To change a Rust server’s map, stop the server, edit its launch settings (or the host’s Startup panel), and start it again. Set server.seed and server.worldsize for a new procedural map, or set server.levelurl to load a custom .map file. A different seed or world size creates a new world: bases, deployables and other placed objects from the old save will not appear unless you restore a backup.
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What “changing the map” means in Rust
Rust does not provide an in-game button that swaps a running server to another world. The map is selected while the server process launches. Edit the launch command, server.cfg, or the variables in your game-server control panel, then restart the server.
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There are two ways to choose the world:
- Procedural Map: Rust generates a world from a numeric seed and a world-size value.
- Custom map: Rust downloads a
.mapfile from the URL inserver.levelurl. Whenserver.levelurlis used, the seed and world-size settings are ignored.
Changing either server.seed or server.worldsize is a world reset, not a cosmetic change. The server creates a new save and the old bases, monuments’ state, cupboards, vehicles and placed items belong to the previous save. Preserve that save before restarting if you may want to return to it.
Choose procedural generation or a custom map
| Option | Settings | What you control | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procedural Map | server.level, server.seed, server.worldsize |
Seed and map dimensions within Rust’s procedural generator | A new seed or size generates a new save and removes the old world from active use |
Custom .map file |
server.levelurl |
The layout contained in the downloaded map file | server.seed and server.worldsize are ignored while levelurl is active |
For a normal wipe with a particular coastline and monument arrangement, use a procedural seed and size. Use server.levelurl only when you have a compatible custom map file and a direct URL that your server can retrieve.
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Know the convars before editing anything
server.level
For the standard generated world, set this to Procedural Map. Keep the capitalization and spacing shown in the value; in a command line, quote the value because it contains a space.
server.seed
This is the integer used to generate a procedural layout. The Facepunch Rust Wiki lists an accepted range of 0–2,147,483,647. A seed does not define the map by itself: the same seed paired with a different world size produces a different world.
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server.worldsize
This controls the generated map’s size. The Facepunch Rust Wiki recommends values from 1,000 to 6,000. Larger worlds generally require more memory, but no single RAM figure is dependable across Rust versions, plugins, player counts and host configurations.
Do not assume a universal default. Published references disagree, citing 3,000, 4,000 and historical values such as 4,250 or 4,500 for different versions. Query your running server’s value instead of relying on an old panel description.
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server.levelurl
Set this to the direct URL of the custom .map file. While it is set, Rust uses that file rather than generating a world from server.seed and server.worldsize. Remove or clear server.levelurl when you want to return to procedural generation.
Prepare the server and protect the current world
- Tell players about the restart and wipe. A map change disconnects everyone and, for a new procedural world, removes access to the current save unless you restore it later.
- Stop the server cleanly. Use the panel’s Stop control or the server-console shutdown command. Editing files while the process is writing the save risks an incomplete backup.
- Back up the world directory. One commonly documented layout stores the save under
server/server1/. Your installation may use a different instance name, so confirm the folder in your server’s files before copying it. Download or copy the entire directory to storage outside the live server. - Record the active settings. Save the current
server.level,server.seed,server.worldsizeand anyserver.levelurlvalue. This makes returning to the old configuration straightforward. - Preview a procedural seed. A map-preview service such as RustMaps can show the generated layout before you commit it. Preview with the exact seed and world size you plan to run; changing either value changes the result.
Change to a new procedural map
Self-managed server: edit the startup command
Find the script, service definition or command line that starts your Rust server. Add or replace the map convars. For example:
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+server.level "Procedural Map" +server.seed 123456789 +server.worldsize 3500Replace the example seed and size with your choices. The seed is an integer in the documented range, and 3,500 is only an example within the recommended 1,000–6,000 range.
Some installations put convars in a server configuration file instead of the command line. A typical server.cfg entry is:
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server.level "Procedural Map"
server.seed 123456789
server.worldsize 3500Use the format expected by your launcher. Do not leave an old server.levelurl active when switching back to procedural generation; clear that setting so it cannot override the procedural values.
Hosting panel: edit Startup variables
Open the server in your provider’s control panel and look for a section named Startup, Startup Parameters, Variables or Command Line. Panel layouts and labels change, so the exact names may differ.
- Set the level or map field to
Procedural Map. - Enter an integer in the
server.seedfield. - Enter the desired
server.worldsizevalue, staying within the recommended 1,000–6,000 range unless you have a specific reason to test outside it. - Clear any custom-map or
server.levelurlfield. - Save the startup settings, then stop and start (or restart) the server.
A panel that exposes only a single command-line box should contain the same parameters as the self-managed example, with each setting written using the panel’s documented syntax.
Load a custom Rust map
Set server.levelurl
Back up the existing save first, then add the direct URL to the custom map file:
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server.levelurl "https://example.invalid/my-map.map"The address above is only a syntax example, not a map to use. Enter the real direct file URL supplied with your custom map. Do not also rely on seed or world-size fields: Rust ignores those values when server.levelurl is active.
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For a startup command, the equivalent form is:
+server.levelurl "https://example.invalid/my-map.map"For a hosting panel, paste the URL into the custom-map or level-URL variable, remove conflicting procedural-map values if the panel requires it, save, and restart. The first launch may take longer while the server retrieves and processes the file.
Return to procedural generation
Stop the server, remove or blank server.levelurl, restore server.level to Procedural Map, and set the desired seed and size. Restart to generate the procedural world. Because this is another world selection, keep both saves if you may need to switch back.
Restart and verify the result
- Start the server after saving the settings. A file edit alone does not change a running world.
- Watch the startup console. Wait until Rust finishes world generation or custom-map loading and the server reports that it is ready for players.
- Check the active values in the server console. Run:
server.seed
server.worldsizeCompare the returned values with the settings you entered. One forum report describes the effective seed appearing one number higher than the entered value in some circumstances. Treat that as a verification warning rather than a rule: trust the value reported by your running server and use it when reproducing a map.
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For a custom map, verify that the console shows the map being fetched or loaded from the configured URL. Seed and world-size output is not a useful test of the custom file because those convars are ignored while server.levelurl is active.
What happens to bases and the old save
A different procedural seed or world size creates a new world save. Existing bases, storage contents, deployables and other placed objects are not migrated into it. This is why changing a map is normally part of a wipe schedule.
The backup lets you recover the previous world, but it does not merge two worlds. To roll back, stop the server, move the newly generated save out of the active location, put the backed-up save directory back where the server expects it (for example, the relevant instance directory under server/), restore the original launch settings, and start again. Folder names differ between installations; confirm the active instance before replacing files.
Troubleshooting map changes
The old map is still loading
- Confirm you restarted the process rather than only saving the panel form.
- Check that the launcher actually reads the file you edited; some hosts generate a separate startup command from panel variables.
- Remove an old
server.levelurl. It overrides seed and world-size settings. - Check the console with
server.seedandserver.worldsizeto see what the running process received.
The map changed but bases remain
You may have changed a setting that does not trigger a new save, or the server may have reloaded the existing world directory. Stop the server, verify the seed and size in the startup configuration, and inspect the save directory. Do not delete the backup until the new world is confirmed; a manual save replacement is irreversible without that copy.
The server will not start after editing
- Check for a misspelled convar: use
server.level,server.seed,server.worldsizeandserver.levelurlexactly. - Ensure the seed contains only an integer from 0 through 2,147,483,647.
- Use a world size within 1,000–6,000 while troubleshooting.
- Remove unmatched quotation marks or panel syntax that was copied from a different launcher.
- Restore the previous startup settings and backup if the host reports a generation or file error.
The custom map fails to load
- Check that the URL points directly to the
.mapfile rather than to a web page or download form. - Confirm the server can reach the address and that the file is still available.
- Read the startup console for download or parsing errors, then correct the URL and restart.
- If you want a procedural map instead, clear
server.levelurl; leaving it set will continue to bypass seed and size.
The new world causes lag or memory problems
World-size guides consistently report that memory demand rises as the map gets larger, but published RAM numbers vary and are not a reliable universal requirement. Reduce server.worldsize, restart, and monitor the host’s memory usage. Test the intended size with your actual plugins and expected player load rather than choosing hardware from a generic GB estimate.
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Operational checklist
- Choose procedural generation or a custom
.map. - Preview and record the exact seed and size if using a procedural map.
- Back up the current world directory before stopping the server.
- Edit startup settings, not an in-game menu.
- Clear
server.levelurlfor procedural generation; remember it overrides seed and size when present. - Restart fully, wait for generation or download to finish, and query the console values.
- Keep the old backup until players have confirmed the new world is correct.
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