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Sons of the Forest Server Backup & Restore Guide

Sons of the Forest Guide • Updated Aug 29, 2026

Sons of the Forest Server Backup and Restore

A useful backup contains the world, player state, and the configuration that points the server at that world. Back up the actual SonsOfTheForestDS user-data directory before updates, large config changes, or risky repair work.

What to back up

On Windows, the default directory documented for the dedicated server is:

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\LocalLow\Endnight\SonsOfTheForestDS

Include the saves, dedicatedserver.cfg, ownerswhitelist.txt, and SonsGameSettings data. If the service uses -userdatapath, back up that override path instead. A backup of only the install directory can miss the live world.

Manual Windows copy

Stop the server cleanly, copy the data directory to a dated location on another disk, and record the server build and save slot:

robocopy "C:\Users\<user>\AppData\LocalLow\Endnight\SonsOfTheForestDS" "D:\backups\sotf\2026-08-29" /E /COPY:DAT /R:2 /W:2

Keep the source path and destination explicit. Do not overwrite the only backup with a later copy.

Hosted-server backups

Use the provider's backup or file manager and confirm whether it includes the user-data directory, retention period, and restore point. Download an independent copy before a major update. “Automatic backups” are only useful if you can identify and restore the right save.

Retention that fits a co-op world

  • Keep the latest daily copy for active worlds.
  • Keep several pre-update copies and one copy before a large building or configuration experiment.
  • Store at least one copy outside the server machine or provider account.
  • Periodically test restoring to a separate directory or temporary server.

Restore procedure

  1. Stop the server and preserve the current data directory as an incident copy.
  2. Choose a dated backup whose build and save slot are known.
  3. Restore the complete data directory to the path used by the service.
  4. Check JSON syntax in dedicatedserver.cfg and confirm the password and ports.
  5. Start privately, load the world, and verify player and world progress before inviting anyone.

Back up before updates

Read the verified update tracker, stop the server, make a copy, update the dedicated-server app, and test the copy. Do not use an invented -serversettings ServerSettings.ini argument; SOTF uses dedicatedserver.cfg JSON and the user-data path described in the configuration guide.

Related guides

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