Backup, Restore, and Wipe Your Server

Save File Architecture

Unlike game servers that save individual world chunks in proprietary binary formats, Conan Exiles stores its entire persistent world inside a single SQLite database file:

ConanSandbox/Saved/game.db          # Exiled Lands map save
ConanSandbox/Saved/DLC_Siptah.db    # Isle of Siptah map save

Along with the primary database, SQLite uses Write-Ahead Logging (WAL) files:

• game.db-wal (uncommitted database transactions)
• game.db-shm (shared memory index)

---

Built-In Rolling Backups

Conan Exiles automatically creates rolling local backups every few minutes during runtime:

ConanSandbox/Saved/game_backup_1.db   # Most recent automatic backup
ConanSandbox/Saved/game_backup_2.db
ConanSandbox/Saved/game_backup_3.db

If your database becomes corrupted due to an abrupt host crash, you can quickly restore by replacing game.db with game_backup_1.db.

---

Creating Manual Backups with DustBowl Warden

Option 1: DustBowl Warden Snapshots (Recommended)

1. In DustBowl Warden, navigate to your server instance.
2. Select the Snapshots tab.
3. Click Create Snapshot and enter a label (e.g. pre-age-of-war-backup).
4. Snapshots freeze your entire container filesystem, including database, configuration files, and mod packages, allowing one-click point-in-time recovery.

Option 2: SFTP Export

1. Stop the server in DustBowl Warden.
2. Connect to the server via SFTP (port 2022).
3. Navigate to ConanSandbox/Saved/.
4. Download game.db and the entire Config/WindowsServer/ directory to local cold storage.

---

Restoring from a Backup

1. Stop the server in DustBowl Warden.
2. In the Warden File Manager, navigate to ConanSandbox/Saved/.
3. If replacing a corrupted file, rename or remove the existing files:
   • game.db -> game.db.bak
   • Delete game.db-wal and game.db-shm if present.
4. Copy your backup file into place and ensure it is named exactly game.db.
5. Start the server. The dedicated server will read game.db and initialize clean WAL files automatically.

---

Wiping Your Conan Exiles Server

A server wipe resets the world, removing all player buildings, thralls, inventories, and clan structures, allowing players to start fresh on a new map cycle.

Preserving Configuration and Mods (Soft Wipe)

1. Stop the server in DustBowl Warden.
2. Navigate to ConanSandbox/Saved/.
3. Delete the following database files:
   • game.db
   • game.db-wal
   • game.db-shm
   • DLC_Siptah.db (if running Siptah)
   • game_backup_*.db (removes old backups so they cannot be accidentally restored)
4. Leave ConanSandbox/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/ and ConanSandbox/Mods/ intact.
5. Start the server. The engine automatically creates a pristine game.db with fresh terrain spawns.

Full Hard Wipe

To reset configurations as well, delete the entire ConanSandbox/Saved/ directory. On next launch, default configuration files and a fresh world are generated.

---

Wipe Cadence and Community Communication

Successful community servers schedule regular wipes to maintain game performance and competitive engagement. Coordinate your wipe cycles using our tools:

• Wipe Schedule Builder: Creates wipe calendars with Discord timestamps.
• Conan Exiles Wipe & Season Announcement Generator: Generates Discord webhook embeds and in-game announcement broadcasts.
• Conan Exiles Raid Window & Purge Scheduler: Aligns raid windows with seasonal wipe cycles.

Related Guides and Tools

• Updating Your Conan Exiles Server
• How to Install a Conan Exiles Dedicated Server
• Wipe Schedule Builder
• Conan Exiles Wipe & Season Announcement Generator
• Conan Exiles Raid Window & Purge Scheduler