Upload Your Own World to a Space Engineers Server

This guide walks you through uploading your own saved world to a Space Engineers dedicated server, so you and your friends can play on a map you built or downloaded. You’ll need access to the server’s file system (via FTP or a hosting panel) and a copy of the world folder on your local machine.

What You’ll Need

• A Space Engineers world saved on your computer (in your %AppData%\SpaceEngineers\Saves folder).
• Access to your server’s file manager or FTP credentials (provided by your host or from your own dedicated machine).
• Optional: A tool like WinRAR or 7-Zip if you need to compress the folder for easier transfer.

Step-by-Step

1. Locate your world folder. On Windows, press Win+R, type %AppData%\SpaceEngineers\Saves, and press Enter. You’ll see a folder named after your Steam ID (a long number). Open it – inside are all your saved worlds, each in its own folder with a name like MyWorld_123456789.
2. Identify the exact world you want to upload. Look at the folder names and modification dates. If you’re unsure, load the world in the game and check the save name in the Load Game menu – it matches the folder name.
3. Copy the world folder. Right-click the folder and select Copy, then paste it somewhere easy to find, like your Desktop. Do not move it – keep the original in case something goes wrong.
4. Compress the folder (optional but recommended). Right-click the copied folder, select Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder. This makes the upload faster and avoids issues with many small files.
5. Access your server’s file system. Log into your hosting panel (like a web-based file manager) or connect via FTP using a client like FileZilla. Your host provides the FTP address, username, and password – usually in your welcome email or control panel.
6. Navigate to the Saves folder on the server. The path is typically /SpaceEngineers/Saves/ or /SpaceEngineersDedicated/Saves/. If you don’t see a Saves folder, look for a Storage folder – the exact structure depends on your host. If you’re unsure, contact your host’s support or check their documentation.
7. Find the correct Steam ID folder. Inside the Saves folder, you’ll see a folder named after your server’s Steam ID (or sometimes 0 for a dedicated server). Open that folder – this is where world folders go.
8. Upload the world. If you compressed the folder, upload the .zip file and then extract it using the file manager’s extract function, or upload the uncompressed folder directly. Make sure the final result is a single folder containing the world files (like Sandbox.sbc and Sandbox_config.sbc) inside the Steam ID folder.
9. Restart the server. Go to your hosting panel and restart the server. This forces Space Engineers to scan for available saves.
10. Select the world in the server config. After restart, open your server’s configuration file (usually SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg) or use the host’s control panel to set the world name. Look for a setting like <LoadWorld> or a dropdown menu in the panel – choose the name of the folder you just uploaded.
11. Start the server. Once the world is selected, start the server. It should load your world. If it doesn’t, check the server logs for errors.

Common Mistakes

• Uploading the wrong folder. Make sure you copy the folder that contains the Sandbox.sbc file, not the parent Steam ID folder. If you upload the Steam ID folder, the server won’t recognize it.
• Forgetting to restart the server. The server only scans for saves at startup. If you don’t restart, it won’t see the new world.
• Not selecting the world in the config. Even if the folder is uploaded, the server won’t load it unless you tell it to. Check the LoadWorld setting or the panel’s world selector.
• Using a world with incompatible mods. If your world uses mods that aren’t installed on the server, it may crash or fail to load. Either install the mods on the server or remove them from the world before uploading.
• Uploading while the server is running. Some hosts lock files while the server is active. Always stop the server before uploading.

Tips

• Back up your server’s current world. Before overwriting, download the existing world folder to your computer so you can restore it if needed.
• Use a fresh world for testing. If you’re new to this, create a simple empty world and upload it first to confirm the process works before using your main save.
• Check world size. Large worlds with many blocks can take a long time to upload. Compressing the folder speeds this up significantly.
• Match the server’s save version. If your world was created in a newer version of the game than the server runs, it may be incompatible. Update the server or downgrade your world.
• Use the host’s built-in uploader. Many hosting panels have a “Upload World” button that handles the file placement automatically – check if yours does.

Troubleshooting

• World doesn’t appear in the list. Verify the folder is in the correct directory (the Steam ID folder inside Saves). Check that the folder name doesn’t contain special characters. Restart the server again.
• Server crashes on load. This usually indicates a missing mod or a corrupt save. Remove mods from the world (or install them on the server) and try again. If it still crashes, the save may be corrupted – try uploading a backup.
• Players spawn in the wrong place. The server uses the world’s default spawn point. If you want a different start, set the spawn point in the world before uploading, or adjust the server’s SpawnPoint settings.
• World loads but is empty. You might have uploaded the wrong folder (e.g., a backup without the actual save). Check that the folder contains Sandbox.sbc and not just a .bak file.
• Can’t connect to the server after upload. Ensure the server’s world is fully loaded (check logs) and that the server’s port is open. This is unrelated to the upload itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to convert my world to a server format?

No, Space Engineers uses the same save format for single-player and dedicated servers. You just need to place the folder correctly.

Can I upload a world from a friend?

Yes, as long as you have the world folder. They can send it to you, and you follow the same steps.

What if my server is Linux-based?

The process is the same, but the file paths use forward slashes (e.g., /home/steam/.config/SpaceEngineers/Saves). The folder structure is identical.

Will my blueprints and scripts upload with the world?

Yes, they are stored inside the world folder, so they will be included. However, scripts need the server to have the “Enable Scripts” option turned on.

How do I make my world the default for the server?

In the server config file, set <LoadWorld> to the folder name of your world. If you’re using a panel, select it from the dropdown.

Can I upload a world while the server is running?

It’s not recommended. Stop the server, upload, then start it again. Some hosts allow hot-swapping, but it can cause file corruption.

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