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The correct Minecraft save location depends on your edition. For Java Edition, use %APPDATA%.minecraftsaves on Windows or ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves on macOS. For Minecraft for Windows (Bedrock), the safest backup is the in-game Export World command; the traditional folder is %LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesMicrosoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalStategamescom.mojangminecraftWorlds, but newer installations can store data elsewhere.
Java and Bedrock use different formats and directories. Identify the edition before copying anything.
First, identify your Minecraft edition
| What you see | Save system |
|---|---|
| Minecraft: Java Edition | .minecraftsaves on Windows or Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves on macOS |
| Minecraft for Windows | Bedrock storage, normally accessed through Export World or the minecraftWorlds folder |
| Minecraft through a Realm | The authoritative copy is online; download it from the Realm rather than expecting it in the local Java save folder |
| Modded Java or a third-party launcher | The launcher’s custom instance directory, not necessarily the default .minecraft directory |
The official platform page lists macOS among desktop download options and distinguishes Windows 10/11 availability: Minecraft download options.
Find Java Edition saves on Windows
- Quit the world. Close Minecraft, and preferably the Launcher, before copying files.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Paste
%APPDATA%.minecraftsavesand press Enter. You can also paste the same path into File Explorer’s address bar.
Each item in saves is generally a complete single-player world folder. Folder names may be abbreviated, renamed, or unrelated to the world’s current display name, so copy the entire folder rather than selecting individual files. Mojang’s transfer instructions confirm this default Windows location: Java world transfer instructions.
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Find Java Edition saves on macOS
- Open Finder.
- Choose Go > Go to Folder…, or press Command + Shift + G.
- Enter
~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/savesand press Return.
The user Library folder is hidden in normal Finder browsing. The path above points to the Library inside your home folder, not the system-wide /Library. It includes a space in Application Support. The same official transfer guide documents the macOS path.
Open Java’s folders from Minecraft or the Launcher
If the default path is empty, the game may be using another directory. In Java Edition, select Singleplayer, select the world, choose Edit, and use Open Backups Folder when you need Java’s backup archives. For the active save location, open the Launcher, choose Java Edition > Installations, select the installation you used, and inspect its game-directory or folder option. Modded launchers, Fabric or Forge profiles, and separately configured installations can each have their own saves folder. Mojang’s storage guide explains the backup and installation-folder routes: Java data and storage management.
Active saves versus Java backups
savescontains active world directories.- The Java backups folder contains backup archives, commonly packaged for transfer.
- To use an archived backup as a world, extract it so the actual world folder is directly inside
saves; do not put a zip file or an extra parent folder there.
Find Bedrock worlds on Windows
Use Export World first
For ordinary Bedrock backup and transfer, use Minecraft’s supported export workflow:
- Launch Minecraft for Windows and select Play.
- On the Worlds tab, select the pencil icon beside the world.
- Under File Management, select Export World.
- Choose a destination and save the resulting
.mcworldfile.
An .mcworld file is designed for import and is safer to handle than opaque internal folders. The official Windows backup instructions describe this process: Bedrock Windows world backup.
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Traditional Bedrock folder
On conventional Microsoft Store installations, the commonly documented location is:
%LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesMicrosoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalStategamescom.mojangminecraftWorlds
Enter it with Windows key + R or in File Explorer’s address bar. This is a legacy/common location, not a guaranteed path for every current installation. Windows packaging and later Bedrock releases can use a different application-data location, and folder names may be generated rather than matching the visible world name. The conventional path is documented by the Minecraft Wiki map-download guide.
Do not create a new directory and assume Minecraft will start using it. If the folder is missing, export from the game first and follow the troubleshooting steps below.
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What about Bedrock on Mac?
For ordinary official Minecraft desktop play on macOS, Java Edition is the relevant local installation, so use ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves. Do not apply the Windows Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe path to a Mac. Compatibility layers, virtual machines, cloud-streaming services, and third-party launchers can place data elsewhere.
Back up a world safely
Java Edition folder backup
- Leave the world and quit Minecraft.
- Copy either the individual world folder or the complete
savesfolder. - Paste it to an external drive or a clearly labeled cloud-backup folder.
- Keep the original untouched until you have checked the copy. Zipping a world folder can make transfer easier.
Copying while the game is saving can produce an incomplete backup. A Java world folder is a directory, not a single .mcworld file; preserve its complete contents.
Bedrock backup
Use Export World to create an .mcworld file, then keep a second copy on another drive or in cloud storage. Avoid using a live cloud-synced folder as the active world directory: sync conflicts or propagated deletions can damage the only copy.
Before reinstalling or resetting Windows
Export or copy worlds before uninstalling, resetting the app, changing Windows accounts, replacing a disk, or deleting a launcher profile. Those actions can put local worlds at risk, and recovery is not guaranteed.
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Move a world to another computer
Java
- Copy or zip the complete world folder from the source computer.
- On the destination computer, open its active
savesdirectory. - Extract or paste the world folder directly inside
saves. - Launch the same or a compatible Java installation and check Singleplayer.
Keep an untouched original. Opening a world in a newer version can update its data. Mojang notes structural world-data changes in Java 26.1, including Overworld data moving into a dimensions path; make a full backup before version changes and avoid casual internal-file editing: Java Edition 26.1 release information.
Bedrock
Open the exported .mcworld file on the destination computer and allow Minecraft to import it; file-association behavior depends on Windows settings. For a cross-device transfer when local folders are inaccessible, use Realms: upload the world on the original device, sign in with the same Microsoft account on the destination, and download it. The downloaded copy commonly receives a - Copy suffix. Realms is a transfer route, not a replacement for an independent local backup. See Bedrock data and storage management.
Save folder missing or empty? Use this checklist
- Verify the edition. Java worlds do not normally appear in
minecraftWorlds, and Bedrock worlds do not appear in Java’ssaves. - Launch the world once, then close the game. A new installation may not have created its data directory yet.
- Check the active Java installation. Inspect Java Edition > Installations and its configured game directory, especially for modded or instance-based launchers.
- Check the Windows or macOS user account. Another account can have a separate home or application-data folder.
- Use the in-game fallback. Java’s world-edit screen provides backup access; Bedrock provides Export World.
- Check whether the world is a Realm or server world. A server’s authoritative save belongs to its operator, and a Realm may require downloading a copy.
- Look for external backups. Check USB drives, cloud-backup folders, old computer disks, and extracted archives.
- Do not uninstall, reset, or overwrite the app yet. Preserve whatever files and exports remain first.
Choosing a transfer or backup method
| Method | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
Copy Java saves |
Complete Java backup or bulk transfer | You must identify the correct instance and avoid copying during play |
Export Bedrock .mcworld |
Supported single-world backup or transfer | Requires opening the world in Minecraft |
| Realms | Cross-device Bedrock transfer when folders are inaccessible | Requires a compatible Realm subscription or trial; upload limits apply |
| External drive | Offline copies and large Java worlds | One drive should not be your only backup |
| Cloud storage | Keeping a second copy and moving files between Mac and Windows | Sync conflicts and propagated deletions are possible |
Mojang’s Realm upload documentation lists a 4 GB maximum world size for uploads: Realm world upload limits.
What is stored elsewhere?
World saves are only one part of a Minecraft installation. Screenshots, resource packs, mods, launcher profiles, and configuration files can be stored in other directories. Backing up a Java world folder preserves that world, not automatically every setting or add-on. Java and Bedrock worlds are not interchangeable by simply copying a folder between editions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Minecraft saves folder on Windows?
For Java Edition, press Windows key + R and enter %APPDATA%.minecraftsaves. Bedrock uses different storage; export the world in-game, or check the conventional minecraftWorlds path.
Can I transfer a Minecraft world with a USB drive?
Yes. Copy a complete Java world folder or a Bedrock .mcworld export to the drive, then place or open it on the destination computer.
Can I recover a deleted Minecraft world?
Only if another copy remains, such as a Java backup, exported Bedrock file, cloud or external-drive backup, or a downloadable Realm copy. Stop uninstalling or resetting the app until you have checked those locations.
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