Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsJava Edition worlds are stored in a saves folder. Bedrock worlds are stored in minecraftWorlds. The exact location depends on your edition, operating system, Windows build, and storage settings.
Use this guide to find, back up, move, restore, or install a Minecraft world without accidentally copying the wrong folder.
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First, identify your Minecraft edition
| Edition | How to recognize it | World folder |
|---|---|---|
| Java Edition | Usually played on Windows, macOS, or Linux through the Java Edition launcher | saves |
| Bedrock Edition | Called Minecraft for Windows; also used on consoles and mobile | minecraftWorlds |
| Minecraft Preview | Separate preview or testing version of Bedrock | A separate Preview directory |
| Minecraft Education | Separate education-focused application | A separate package directory |
Java and Bedrock do not use the same world format. Copying a Java world into a Bedrock folder, or a Bedrock world into Java, will not automatically convert it.
Java Edition world-folder locations
Windows
%APPDATA%.minecraftsavesPress Win + R, paste the path, and press Enter. Each subfolder inside saves is normally one Java world.
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- 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).
macOS
~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/savesIn Finder, select Go, hold Option to reveal Library, then open Application Support, minecraft, and saves. These Windows and macOS locations are listed in Minecraft’s Java Edition transfer instructions.
Linux
~/.minecraft/savesOpen your file manager, press Ctrl + L to use its address bar, and enter the path. Linux save locations can differ when a third-party launcher or custom instance is being used.
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Open the active Java save folder from the launcher
If the default folder is empty or does not contain your world:
- Open the Minecraft Launcher.
- Select Java Edition.
- Open Installations.
- Select the installation or profile you use.
- Click its folder icon to open the installation directory.
- Open that installation’s
savesfolder.
This is especially important for modded Minecraft, Fabric, Forge, Prism Launcher, or other profiles. Such setups may store saves in a separate instance directory rather than in %APPDATA%.minecraftsaves. Minecraft’s game-storage guidance explains how installation-specific folders affect save locations.
Bedrock Edition world-folder locations
Current Bedrock on Windows
Current Windows Bedrock builds use the newer GDK storage layout. Start here:
%APPDATA%Minecraft Bedrockuserssharedgamescom.mojangminecraftWorldsThe broader Bedrock data directory is:
%APPDATA%Minecraft Bedrockuserssharedgamescom.mojangMicrosoft introduced this storage layout during the migration from UWP to GDK, beginning with Minecraft version 1.21.120. Depending on the installation and account, worlds may instead be under a user-specific directory:
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- 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).
%APPDATA%Minecraft Bedrockusers<user-id>gamescom.mojangminecraftWorldsIf the shared path is empty, open:
%APPDATA%Minecraft BedrockusersThen inspect the numbered or user-specific folders and follow gamescom.mojangminecraftWorlds. See Microsoft’s documentation for the current GDK project folder and Bedrock world storage.
Older Windows Bedrock installations
Older UWP installations commonly stored worlds here:
%LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesMicrosoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalStategamescom.mojangminecraftWorldsThis legacy path may still contain worlds from an older installation, but it can be empty or absent after migration to the GDK layout. Do not assume that an empty legacy folder means your world has been deleted.
Minecraft Preview on Windows
Preview uses a separate base directory:
%APPDATA%Minecraft Bedrock Previewuserssharedgamescom.mojangminecraftWorldsA world created in Preview is not necessarily in the main Minecraft Bedrock directory.
Android
On Android, open Minecraft and check Settings > Storage > File Storage Location. If it is set to External, the documented world path is:
Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/files/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorldsOn many devices this corresponds to:
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/files/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorldsIf File Storage Location is set to Application, the worlds are kept inside protected app storage and may not appear as ordinary copyable folders. Set it to External for future manual backups. Existing storage behavior can depend on the device and Minecraft version. Refer to Minecraft’s mobile file-location guide and its Android troubleshooting instructions.
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- PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.
iPhone and iPad
A commonly documented location is:
On My iPhone/Minecraft/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorldsWhether this folder is visible in the Files app depends on the iOS or iPadOS version, Minecraft version, and whether the world has been exported. If it is not visible, use Minecraft’s export or share options rather than assuming the world is missing.
Minecraft Education on Windows
C:Users<username>AppDataLocalPackagesMicrosoft.MinecraftEducationEdition_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalStategamescom.mojangminecraftWorldsMinecraft Education has its own package directory. Its worlds are separate from both Java Edition and standard Bedrock Edition. The location is documented by Minecraft Education Support.
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Java hierarchy
.minecraft
└── saves
└── <world folder>The .minecraft directory contains Java’s game data. The saves directory contains individual worlds.
Bedrock hierarchy
com.mojang
└── minecraftWorlds
└── <world folder>The com.mojang directory contains more than worlds, including packs and other game data. The actual saved worlds are inside minecraftWorlds.
How to open hidden folders
Windows
The quickest method is Win + R followed by the relevant path. Windows expands variables such as %APPDATA% and %LOCALAPPDATA% automatically. To browse manually, open File Explorer, select View, then enable Hidden items.
macOS
Use Finder’s Go menu, hold Option to show Library, and open the Minecraft directory from Application Support.
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Linux
Press Ctrl + L in your file manager and enter ~/.minecraft/saves.
Android
Use a file manager to open internal shared storage, then Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/files/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds. Newer Android versions may restrict access to Android/data; in that case, use Minecraft’s export function or an approved file-management method.
How to identify the correct world
Java folder names are often recognizable because they commonly resemble the world name, although a folder may have been renamed.
Bedrock folder names frequently look like random strings. To identify one:
- Sort folders by Date modified.
- Open a likely folder and look for
levelname.txt, where available. - Compare the stored name with the world shown in Minecraft.
- If necessary, work only with a copy: temporarily move or rename the copied folder, launch Minecraft, and see which world disappears from the list.
Do not rename, move, or delete the original while testing. Microsoft describes Bedrock world-name information and folder structure in its Bedrock server documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to back up a world safely
Java Edition
- Exit the world.
- Close Minecraft completely so it is no longer saving files.
- Copy the entire world folder from
saves. - Paste it into a separate backup location.
- Optionally compress the copied folder into a ZIP archive for transfer.
Copy the complete world directory, not just individual files. A backup made while Minecraft is open may be incomplete or inconsistent.
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- Play and share with friends on console, mobile and Windows 10
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- access new mini games and game modes through servers
Bedrock Edition
When available, the safest portable method is Minecraft’s built-in export:
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- Open the world list.
- Open the world’s settings.
- Select Export World.
- Save the resulting
.mcworldfile outside Minecraft’s data directory.
For a manual backup, close Minecraft and copy the entire individual folder inside minecraftWorlds. Do not copy only packs or selected files. Microsoft also provides a Windows Bedrock world-backup workflow.
Why the world folder is missing or empty
- Confirm the edition. Java uses
saves; Bedrock usesminecraftWorlds. - Launch Minecraft and create a test world. This forces the active installation or storage location to create its save directory.
- Check the current Windows Bedrock GDK path. Inspect
%APPDATA%Minecraft Bedrockusers, including bothsharedand user-specific folders. - Check the legacy UWP path if the installation predates the migration.
- Check Minecraft Preview separately.
- Check custom Java instances. The launcher or modded instance may use a different game directory.
- Check mobile storage settings. Android worlds stored as Application data may not be manually browsable.
- Consider where the world was played. It may exist on another computer, console, Realm, or server rather than locally.
- Do not reset, repair, or uninstall Minecraft before backing up. Those actions can remove locally stored application data.
A Realm world is cloud-hosted and may need to be downloaded or exported before it appears as a normal local save. A dedicated server has its own storage, commonly beneath the server installation rather than in your single-player folder.
How to install a downloaded world
Java Edition
- Extract the downloaded ZIP or archive.
- Find the actual world folder inside the extracted files. It should contain the world data, not merely another outer folder.
- Place that world folder in
.minecraftsaveson Windows, or the equivalent active instance’ssavesdirectory. - Start Java Edition and open Singleplayer.
Bedrock Edition
For a .mcworld file, open it directly with Minecraft. The game should import it and display it in the Play menu, as described in Microsoft’s Bedrock getting-started documentation.
If you are copying a folder manually, place the complete folder inside the appropriate minecraftWorlds directory. Back up existing worlds first and never overwrite a matching folder without making a separate copy.
Manual copying versus built-in export
| Method | Best for | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Manual folder copy | Archiving, advanced editing, development, and recovery | Easy to copy the wrong path or an incomplete live save |
| Built-in export | Moving a Bedrock world as a portable file | Export may be unavailable on some editions or platforms; large worlds may require substantial free space |
For advanced Java users, relocated saves and symbolic links are possible, but they are not necessary for ordinary backups and can have safety restrictions inside world directories. See Minecraft’s symbolic-link guidance.
Quick Recap
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