Project Zomboid Move your self-hosted Project Zomboid server to WinterNode by uploading your Zomboid folder, updating your port setting, and matching your server name in the control panel.
Step 1: Locate and Compress Your Zomboid Folder
Your self-hosted server’s saves and configuration are stored in the Zomboid folder on your machine.
- Windows:
C:\Users\<username>\Zomboid - Linux:
~/Zomboid
Compress the entire Zomboid folder into a single archive. Supported formats are .zip, .tar.gz, and .rar.
Step 2: Upload the Archive
The upload method depends on the size of your archive.
Under 100MB - File Manager:
- Log in to the Game Control Panel and select your Project Zomboid server
- Go to File Manager in the left sidebar to open the File Manager
- Navigate into the
Zomboiddirectory - Click Upload and select your archive
100MB or larger - SFTP:
Use SFTP to upload the archive directly into the Zomboid directory on your server. See our SFTP guide for connection instructions.
Step 3: Decompress the Archive
- In the File Manager, navigate to the
Zomboiddirectory and locate the uploaded archive - Right-click the archive and select Unarchive
- Wait for the extraction to complete
Step 4: Update the Server Port
Your self-hosted server used a different port than your WinterNode server. You need to update this in your server’s configuration file.
- In the File Manager, navigate to
Zomboid/Server - Open the
.inifile that matches your save name (for example,servertest.ini) - Find the
DefaultPortline (press CTRL+F to search) - Update the value to match your WinterNode server’s port. You can find this on the Game Control Panel homepage - it’s listed under your server’s name in the server list
- Click Save
Step 5: Match the Server Name
Your WinterNode server must use the same name as your uploaded save, or it will not load the correct world.
- In the Game Control Panel, go to Server Options
- Find the [REQUIRED] Server Name field
- Make sure the value matches the name of your uploaded save exactly. This is the same as the name of the
.inifile you edited in Step 4, without the file extension - Click Save
Step 6: Start Your Server and Connect
- Click Start in the Game Control Panel and wait for your server to show as Online
- Launch Project Zomboid and connect to your server
Your world, settings, and player data should now be running on WinterNode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but you must connect using your Steam username as your account name. If the name doesn't match exactly, the server will treat you as a new player.
On Windows, it's at C:\Users\<username>\Zomboid. On Linux, it's at ~/Zomboid.
Use SFTP to upload the archive instead of the File Manager. The File Manager has a 100MB upload limit.