Where Minecraft Saves Are Located: A Practical Guide
Find where Minecraft saves live across Windows, macOS, and Linux for Java and Bedrock editions. Get exact paths and backup steps to protect your worlds.
Where Minecraft Saves Are Located
In this guide, we explain where minecraft saves are located across different editions and operating systems. The location of your world data determines how you back up, move, and recover your progress after hardware failures or platform changes. Craft Guide's analysis emphasizes that understanding these folders isn't just trivia—it's a practical skill for reliable play. Across Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, the saves folder is the central repository for every world you've created, but the exact path depends on your OS and the edition you run. If you learn one rule, it's that the save data sits inside a per-user directory, with a subfolder named saves for Java and a platform-specific location for Bedrock. By keeping this knowledge handy, players can protect their builds from corruption, duplication, or accidental deletion. The following sections break down the exact paths by OS, provide step-by-step access methods, and offer backup strategies that work across machines. Keep this guide handy; it will save you time and frustration when a drive fails or you switch computers.
Java Edition on Windows
On Windows, Java Edition world data lives in the per-user Minecraft folder, typically under the hidden AppData path. The canonical location is C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft\saves. You can reach it quickly by pressing Win+R, entering %appdata%, and opening the .minecraft folder, then the saves directory. If you use multiple profiles or backups, consider creating a dedicated backups folder outside this path. This convention—save data inside the user profile—keeps worlds accessible even when you switch drives. Note that some launchers may seed additional copies or define alternative locations; always verify the active profile’s path in your launcher settings.
Java Edition on macOS and Linux
Mac users store Java Edition saves in the user Library folder: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves. This path is hidden in Finder by default, so use Go > Go to Folder and paste the path. Linux users typically store saves at ~/.minecraft/saves (note the leading dot, hiding the directory by default). In both cases, keep backups outside the hidden folders to avoid accidental deletion during system cleanup. If you use sandboxed environments or custom directories, adjust the path accordingly, but remember that the core concept holds: saves live within a per-user directory nested under a minecraft or .minecraft folder.
Bedrock Edition Paths Across Devices
Bedrock Edition spreads saves across multiple devices and stores them in device-specific locations. On Windows 10/11, you’ll commonly find worlds under C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds. On Android, Bedrock stores worlds in the /sdcard/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds directory; iOS uses its sandboxed documents folder; consoles have their own internal save locations. The key takeaway is that Bedrock is more platform-dependent than Java, and even within Windows you may see different paths depending on your Minecraft launcher and whether you’re using Bedrock on Windows via the Microsoft Store or the Xbox app. If you share worlds across devices, you’ll want to look for the world folders in each device’s local state and consider manual transfers or cloud-based syncing options where available.
How to Back Up and Move Worlds
Backing up a world is simply copying its world folder. For Java Edition, copy the entire saves/<worldname> folder to a safe location; for Bedrock, copy the corresponding minecraftWorlds folder. A practical approach is to maintain a dedicated backups directory on an external drive or cloud storage. Before moving to a new PC, ensure you copy the world files before uninstalling the game. When restoring, place the folder back into the correct saves path and start Minecraft to verify integrity. Regular backups—especially before major updates or world changes—save you from hours of grief.
Common Pitfalls and Data Loss Prevention
Common mistakes include attempting to move saves while the game is running, which can corrupt world data. Always close Minecraft before copying folders. Avoid renaming world folders, as the launcher references the folder names; changing names can break your worlds or backup scripts. If you use mods or resource packs, ensure compatibility and back up your mod configuration as well as the worlds. Finally, be mindful of user permissions; on macOS and Linux, insufficient permissions can prevent you from saving changes or making backups.
Advanced Tips for Cross-Platform World Management
For players who switch between Java and Bedrock, strategy matters. Consider keeping separate backups for each edition and use a tool or script to sync the world directories across devices. If you rely on cloud storage, set up automatic sync for the saves directories and verify the sync before launching the game. Another tip is to export a zip of each world, which makes transfer to another OS straightforward and reduces the risk of partial file copies.
Troubleshooting: Missing Worlds and Path Misalignments
If a world disappears after an OS upgrade or game update, re-check the save path according to edition and OS. Use your launcher’s profile settings to validate the active save directory and verify permissions. On Windows, enable viewing hidden files to ensure the AppData or LocalState folders aren’t hidden. Use a backup check by temporarily restoring a copy to a test location and launching Minecraft to confirm the world appears.
