Stop the server, back up its mission data, then delete only the persistence area that matches what you want to reset. A full wipe removes characters, inventories, bases, vehicles and stored containers. Deleting only storage_1/data/ removes persisted world objects while retaining character records, while deleting the player persistence area resets characters without intentionally removing documented world objects. For a loot refresh, leave persistence alone and set RestartSpawn to 1 for one restart, then return it to 0.
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Do this before deleting anything
DayZ writes persistence while the server process is running. Removing files underneath an active process can leave an incomplete or corrupt world state. Use your host’s Stop control or service manager and wait until the process has fully exited before changing any files.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match- Stop the instance cleanly. Do not begin a deletion while the server is still accepting connections or writing saves.
- Find the mission directory. A common Chernarus installation uses
mpmissions/dayzOffline.chernarusplus/storage_1/. Your map, mission name and instance directory may be different. - Make a recoverable copy. Copy the complete mission folder, with particular attention to
storage_1, to a separate location before changing it. Keep the original backup untouched so it can be copied back if the result is not what you intended. - Record the intended scope. Write down whether you are preserving characters, bases, vehicles or only trying to refresh ground loot. This prevents a loot setting change from being confused with a persistence wipe.
- Verify the backup can be read. Open the copy and confirm that it contains the expected persistence directories or database files. If your host provides snapshots, retain one in addition to the manual copy.
Never rely on a filename from another host without checking your own installation. The folder layout is the authority for the running server.
Choose the reset that matches what you want to preserve
These operations affect different parts of persistence. The table is the quickest way to select the least destructive option.
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| Operation | Characters and inventory | Bases, storage and vehicles | Ground loot |
|---|---|---|---|
Delete the entire storage_1 directory |
Removed; players connect as new characters | Removed | Repopulated by the Central Economy |
Delete storage_1/data/ only |
Kept according to the documented persistence split | Removed, including persisted bases, placed storage and vehicles | Repopulated by the Central Economy |
| Delete the player persistence area only | Reset to a fresh-spawn state | Kept according to the documented split | Existing economy behavior |
Set RestartSpawn=1 for one restart |
Kept | Kept | Re-randomized without deleting persistence |
The first three choices edit saved persistence on disk. The last choice changes an economy setting for a restart and is the appropriate tool when the goal is a loot refresh rather than a world wipe.
Full DayZ server wipe: delete all persistence
Use this when you want a genuinely fresh server state and accept that every saved character and persistent object will be lost.
Procedure
- Stop the DayZ server and confirm that the process has exited.
- Navigate to the active mission path. On a typical Chernarus instance, this is
mpmissions/dayzOffline.chernarusplus/storage_1/; substitute the mission and instance names shown by your host. - Move the entire
storage_1directory out of the live mission folder, or delete it only after confirming that your backup is complete. Moving it aside gives you an additional recovery path. - Start the server again. When
storage_1is absent at startup, the server creates a fresh persistence set. - Join with a test account and verify that the world behaves as a new instance before announcing the wipe to players.
StarDZ Team’s World State & Persistence documentation describes the result this way: “If storage_1 does not exist on startup, the server creates a fresh world: no built structures, no stored vehicles, and every connecting player spawns as a new character.” That means carried inventory is not an exception: character records and the items saved with them are part of the removed persistence.
The Central Economy repopulates loot after the new persistence is created. This is a side effect of starting a fresh world, not a separate command that selectively cleans only ground items.
World or object wipe: keep characters, remove bases and vehicles
Choose this scope when players should retain their character records and inventories, but the map should lose constructed or placed assets. The documented split places those world objects in storage_1/data/.
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Procedure
- Stop the server cleanly and preserve a copy of the complete
storage_1directory. - Open the active
storage_1directory and identify itsdatasubdirectory. - Delete or move only
storage_1/data/. Do not remove the player persistence area if retaining characters is the objective. - Restart the server and test with an administrator account. Confirm that a known character can connect while a previously placed base, storage object or vehicle is no longer present.
This operation removes persisted bases, placed storage, vehicles and saved dynamic-event state covered by the documented world-data area. It does not intentionally erase the character records that remain outside that directory. Keep the backup until you have verified the exact result on your map and server version.
Character reset: remove player records while retaining world objects
A character reset is the inverse of the object reset. It is useful for a new season or progression restart when you want the existing map state to remain. The player area can be exposed as a players/ directory on one installation and as files such as players.db on another.
Procedure
- Stop the server and back up the entire mission folder.
- Inside the active persistence location, inspect the names actually used for player records. Do not assume that a path copied from a different host or server version applies to yours.
- Move the identified player directory or player database files to a safe backup location. Remove only those records; leave
data/and other world-persistence content in place. - Restart the server and connect with a test account. The account should receive a fresh-spawn character while the documented bases, storage and vehicles remain.
Because filenames vary, a blind deletion can either fail to reset anyone or remove a broader set of files than intended. If you cannot unambiguously identify the player area, stop and ask your host for the instance’s persistence layout rather than guessing.
Loot-only reset: refresh the economy without a folder wipe
When the problem is stale or poorly distributed ground loot, do not delete storage_1. Use the economy setting in globals.xml instead. This preserves persistent characters, bases and vehicles while asking the Central Economy to re-randomize ground loot during one restart.
Procedure
- Stop the server before editing the configuration, and retain your backup.
- Open the active mission’s
globals.xml. Use the file belonging to the running instance, not a template for another map. - Change
RestartSpawnfrom0to1. - Save the file and start the server once. That restart triggers the loot re-randomization.
- After the restart, stop the server again if necessary, return
RestartSpawnto0, save, and start normally. Leaving it at1would request the special behavior on subsequent restarts.
This setting is an economy operation, not a persistence deletion. It does not deliberately remove saved characters, carried inventory, bases, vehicles, tents, barrels or stashes. If your aim is to remove those objects, use the appropriate persistence reset instead.
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Finding the right mission and instance directory
The often-cited Chernarus path is only an example. The mission folder changes with the map, and hosts may place several instances side by side. Before touching files, compare the directory used by the active service with the one shown in the host panel or startup configuration.
- Map and mission name: Chernarus commonly appears as
dayzOffline.chernarusplus; another map uses a different mission name. - Instance number: The persistence directory may be under an instance-specific location rather than the first server directory you see.
- Persistence root: Confirm that
storage_1belongs to the server you intend to reset, especially when several servers share a machine. - Player records: Look for the actual
players/directory or player database files present on that installation. - Configuration file: Edit the
globals.xmlloaded by that same mission, not an unused backup or sample file.
A reset that appears to have done nothing is often aimed at a different instance or a file that the running service never loads. Verifying the active path before deletion is safer than trying increasingly broad wipes afterward.
How to verify the result without making it worse
Validation should happen before you delete the backup. Use a controlled account and check only the objects relevant to the chosen scope.
- Confirm startup: The server should recreate missing persistence after a full or object reset rather than fail because a directory was partially removed.
- Check character behavior: A full reset should produce a new character; an object reset should allow the previous character and inventory to return; a character reset should produce a fresh-spawn character while world objects remain.
- Check a known world object: Use a previously recorded base, container or vehicle location when testing an object wipe.
- Check the economy setting: After a loot-only restart, confirm that
RestartSpawnis back at0and that the server loaded the editedglobals.xml. - Retain the backup: Keep it until players have confirmed the intended scope and you have ruled out an accidental deletion.
If the outcome is wrong, stop the server before attempting a correction. Restore the backed-up mission data, start the instance, and reassess which persistence area your host uses. Restoring while the process is active can create the same corruption risk as deleting live files.
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Deleting while the server is running
The process may still be writing character or world state. A clean stop followed by a file operation is the basic safety requirement for every reset type.
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Using a path from another server
Mission names, instance directories and player-record filenames vary by map, host and version. Inspect the live installation instead of pasting a generic path.
Confusing a loot refresh with a wipe
RestartSpawn=1 changes economy behavior for one restart. It is not a replacement for deleting world persistence when the objective is to remove bases or vehicles.
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Leaving RestartSpawn enabled
Set it back to 0 after the special restart. Otherwise later restarts may continue to invoke the loot-spawn behavior you enabled temporarily.
Deleting the wrong player files
Some installations use a directory and others use database files. Identify the actual player area first; do not apply a filename from a guide written for a different server build.
Skipping a restoration test
A backup that has never been opened or restored is only an assumption. At minimum, verify that the copy contains the expected mission and persistence content, and use a staging instance when your hosting setup allows it.
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Why “wipe” can mean different things in DayZ
DayZ’s own update history shows that a wipe is not automatically a total character reset. In its DayZ – Update 1.23 announcement, published on November 30, 2023, Bohemia Interactive stated: “Rest assured, your characters are safe, and any loot carried by your characters will not be affected by the wipe.” That historical example preserved characters and carried loot while changing world state.
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Recommended announcement wording
Before restarting, publish a short notice that names the operation and its consequences. For example:
- Full wipe: “All characters, inventories, bases, vehicles and stored containers will be removed.”
- World/object wipe: “Bases, placed storage, vehicles and saved world-event state will be removed; character records are being retained.”
- Character wipe: “Characters and their inventories will reset; the documented world objects will remain.”
- Loot refresh: “Ground-loot spawning will be re-randomized for one restart; characters and constructed objects are not being deleted.”
Use wording that matches the files you actually changed. If your host’s layout differs from the documented split, state the observed result rather than promising a scope you have not verified.
Quick Recap
Administrator checklist
- Server stopped and process fully exited.
- Mission folder and
storage_1backed up to a separate location. - Active map, mission and instance path confirmed.
- Reset type selected from the preservation table.
- Actual player-record names inspected before a character reset.
- Only the intended directory or files moved or deleted.
RestartSpawnreturned to0after a loot refresh.- Server restarted and tested with an administrator account.
- Backup retained until the result is confirmed by players.
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