Minecraft Bedrock Edition does not keep world files in one place. The location depends on your platform, and on Android it also depends on a storage setting inside the game. On Windows you export a world rather than browse to a save folder, iPhone and iPad backups go through Finder or iCloud, Android worlds may or may not be visible as files, and console saves are managed through the platform’s cloud-save system rather than a local folder you can open.
Start by identifying your device, then decide whether you need to find the current save, make a backup, or move the world to another device. The steps below follow Minecraft Help’s platform guidance.
Identify your platform first
The same world can be handled very differently depending on where it was played. Before following any path, confirm which of these you are using:
- Android phone or tablet (Minecraft Bedrock from Google Play)
- iPhone or iPad (Minecraft Bedrock from the App Store)
- Windows PC (Minecraft for Windows)
- Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch
- A Bedrock Realms server, which is hosted by Mojang and is not stored on your device until you download it
Android: check File Storage Location before searching
On Android, the first step is to open Settings > Storage inside Minecraft and read the File Storage Location setting. Minecraft Help describes two choices, and they behave differently.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Application storage (the default)
Worlds and progress data are kept in Minecraft’s private application data. They do not appear as separate files or folders, so you cannot copy them to a computer with a file transfer. If you need to move a world off an Application-storage device, Minecraft Help points to Realms transfer rather than direct folder copying. Check that guidance before deleting or resetting the app.
External storage
External storage keeps accessible world files outside the app’s private data. The documented folder is:
Rank #2
- Skins! We have biome settlers, city folk, town folk, and more!
- The Nether and all its inhabitants. Fight Ghasts and make friends with Pigmen
- Cross platform play for up to five players between Pocket Edition and Windows 10
- Revamped touch controls, controller support, and a controller mapping screen
- Enhanced Weather effects! Accumulating snow and more
Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/files/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds
“External” describes the storage setting, not the hardware. It does not necessarily mean an SD card or other removable drive; the setting refers to where Minecraft writes the files.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Rank #3
- DELUXE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, three Bedrock add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items, and 700 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Copying an External-storage world to a computer
- Connect the Android device to the computer with a USB cable that supports data transfer. A charge-only cable will not show the phone’s files.
- On the phone, unlock it and, when the USB notification appears, choose File Transfer (MTP).
- On the computer, open the phone in File Explorer or Finder, then navigate to the folder path above.
- Copy the whole
minecraftWorldsfolder, or a single world folder, to a location on the computer.
Android’s scoped-storage rules can limit what a file-browser app is allowed to see inside Android/data. If the folder appears empty or is missing, the restriction is usually on the access side, not proof that the world has been lost. Try a different file manager on the phone, or confirm that the storage setting still shows External.
iPhone and iPad: back up through Finder or iCloud
iOS does not give you a normal filesystem path to Minecraft’s worlds. Minecraft Help’s documented backup workflow is:
Rank #4
- The classic UNO card game builds fun on game night with a Minecraft theme.
- UNO Minecraft features a deck and storage tin decorated with graphics from the popular video game.
- Players match colors and numbers to the card on top of the discard pile as in the classic game.
- The Creeper card unique to this deck forces other players to draw 3 cards.
- Makes a great gift for kid, teen, adult and family game nights with 2 to 10 players ages 7 years and older, especially Minecraft and video game fans.
- Connect the iPhone or iPad to a Mac with a USB cable that supports data transfer.
- In Finder, select the device in the sidebar.
- Open the Files tab and expand the Minecraft folder.
- Copy the games folder to another location on the Mac.
Minecraft Help also mentions iCloud as a way to back up the games folder. Use iCloud if you do not have a Mac, but confirm that the backup contains the folder before you rely on it. The guidance does not establish a universal iOS path that you can browse directly on the device.
Windows: export the world
On Windows, the documented method is an export rather than a folder search. Minecraft Help describes this sequence:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Best Value
- The Minecraft Labyrinth invites 2-4 people aged 7 and over to immerse themselves in the world of Minecraft, move corridors and search for hidden characters and items
- The classic in the look of the well-known and popular computer game Minecraft! The labyrinth has been delighting children and adults for decades and has become a highlight among board games
- A fun family game for children and adults: This board game for ages 7 and up is a must-have in any game collection! Simple rules, entertaining games and exciting rounds ensure long-lasting fun
- A search and slide game that challenges and encourages logical thinking in a playful way
- A great gift or souvenir for all Minecraft fans: the characteristic illustrations provide an authentic gaming experience
- Open Minecraft and select Play.
- Find the world and select the pencil (edit) control on its tile.
- Choose Export World in the file-management section of the settings.
- Pick a destination folder and save the export file.
The export gives you a portable copy you can keep or move to another machine. The official guidance does not establish a default on-disk save directory for Windows, so this article does not provide one. If you need to restore an exported world, use the import option that Minecraft offers for that file rather than copying files into a folder by hand.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch
Minecraft Help lists separate cloud-save management resources for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. These are handled through each platform’s own save and cloud interface. The sources reviewed do not establish a user-accessible local world-file path on any console, so do not look for a Windows or Android folder on a console. For exact cloud-save or restore steps, use the console’s current system menus and the matching Minecraft Help page, because those steps can change with console system updates.
Bedrock Realms worlds
A Realms world can be downloaded through the Realm interface. After download, it is added to All Worlds. From there, it can be copied from the device’s file storage if that platform exposes the files. Minecraft Help says Realms worlds are backed up automatically. Realms is also the official route Minecraft Help references for moving an Android world that uses Application storage, so it is the first option to check if your world is stuck inside the app.
Platform comparison
| Platform | Where the world lives | Can you browse the files directly? | Documented backup or transfer route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android, Application storage | Minecraft’s private application data | No | Realms transfer, per Minecraft Help |
| Android, External storage | Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/files/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds |
Yes, over USB with File Transfer (MTP), subject to scoped-storage limits | Copy the minecraftWorlds folder or one world folder |
| iPhone or iPad | Minecraft’s files inside the device’s app storage | Not as a normal filesystem path | Finder Files tab, copy the games folder; iCloud also mentioned |
| Windows | Not stated as a default folder in the sources reviewed | Not established | Play > pencil icon > Export World |
| Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch | Managed by the platform’s cloud save | Not established | Platform cloud-save management, per Minecraft Help |
| Realms | Hosted by Mojang; downloadable to the device | Only after download, where the platform exposes files | Automatic backup per Minecraft Help; download via the Realm interface |
Choosing the right route
- You want a backup on a computer: use Windows Export World, the iPhone or iPad Finder copy, or the Android External-storage folder copy, depending on your device.
- You want to move a world to a new phone: if the world is on Android Application storage, start with Realms transfer. If it is on External storage, copy the folder.
- You are on a console: rely on the platform’s cloud save and the matching Minecraft Help page.
If you cannot find your world
- The Android folder is empty or missing: confirm the File Storage Location setting, then check whether scoped storage is blocking the file manager you are using.
- No files appear over USB: the cable may be charge-only, or the phone may not have File Transfer selected.
- The iOS Files tab shows no Minecraft folder: confirm that Minecraft has been opened on the device at least once and that the device is trusted by the Mac.
- A Realms world is missing from All Worlds: check that the Realm is still available to your account before assuming the local copy is lost.
Minecraft Help pages do not show a publication date in the versions checked, and menu labels and folder paths can change with game updates. If a label on your device differs from the names above, follow the on-screen option with the closest match and check Minecraft Help for the current wording.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
