How to Download and Install Minecraft Maps (and Upload a World to Your Server)

What are Minecraft maps?

A Minecraft map (also called a custom world) is a saved world someone built and shared – you download it as a .zip and play it like your own world. Map makers build adventure stories, parkour courses, puzzle maps, horror maps, PvP arenas, minigames and detailed recreations of real cities.

"Map" can also mean the paper map item, or a seed map like Chunkbase that shows where structures are – that's a different thing. If you want a good generated world rather than a hand-built one, see Best Minecraft seeds.

Where can you download Minecraft maps?

Download maps from well-known sites such as Planet Minecraft or the Worlds section on CurseForge, or straight from the map maker's own page. Each map page usually lists the Minecraft version it was made for, the number of players and whether it needs a resource pack.

Before you download, check:

• The Minecraft version. A map made for an older version usually opens in a newer one, but redstone and command block contraptions can break. A map made for a newer version won't open in an older one.
• The edition. Java maps come as .zip files. Bedrock maps come as .mcworld files. They are not compatible with each other.
• Extra files. Many adventure and horror maps need their own resource pack. It's either built into the map or a separate download.
• The file type. A map is a .zip (Java) or .mcworld (Bedrock). Never run an .exe that claims to "install" a map.

How to install Minecraft maps on Java Edition

Unzip the map and put its folder into .minecraft/saves – the folder that contains level.dat has to sit directly inside saves. Then the map appears in Singleplayer.

1. Download the map's .zip file.
2. Open the saves folder. The easiest way: start Minecraft, click Singleplayer, select any world, click Edit → Open World Folder, then go one folder up. Or use the paths below.
3. Extract the .zip into saves.
4. Check the structure: open the new folder – you should see level.dat right there.
5. Start Minecraft, click Singleplayer – the map is in the list.

Using the CurseForge app, Modrinth App or Prism Launcher? Each instance has its own saves folder inside the instance folder. Open the instance folder from the launcher and put the map there, otherwise it won't show up in that instance.

Back up before you play. Opening a map in a newer version upgrades it, and that can't be undone. Keep the original .zip so you can start over – useful for adventure maps you want to replay or play again with friends.

How to install maps on Minecraft Bedrock

On Bedrock, open the .mcworld file and Minecraft imports it by itself; it then appears in your Worlds list.

• Windows: double-click the .mcworld file.
• Android and iOS: tap the downloaded file and choose to open it with Minecraft.
• Xbox, PlayStation and Switch: consoles can't import files directly. Maps there come from the Marketplace, or you play a downloaded map on a server.

Why is my Minecraft map not showing up?

In nine cases out of ten the folder is nested one level too deep, so the game can't find level.dat.

How to upload a map or world to a Minecraft server

Stop the server, upload the world folder to the server, set level-name in server.properties to that folder's name and start the server again. The same steps work for downloaded maps and for your own singleplayer world, so you can keep playing your survival world with friends.

The two rules that matter:

• The server loads the world folder named in level-name (by default world). If no folder with that name exists, the server creates a brand-new world.
• level.dat must be directly inside that folder, exactly like in saves.

Upload the world while the server is stopped. A running server keeps saving its current world and can overwrite files while you copy.

How to upload a world to your Spot.gg server

On Spot.gg you upload the .zip in the "Files" tab, extract it there, and type the folder name in "World name" in "Configuration". You don't need an FTP client for this, although SFTP works too.

1. Stop the server in the panel.
2. Open "Files" and drag the map's .zip onto the page (or click "Click to upload"). You can also drag a whole world folder from your computer – the panel uploads folders with everything inside.
3. Next to the uploaded .zip, click "Extract". The panel creates a folder with the same name as the archive, without .zip.
4. Open the new folder and check that level.dat is inside. If you see another folder instead, use "Move" to move that inner folder up one level, or remember the full name.
5. Go to "Configuration" → "Most popular" → "World" and enter the folder name in "World name" (level-name). Save.
6. Start the server and join.

Your old world isn't deleted: it stays in its folder (e.g. world), and you can go back to it any time by entering its name in "World name" again. If you want a safety copy first, make one in the "Backup" tab.

Uploading a singleplayer world: find it in your saves folder (see the table above), zip the world folder or drag the folder itself into "Files", then follow the same steps. Large worlds upload more reliably over SFTP – the login details are under "SFTP access" in "Files".

Moving a whole server from another host? In "Information" → "Modify" → "Import files" you can upload a full server archive (.zip, .rar, .7z or .tar.gz). This replaces all current files – the panel detects the engine and version from the archive and, on paid servers, makes a backup before it starts. For a single downloaded map, the Files method above is simpler and keeps your plugins and settings.

Settings for adventure and parkour maps

Most adventure maps need command blocks, the right game mode and sometimes a resource pack. Read the map's description and set the server up the same way:

• Command blocks: on Minecraft 1.21.8 and older set enable-command-block=true in "Configuration" → "server.properties". From 1.21.9 command blocks are controlled by a gamerule – details in Minecraft command blocks and Minecraft gamerules.
• Game mode: many maps expect Adventure mode. Set gamemode=adventure in server.properties, or switch players with gamemode adventure PlayerName in the "Console" (no slash in the console).
• Engine: maps that rely on exact vanilla redstone or command tricks run best on the Vanilla engine. Paper changes a few vanilla mechanics on purpose (it fixes some exploits), which can break a contraption here and there.
• Same version: run the server on the Minecraft version the map was made for. You can change it in "Information" → "Modify" → "Update", and the world stays.
• Resource pack: if the map comes with one, let the server send it to everyone – see How to install texture packs. All server.properties options are explained in Minecraft server.properties.

Uploading a world to a Bedrock server

A .mcworld file is a zip archive, so rename it to .zip, upload and extract it into the worlds folder, then set level-name to the folder name.

1. Stop the Bedrock server and rename MyMap.mcworld to MyMap.zip (or upload it and use "Rename" in "Files").
2. Upload it to the worlds folder in "Files" and click "Extract".
3. Check that the new folder contains level.dat and a db folder.
4. Open server.properties in "Files" and set level-name= to the folder name. Save and start the server.

How to download your server world to play in singleplayer

Download the server files, copy the world folder (the one with level.dat) into your saves folder, and it opens in Singleplayer.

On Spot.gg you can download the files over SFTP, or download the whole server profile as a .zip from the "Information" tab (the download button next to the profile, available to the server owner). Extract the archive, find the world folder and copy it into saves. All blocks and builds come along. Plugin data such as land claims, homes or economy balances doesn't, because singleplayer doesn't run plugins.

Free and paid Minecraft servers on Spot.gg: a new account can run a server free for 24 hours, and paid servers start from $3.90 per month – enough to test your favourite adventure map with friends tonight.

FAQ

How do I install a downloaded Minecraft map?

Extract the .zip and put the world folder into .minecraft/saves. The folder that contains level.dat must sit directly in saves. Then the map shows up in Singleplayer.

Where is the Minecraft saves folder?

On Windows it's %APPDATA%\.minecraft\saves, on macOS ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves and on Linux ~/.minecraft/saves. In game you can open it through Singleplayer → Edit → Open World Folder.

Why doesn't my map show up in Minecraft?

Usually the map is in an extra folder, so level.dat isn't directly inside the world folder. In third-party launchers, the map also has to go into that instance's own saves folder.

Can I play a Minecraft map with friends?

Yes. Upload the map to a server, set level-name to the map's folder name and start the server. Everyone joins with the server address.

Can I use a Java map on Bedrock?

No. Java maps (.zip) and Bedrock maps (.mcworld) use different formats. Look for a version made for your edition.

How do I upload my world to my Minecraft server?

Stop the server, upload the world folder (or a .zip of it and extract it), set the world name (level-name) to that folder and start the server. On Spot.gg that's "Files" and then "Configuration" → "World name".

Will uploading a new world delete my old one?

Not on Spot.gg if you upload into a new folder: the old world stays in its own folder, and you can switch back by entering its name in "World name".