My uploaded Valheim world is gone and the server made a new one

A Valheim world is a folder. The server makes a new world when it does not find a complete folder under the name it runs, and it deletes save files that sit loose in worlds_local. This happens with files copied in by hand. Upload the zipped world folder with Upload a world on the Worlds page instead: the panel checks it before it puts it in place.

What you see in the Console

• Removing orphan save file: .../worlds_local/_main.8.db2: the game deleted a save that was not in a proper world folder.
• missing .../worlds_local/MyWorld.db followed by Loading: Generating locations: there was no world under that name, so a new one was made.

Why it happens

• The save files were put straight into worlds_local instead of into a folder named after the world.
• The folder holds only some of the files. A world needs its four _main files of the last save and every .chunk file.
• The world the server runs has another name than the folder.

Fix it

Your original files on your PC are the way back, so use them.

1. On your PC, close Valheim, open %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local, right-click your world's folder and choose Send to, Compressed (zipped) folder.
2. In the panel, open Worlds and click Upload a world.
3. Choose the zip, check World name on this server, leave Make it the active world ticked, and click Upload and check.
4. If the server already made a new world under the same name, the window says that world is kept as a copy you can undo to, and your upload takes its place.

Full steps: How to upload your own Valheim world. If the panel refuses the upload, it says why: Valheim world upload was refused.

The world was already on the server

If the world is listed on the Worlds page but is not Active, click Switch to this on it: How to switch between Valheim worlds on your server.

Already lost the originals?

Look at the Rewind timeline of the world on the Worlds page: a backup from before the problem may hold it. See How to rewind your Valheim world to an earlier copy. If there is nothing there, open a ticket right away with the last lines of the Console.

To avoid it next time

Upload worlds with Upload a world, and keep the original on your PC until you have played it on the server.