Unturned Server Wipe and Reset

Wiping your Unturned server can provide a fresh start for your community, fix corrupted worlds, or prepare for new seasons. This guide covers safe wiping procedures and data management.

Understanding Server Wipes

A server wipe removes specific data types:

• World Data: Terrain, buildings, and objects
• Player Progress: Characters, skills, and inventories
• Vehicle Data: All spawned vehicles
• Storage Objects: Player-built containers and bases
• Config Files: Optionally reset server settings

Solution 1: Complete Server Wipe

Safe Wipe Procedure

1. Backup Current Server: Create full backup before wiping
2. Stop Server: Ensure all processes are stopped
3. Remove Player Data: Delete Players/ directory
4. Reset World: Delete Server/Level.sav and Maps/
5. Clear Workshop: Optionally remove Workshop/ content
6. Clean Logs: Remove old log files
7. Restart Server: Launch with fresh world

Directory Structure for Wipe

Target these files and folders:

Servers/YourServerName/
├── Players/           # DELETE - Player saves
├── Server/
│   ├── Level.sav      # DELETE - World data
│   ├── Maps/          # DELETE - Generated maps
│   ├── Vehicles.sav   # DELETE - Vehicle data
│   ├── Objects.sav    # DELETE - Object data
│   ├── Groups.sav     # DELETE - Player groups
│   └── Config.json    # KEEP - Server config
├── Workshop/          # OPTIONAL - Workshop mods
└── Commands.dat       # KEEP - Server settings

Solution 2: Selective Data Reset

Player Data Only

Reset player progress while keeping world:

# Remove player data only
rm -rf /path/to/server/Players/

# Keep world intact
# Server/Level.sav remains
# Buildings and structures preserved

World Reset Only

Reset world while keeping player stats:

# Remove world data
rm -f /path/to/server/Server/Level.sav
rm -rf /path/to/server/Server/Maps/

# Preserve player data
# Players/ directory remains intact

Vehicles and Objects Reset

Clean up spawned items while keeping structures:

• Delete Vehicles.sav to remove all vehicles
• Delete Objects.sav to remove placed objects
• Keep Level.sav to preserve world terrain
• Keep Structures.dat for buildings

Solution 3: Automated Wipe Scripts

Bash Wipe Script

Automated server wipe with backup:

#!/bin/bash
SERVER_DIR="/path/to/unturned/server"
BACKUP_DIR="/path/to/backups"
TIMESTAMP=$(date +%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S)

echo "Starting server wipe..."

# Create backup before wipe
tar -czf "$BACKUP_DIR/pre_wipe_$TIMESTAMP.tar.gz" \
    -C "$(dirname "$SERVER_DIR")" "$(basename "$SERVER_DIR")"

# Stop server
systemctl stop unturned

# Selective wipe options
WIPE_PLAYERS=true
WIPE_WORLD=true
WIPE_VEHICLES=true
WIPE_WORKSHOP=false

if [ "$WIPE_PLAYERS" = true ]; then
    rm -rf "$SERVER_DIR/Players/"
    echo "Player data removed"
fi

if [ "$WIPE_WORLD" = true ]; then
    rm -f "$SERVER_DIR/Server/Level.sav"
    rm -rf "$SERVER_DIR/Server/Maps/"
    echo "World data removed"
fi

if [ "$WIPE_VEHICLES" = true ]; then
    rm -f "$SERVER_DIR/Server/Vehicles.sav"
    echo "Vehicle data removed"
fi

# Restart server
systemctl start unturned
echo "Server wipe completed and restarted"

Windows Batch Wipe Script

For Windows-based servers:

@echo off
set SERVER_DIR="C:\Unturned\Servers\YourServer"
set BACKUP_DIR="D:\UnturnedBackups"
set TIMESTAMP=%date:~0,4%-%date:~5,2%-%date:~8,2%_%time:~0,2%-%time:~3,2%

echo Creating backup before wipe...
tar -czf "%BACKUP_DIR%\pre_wipe_%TIMESTAMP%.7z" "%SERVER_DIR%"

echo Stopping server...
taskkill /f /im Unturned.exe

echo Removing player data...
rmdir /s /q "%SERVER_DIR%\Players"

echo Removing world data...
del /q "%SERVER_DIR%\Server\Level.sav"
rmdir /s /q "%SERVER_DIR%\Server\Maps"

echo Starting server...
start "" "C:\Unturned\Unturned.exe" -batchmode -nographics

echo Server wipe completed!

Solution 4: Configuration Reset

Reset Commands.dat

Restore default server settings:

# Backup current Commands.dat
cp Commands.dat Commands.dat.backup

# Create default Commands.dat
cat > Commands.dat << 'EOF'
Name YourServerName
Map PEI
Password ""
MaxPlayers 24
Perspective Both
GameMode Normal
Difficulty Normal
FrameRate 60
Tick_Delay 0.01
Timeout 60
Port 27015
Bind 0.0.0.0
EOF

Advanced Configuration Reset

Complete configuration restoration:

• Backup all .dat and .json files
• Reset Commands.dat to defaults
• Clear custom ServerConfig.json settings
• Remove custom map configurations
• Reset workshop and mod lists

Solution 5: Scheduled Wipes

Season Reset Planning

Plan regular server wipes for seasons:

Automated Scheduled Wipes

Cron job for automatic wipes:

# Monthly wipe on the 1st at 3 AM
0 3 1 * * /path/to/wipe_script.sh

# Announce wipe to players
0 2 1 * * /path/to/announce_wipe.sh

# Create reminder before wipe
0 1 1 * * /path/to/wipe_reminder.sh

Troubleshooting Wipe Issues

Common Wipe Problems

Verification Steps

Verify successful wipe:

• Check that Players/ directory is empty
• Verify new Level.sav was created
• Test server startup without errors
• Connect as test player to confirm fresh world
• Check server logs for any issues

Best Practices

Community Communication

• Announce wipes at least 7 days in advance
• Explain what data will be preserved
• Post wipe schedule prominently on Discord/website
• Send in-game announcements daily approaching wipe
• Provide channel for player questions and feedback

Data Management

• Always create backup before wiping
• Document wipe procedures and outcomes
• Test wipe scripts on development server
• Maintain wipe history for future reference

Advanced Wipe Techniques

Progressive Wipe

Gradual data reset for smooth transition:

1. Week before wipe: Disable building and crafting
2. 3 days before: Remove vehicles and objects
3. Day before: Announce final warning
4. Wipe day: Execute complete reset

Migration Wipe

Transfer important data between wipes:

• Extract player skill data for preservation
• Save important builds as schematics
• Document server statistics before wipe
• Create community photo album of old world

Execute safe and effective Unturned server wipes with proper planning, communication, and backup procedures to maintain a healthy community.