PZ Server Wipe & Fresh-Start Checklist
Don't miss a step. Work through this checklist before wiping your Project Zomboid server to avoid losing player accounts, skipping backups, or breaking mods.
⚠ Never change ResetID accidentally
Do NOT change the ResetID field in servertest.ini unless you intend to force a world wipe. Changing it triggers automatic world deletion on next startup without warning.
Progress
0 / 10
Announce the wipe to players
Give players enough notice — at least 48 hours. Post in Discord and use /servermsg in-game.
Stop the server
Use /quit from the console or your hosting panel. Never kill the process — let it save cleanly.
Back up the save folder
Copy the entire folder to a safe location before deleting anything.
Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer/[servername]/Delete the save folder
This removes the world chunks, time, and player positions — but NOT player accounts.
Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer/[servername]/DestructiveDecide: keep or delete the user database
Keeping this file preserves player accounts, inventory, and skills. Delete it only if you want a complete reset including characters.
Zomboid/db/[servername].dbReview mod list for compatibility
Check each mod's Workshop page for recent updates or known conflicts with other installed mods.
Optionally update config files
Now is a good time to adjust population, loot, and other settings for the new wipe.
Zomboid/Server/[servername]*.ini and *SandboxVars.luaStart server — new world generates
Watch the console output for errors. The world generation takes 30–60 seconds on first start.
Verify server starts without errors in log
Check the log in Zomboid/Logs/ for any ERROR or WARN lines that could indicate config problems.
Announce server is live
Post in your Discord and notify returning players with any changed rules or settings.
Run your own Project Zomboid server.
Rent a private Project Zomboid server on real hardware — full control-panel access, your mods, your configs, your rules. It's your server; run it your way.
Don't want to run it yourself? Our managed services & consulting team will set it up and keep it running for you — game servers, Windows, Linux, and cloud, from 10+ years of MSP work.