How to Transfer a Palworld Co-op Save to a Dedicated Server
You can move a co-op or single-player Palworld world to a dedicated server by uploading the world folder and pointing the server at it. The part that catches people out is the host character: in co-op the host's player file uses a fixed ID, while a dedicated server assigns a new one, so the host usually appears to have lost their character until the save is edited.
The community has built save editors to fix this. They change fast and are tied to game versions, so this guide describes the method and the safety rules rather than promising one tool will work. Saves and tools were checked in November 2026 against Palworld 1.0.x. Back up everything first.
- Co-op saves are in
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Pal\Saved\SaveGames\<SteamID64>\<WorldID>\. On a dedicated server the same world goes inPal/Saved/SaveGames/0/<WorldID>/. - Upload the whole world folder, then set
DedicatedServerNameinGameUserSettings.inito that folder name. - The co-op host's save file is
00000000000000000000000000000001.sav. Joining the server creates a new character with a different ID. - Fixing it means swapping or remapping that player ID with a save tool, on a copy, with the server stopped.
- Hosting guides say Xbox/Game Pass saves use a different format and need their own conversion step.
On this page
Before you start: back up and check your version
- Copy your original world folder somewhere safe. Never work on the only copy.
- Close Palworld on your PC and stop the server before touching any save files.
- Save editing tools are tied to the game's save format. Check the tool's README for the Palworld version it supports, and use the same tool for the whole job rather than mixing generations of tools.
Find your co-op or single-player save
On Windows with Steam, hosting guides place local saves here:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Pal\Saved\SaveGames\<SteamID64>\<WorldID>\Inside the long hexadecimal <WorldID> folder you will find:
Level.sav: the world itself (bases, Pals, map state). Without it nothing loads.LevelMeta.sav: world metadata.WorldOption.sav: a snapshot of world settings, which can override your server ini.Players/: one file per character, named by player ID.
If you have several worlds, the most recently modified folder is usually the one you last played. Game Pass and Xbox saves are stored in a different container; these steps are for Steam saves.
Upload the world to the server
- Start the server once
The official docs note that the config and save directories are created only after the server has started at least once. Then stop it.
- Upload the world folder
Using SFTP, copy the whole
<WorldID>folder toPal/Saved/SaveGames/0/. A dedicated server uses the literal folder0where your PC used your Steam ID. - Point the server at it
In
Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini(orLinuxServer), setDedicatedServerNameto the exact folder name. Don't copy your localGameUserSettings.iniover the server's.DedicatedServerName=<WorldID> - Handle WorldOption.sav
If you want the server's
PalWorldSettings.inito control rates and rules, back up and removeWorldOption.savfrom the world folder. Hosting guides report it can otherwise override your ini. - Start the server and join
Log in with the account that was the co-op host. Expect to be asked to create a new character.
Hosting with ChicagoServers? The Palworld server hosting page lists what is included, such as free server backups and SFTP file access. Free server backups give you a restore point before you start.
Why the host character goes missing
In co-op, the host's character is saved as 00000000000000000000000000000001.sav in the Players folder. On a dedicated server, each player's save uses an ID generated for that player on that server. When you join the transferred world, the server creates a fresh character and file, so your old host character, Pals and base ownership still exist in the world but are attached to the old ID.
The fix is to move the old host ID onto the new character. Tools do this in one of two ways, and the README of the tool you choose explains which:
- Swap: exchange the two player IDs. PalworldSaveTools' Fix Host Save works this way and its README stresses that it always swaps two players. Palworld Save Pal's Player UID Swap is similar.
- Remap: rewrite references from the old ID to the new one. The older xNul
palworld-host-save-fixscript does this, taking the save path, the new GUID, the old GUID and a guild-fix flag.
Fix the host character, step by step
- Create the new character, then stop
Join once, create a character, make sure the server saves (the
/Saveadmin command does this), and stop the server. Note the new file name inPlayers/. - Download a working copy
With SFTP, download
Level.savand thePlayersfolder. Keep an untouched copy of the whole world as well. - Run the tool on the copy
Select
Level.sav, pick the old host (...0001) and the new character, and run the swap or fix, following the tool's own instructions. - Upload and start
Upload the modified files back to the world folder, replacing the originals, then start the server and join.
- Check everything
Confirm your level, inventory, Pals, base ownership and guild. Test with one friend before declaring it done.
Other players in a co-op world may also need their IDs matched to new ones. Each tool's documentation describes this for its own method, so follow it for each friend and test with one person first.
Known problems and what to check
| Problem | Likely cause or fix |
|---|---|
| Starting from level 1 again | The ID swap hasn't been applied, or the Players folder wasn't uploaded. |
| Settings in the ini are ignored | A WorldOption.sav is still in the world folder. |
| World doesn't load | DedicatedServerName doesn't match the folder name, or Level.sav is missing or damaged. |
| Pals not working at the base | A known post-migration quirk. Community docs say to put each Pal back in the party and pick it up again. |
| Guild problems | Guild membership can break after a remap. The xNul README suggests transferring guild ownership before migration. |
| Viewing Cage items | The xNul README says viewing cages aren't supported on dedicated servers; remove them before migrating. |
| Tool errors on a newer save | The tool doesn't support your game version. Try an updated tool and re-run from your backup, never on a half-converted save. |
Frequently asked questions
Where is my Palworld co-op save file?
On Windows with Steam, it's in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Pal\Saved\SaveGames\<SteamID64>\<WorldID>\, in a long hexadecimal world folder.
Why did I lose my character after moving to a dedicated server?
Your co-op host character is stored under a fixed ID. The dedicated server creates a new character with a different ID, so the old data has to be swapped or remapped with a save tool.
Which files do I need to upload to the server?
Upload the whole world folder, including Level.sav, LevelMeta.sav and the Players folder, to Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/ and set DedicatedServerName to the folder name.
Can I move a dedicated server world back to co-op?
Yes, but it needs the same kind of ID swap in reverse. The tools' documentation describes it, and you should work on a copy.