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Where Are Minecraft Worlds Saved on Windows PC?

Geeksdigit Team

August 6, 2026

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Minecraft allows players to build impressive structures, explore vast landscapes, and create custom worlds that can take weeks, months, or even years to complete. Whether you’re upgrading your computer, reinstalling Windows, backing up your game data, or transferring worlds to another PC, knowing where Minecraft stores its world files is essential.

The save location of Minecraft worlds depends on the edition you’re playing. Minecraft Java Edition stores worlds in a different folder than Minecraft Bedrock Edition, and each version follows its own directory structure. If you don’t know which edition you’re using, locating your saved worlds can become confusing.

Fortunately, Windows makes it easy to access these folders once you know the correct path. You can use File Explorer, the Run dialog, Command Prompt, PowerShell, or even open the save folder directly from within Minecraft in certain situations. Understanding these locations also helps you create backups before reinstalling Windows or modifying your game with mods, resource packs, or shaders.

In this guide, you’ll learn where Minecraft worlds are saved on Windows 11 and Windows 10, along with several methods to quickly locate the correct folder for both Java and Bedrock Edition.

What Is the Minecraft World Save Folder?

Every Minecraft world you create is stored as a collection of files inside a dedicated folder on your computer. These files contain everything about your world, including terrain, player inventory, buildings, animals, villagers, achievements, and game settings.

Each world has its own folder with files such as:

• Level data
• Region files
• Player information
• World settings
• Generated chunks
• Resource data

If these folders are deleted, your world will no longer appear in Minecraft. That’s why backing up your save folder regularly is recommended, especially before reinstalling Windows or experimenting with mods.

Method 1: Find Minecraft Java Edition Worlds Using the Run Dialog

The Run dialog is one of the quickest ways to open the Java Edition save folder.

Step 1

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

Step 2

Type the following command:

%appdata%\.minecraft\saves

Click OK or press Enter.

Step 3

Windows immediately opens the saves folder.

Inside this folder, you’ll see one folder for each Minecraft world you’ve created. The folder names usually match the names of your worlds unless they’ve been renamed manually.

For example:

My Survival World
Creative City
Hardcore Challenge
Skyblock

Each folder contains all of the files required for that world.

If you want to back up a world, simply copy the entire folder to another location such as an external drive or cloud storage.

This method is the fastest option for most Minecraft Java Edition users.

Method 2: Open the Java Save Folder Through File Explorer

You can also navigate to the save folder manually using File Explorer.

Step 1

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

Step 2

Click the address bar.

Step 3

Enter:

%AppData%

Press Enter.

Step 4

Open the following folders:

Roaming

↓

.minecraft

↓

saves

You will now see every Minecraft Java Edition world stored on your computer.

This method is useful if you also want to browse other Minecraft folders such as:

• mods
• resourcepacks
• shaderpacks
• screenshots
• logs
• config

The .minecraft folder serves as the central storage location for nearly all Minecraft Java Edition files.

Method 3: Locate Minecraft Bedrock Edition Worlds

Minecraft Bedrock Edition uses a completely different save location.

Step 1

Press Windows + R.

Step 2

Type:

%LocalAppData%\Packages

Press Enter.

Step 3

Open this folder:

Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Step 4

Continue to:

LocalState

↓

games

↓

com.mojang

↓

minecraftWorlds

The complete path is:

%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds

Unlike Java Edition, the world folders in Bedrock Edition often have random-looking names instead of the names shown inside the game.

To identify a world, open one of the folders and look for a file named:

levelname.txt

Opening this file with Notepad displays the actual name of the world.

This is helpful when backing up only a specific world.

Method 4: Use Command Prompt to Open the Save Folder

Command Prompt can open the save location directly without manually browsing through folders.

For Java Edition

Open Command Prompt and run:

explorer %appdata%\.minecraft\saves

File Explorer immediately opens the saves folder.

For Bedrock Edition

Run:

explorer %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds

This launches the Bedrock world folder instantly.

This approach is useful for advanced users who frequently use Command Prompt or create automation scripts.

Using Explorer commands also reduces the chance of typing the wrong folder path manually.

Method 5: Find Minecraft Worlds Using PowerShell

Windows PowerShell can quickly open the Minecraft save folder using environment variables. This method is useful if you prefer command-line tools or are creating scripts to automate backups.

Step 1

Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell or Terminal.

Step 2

For Minecraft Java Edition, run:

ii "$env:APPDATA\.minecraft\saves"

Step 3

The saves folder opens immediately in File Explorer.

If you use Minecraft Bedrock Edition instead, run:

ii "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds"

PowerShell launches the appropriate folder automatically.

This method is especially helpful for IT professionals and advanced users who manage multiple computers or regularly back up Minecraft data.

Method 6: Find the Minecraft Installation Folder Before Opening the Save Folder

If you’re unsure where Minecraft is installed, you can first locate its installation directory and then navigate to the save folder.

For Java Edition

Open File Explorer and enter:

%appdata%\.minecraft

Inside this folder you’ll find several directories including:

• saves
• mods
• resourcepacks
• shaderpacks
• screenshots
• logs
• config
• assets

Open the saves folder to access your worlds.

For Bedrock Edition

Navigate to:

%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Then continue through:

• LocalState
• games
• com.mojang
• minecraftWorlds

This method is useful if you also need to manage Minecraft files other than saved worlds.

Method 7: Locate Minecraft Worlds to Create a Backup

One of the most common reasons for finding the save folder is to back up your worlds before reinstalling Windows or replacing your computer.

Step 1

Locate your Minecraft world folder using one of the earlier methods.

Step 2

Select the world folder you want to back up.

Step 3

Press Ctrl + C.

Step 4

Paste the folder into a safe location, such as:

• External hard drive
• USB flash drive
• Another internal drive
• Network storage
• Cloud storage

Copying the entire folder preserves everything associated with that world, including buildings, inventory, pets, achievements, and world generation.

Creating regular backups is highly recommended if you’ve spent significant time building your world.

Method 8: Restore a Minecraft World from a Backup

If you’ve previously backed up your world, restoring it is straightforward.

Step 1

Open the Minecraft save folder.

Step 2

Copy your backed-up world folder.

Step 3

Paste it into the saves folder (Java Edition) or the minecraftWorlds folder (Bedrock Edition).

Step 4

Launch Minecraft.

The restored world should appear automatically in your list of saved worlds.

If a world with the same name already exists, Windows will ask whether you want to replace the existing files.

Be careful not to overwrite a newer version of your world unless you’re certain you want to restore the backup.

Method 9: Transfer Minecraft Worlds to Another Windows PC

Moving your Minecraft worlds to a new computer is easy once you know where they’re stored.

Step 1

Copy your world folder from the old PC.

Step 2

Transfer it using:

• USB drive
• External SSD
• Network sharing
• Cloud storage

Step 3

On the new computer, install the same edition of Minecraft.

Step 4

Paste the copied world folder into the correct save location.

Step 5

Launch Minecraft.

Your worlds should now appear exactly as they did on the previous computer.

For the best compatibility, ensure both computers are running a similar Minecraft version. Very old worlds may require automatic conversion when opened in a newer release.

Method 10: Find Exported or Downloaded Minecraft Worlds

Not every Minecraft world comes from your own saves. Many players download custom maps, adventure worlds, survival challenges, or creative builds from community websites.

After downloading a world, you may need to place it in the correct save folder manually.

Java Edition

Extract the downloaded ZIP file.

Copy the extracted world folder into:

%appdata%\.minecraft\saves

Bedrock Edition

Many Bedrock maps use the .mcworld format.

Simply double-click the file, and Minecraft usually imports it automatically.

If the files are extracted manually, place them inside:

%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds

After launching Minecraft, the imported world should appear in your Worlds list.

Always download worlds from trusted sources to avoid corrupted files or unwanted software.

Understanding the Minecraft Save Folder Structure

Although each world appears as a single folder, it actually contains many important files.

Some of the common files and folders include:

Understanding these folders can help when troubleshooting corrupted worlds or copying only specific data.

Java Edition vs Bedrock Edition Save Locations

The two editions of Minecraft use different storage locations.

Knowing which edition you’re using is the first step in locating your saved worlds.

Tips for Protecting Your Minecraft Worlds

Losing a Minecraft world can be frustrating, especially after investing hundreds of hours into building and exploring. A few simple habits can help protect your progress.

Make regular backups of important worlds, especially before installing updates or mods. Store copies on an external drive or a cloud storage service so they’re safe even if your computer fails.

Avoid shutting down your PC while Minecraft is saving. Interrupting the save process can damage world files and lead to corruption.

If you use mods, ensure they’re compatible with your version of Minecraft. Incompatible or outdated mods can sometimes prevent worlds from loading correctly.

Finally, keep enough free space on your storage drive. Windows and Minecraft both need available disk space to write save data properly. Running out of storage can result in incomplete or corrupted world saves.

Conclusion

Knowing where Minecraft worlds are saved on your Windows PC makes it much easier to protect your progress, move worlds between computers, and recover important saves if something goes wrong. Whether you play Minecraft Java Edition or Minecraft Bedrock Edition, your worlds are stored locally in dedicated folders that can be accessed using File Explorer, the Run dialog, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

For Java Edition, the %AppData%.minecraft\saves folder contains each world in its own directory, usually named after the world itself. Bedrock Edition stores worlds in a different location under the Packages folder, where each world uses a unique folder name instead of its in-game title. Although the storage locations differ, the process of backing up or restoring worlds is straightforward once you know the correct path.

Regular backups are one of the best ways to protect your Minecraft creations. Copying your world folders to an external drive or cloud storage before reinstalling Windows, upgrading your computer, installing mods, or updating Minecraft can save you from losing countless hours of gameplay. If you ever need to transfer a world to another Windows PC, simply copy the appropriate world folder to the same location on the new computer, and Minecraft will detect it automatically.

By understanding where Minecraft stores its world files and how to access them, you’ll be better prepared to manage your saves, troubleshoot issues, restore backups, and keep your favorite worlds safe for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are Minecraft Java Edition worlds saved on Windows?

Minecraft Java Edition stores worlds in the following folder:

%AppData%\.minecraft\saves

Each world is stored in its own folder inside the saves directory.

Where are Minecraft Bedrock Edition worlds stored?

Minecraft Bedrock Edition stores worlds in:

%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds

Unlike Java Edition, the folders often use random names. You can identify a world by opening the levelname.txt file inside each folder.

Can I copy a Minecraft world to another computer?

Yes. Copy the entire world folder from the original computer and paste it into the corresponding save folder on the new PC. After launching Minecraft, the world should appear in your world list.

Will reinstalling Windows delete my Minecraft worlds?

Yes, if you don’t create a backup first. Since Minecraft worlds are stored locally on your system drive by default, reinstalling Windows or formatting the drive can permanently remove them. Always back up your world folders before making major changes to your computer.