside each folder to identify the world you want, or sort folders by modification date.
- 4.Copy the world folder to a backup location outside the game directory.
iOS and console (no file system access)
- 1.Open Minecraft and go to the world list.
- 2.Tap the pencil or edit icon next to the world you want to back up.
- 3.Scroll down and tap Copy World. This creates a duplicate on the same device.
- 4.On iOS, you can also tap Export World to save the world as an .mcworld file you can move to another device or store in the cloud.
When to make a backup
A backup takes seconds and can save hours of lost progress. Make one before any of these:
- Installing or removing mods, resource packs, shaders, or data packs
- Updating Minecraft to a new version
- Experimenting with world settings, commands, or structure editing
- Sharing a world file with another player
- Moving a world between devices or editions
Some changes are irreversible without a backup. Removing a mod that added custom blocks replaces those blocks with air. Updating a world to a newer Minecraft version prevents loading it on the older one. A backup made before the change lets you roll back completely.
How to duplicate Minecraft worlds on Java and Bedrock
Frequently asked questions
How much space does a Minecraft world backup take?
A typical survival world is 50 to 500 MB, depending on how much terrain has been explored. Larger worlds with extensive exploration or heavy mod use can reach several gigabytes. Check the folder size before copying to make sure your backup destination has enough room.
Can I back up a Minecraft world while the game is running?
It is safer to close Minecraft first. The game writes data to the world folder continuously, and copying mid-write can capture an incomplete state. If you must copy while playing, save and quit the world first so the game flushes all changes to disk.
Where should I store my Minecraft world backups?
Anywhere that is not the same drive as the original. A separate folder on your desktop is better than nothing, but a cloud service (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox) or an external drive protects against hardware failure too. Name each backup with the date so you can find the right version later.
Does backing up a world also save my mods and resource packs?
No. A world backup copies the world data only, not the mods, resource packs, or shader packs installed in your game. Those live in separate folders inside .minecraft (Java) or com.mojang (Bedrock). If you want a full installation snapshot, back up the entire .minecraft or com.mojang folder instead.
