How to move your existing server to PlayNHost Print

This article explains the main ways to move an existing game server from another host to PlayNHost, and what information we need if you want us to handle the migration for you.

1. Overview – two ways to migrate

You can move your server to PlayNHost in two main ways:

• Self-migration – you create a backup on your old host, upload it to PlayNHost, and test it yourself.
• Assisted migration – you open a ticket and our team moves the server for you using SFTP access or a backup link.

We offer free migrations for most servers, as mentioned in our FAQ. Extremely large or complex setups may require a one-time fee, which we will always quote before doing any work.

2. Before you start

• Make sure you have an active PlayNHost service for the correct game.
• Have access to your old host’s panel or SFTP/FTP so you can download or share your files.
• Know which content you want to move:
  • World/map files.
  • Configuration files.
  • Mods/modpacks or plugins.
  • Any custom content you need.

3. Option A – Self-migration using a backup

Step 1 – Create a backup on your old host

1. Log in to your old hosting provider’s panel.
2. Use their backup or file manager tools to:
   • Stop the server.
   • Create a backup of your server files (world, configs, plugins/mods).
   • Download the backup as a .zip or similar archive.

Step 2 – Log in to the PlayNHost Game Panel

3. Go to https://panel.playnhost.com.
4. Log in with your PlayNHost panel account or use the Game Panel button from the Client Area.
5. Select the new server you created at PlayNHost.

Step 3 – Stop the PlayNHost server

6. On the server dashboard, click Stop and wait for the console to show that the server has fully stopped.

Step 4 – Upload your backup

7. Open the File Manager in the Game Panel.
8. Go to the main server directory (where you see folders like world, configs, plugins, etc.).
9. Use the Upload option to upload your backup .zip file from your computer.
10. Once uploaded, select the file and choose Extract / Unzip.
11. Move or rename the extracted folders so they match the expected structure for your game (for example, the main world folder name for Minecraft or the saved data folder for other games).

Step 5 – Adjust configuration if needed

• Check configuration files (for example, server.properties for Minecraft or other game-specific configs) to make sure paths and settings are correct on the new server.
• Ensure the server is set to the same game version and modpack/mod loader as your old host, or update both your server and client accordingly.

Step 6 – Start and test the server

12. Return to the server dashboard and click Start.
13. Watch the console for errors while the server boots.
14. Join from your game client using your PlayNHost IP and port to verify that the world, mods and configurations are working as expected.

4. Option B – Let PlayNHost handle the migration for you

If you prefer, we can move your server to PlayNHost for you.

Step 1 – Open a migration ticket

15. Log in to the Client Area at https://playnhost.com/billing.
16. Go to Support → Submit a Ticket.
17. Choose the department that best matches your request (for example, Technical or Migrations, if available).
18. In the ticket, include:
    • The game and a link or name of your PlayNHost service.
    • The name of your old host.
    • Whether your server uses mods/modpacks or plugins (and which ones, if possible).
    • Any special requirements or notes (for example, “keep existing world and permissions”).

Step 2 – Provide access or a backup

• You can either:
  • Share SFTP/FTP access to your old host’s server, or
  • Provide a download link to a complete backup of your server.
• We will copy the files to your PlayNHost server, boot test the server, and let you know when it is ready to check.

Note: Extremely large or complex migrations may require a one-time fee, especially if they involve many custom steps. If a fee applies, we will always quote it first and ask for your approval.

5. After the migration

• Log in to the Game Panel and test your server:
  • Confirm that worlds/maps are correct.
  • Check that mods/plugins are loaded.
  • Ask a few players to join and verify performance.
• Once you are happy with the PlayNHost server, you can cancel the old host’s service.

If you need help during any step of the migration, please open a ticket from the Support → Submit a Ticket section and include as much detail as possible (old host, game, mods/plugins, and any errors you see).