How to Reset or Wipe your Project Zomboid World

Sometimes you need a clean slate, perhaps to start over after a catastrophic infection, test a new mod pack, or switch to a different map. Wiping your world properly prevents leftover data from causing errors or corrupting your new game. This guide explains how to back up your existing Project Zomboid world and reset it on Wabbanode.

Back Up Your Current World

Before making any changes, create a backup. Don't know how? Read our guide on How to Backup your Server Files.

Reset a Server Map

To reset a standard (non‑modded) map:

1. Navigate to the Wabbanode Control Panel and Stop your server.
2. Open Files, navigate to Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer.
3. Rename your old world folder to something like my_old_world or delete the entire folder.
4. Start your server. Because the world folder is missing, Project Zomboid will generate a fresh world when it launches.

Reset a Modded Map (Back to Vanilla)

If your world uses a custom map mod and you wish to revert back to vanilla, additional steps are required:

1. Log in to the Wabbanode Control Panel and Stop your server.
2. Go to Files and navigate to Zomboid/Server/<WorldName> and locate world.ini. This file contains all server variables for your world.
3. Remove the mod’s Workshop ID from the WorkshopItems= line and delete the map’s Mod ID from the Mods= line.
4. In the same file, edit or remove the Map= entry. Remove the modded map name or replace it with the default (Muldraugh, KY) if you plan to return to the vanilla map.
5. Save your changes, and then navigate to Zomboid/Saves/Multiplayer.
6. Rename your old world folder to something like my_old_world or delete the entire folder.
7. Start your server. The modded map data will no longer load, and a new vanilla world will generate.

For large map mods, you may also need to delete downloaded workshop files in Zomboid/Workshop or Zomboid/Mods to free disk space. Do this only if you’re sure you don’t need the mod again.