Transfer Your Custom World, Load It Online & Set It as Default
Bring your creations online — This guide shows you how to upload your singleplayer world to your Hytale server, load it using commands, and set it as the default spawn world.
| Reading Time | Difficulty | Last Updated |
|---|
| 8 minutes | Intermediate | January 2026 |
Quick Navigation
| Section | What You’ll Learn |
|---|
| Locate World Files | Find your world folder |
| Upload to Server | Transfer files to server |
| Load the World | Activate via commands |
| Set Default World | Make it the spawn world |
| Travel Between Worlds | Multi-world navigation |
Understanding Hytale Universe Structure
Hytale uses a universe/worlds structure. A single universe can contain multiple worlds. This is why world files are stored in the universe/worlds/ subdirectory.
universe/
├── players/
└── worlds/
├── default/ ← Default world
├── MyCustomWorld/ ← Your uploaded world
└── AnotherWorld/
Step 1: Locate Your Singleplayer World Files
First, find your world folder on your local computer.
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Open the Hytale client |
| 2 | Navigate to the Worlds menu |
| 3 | Right-click the world you want to upload |
| 4 | Select Open Folder |
| 5 | In File Explorer, navigate to universe/worlds/ |
| 6 | Identify the specific world folder you want to transfer |
The world folder name is what you’ll use in server commands later. Note it down exactly.
Step 2: Upload Your World to the Server
Transfer the world folder to your server.
Option A: Direct Upload (Small Worlds)
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Log in to your Game Server Control Panel |
| 2 | Stop your server |
| 3 | Go to the Files tab (File Manager) |
| 4 | Navigate to universe/worlds/ |
| 5 | Upload the entire world folder |
| 6 | Wait for the upload to complete |
Option B: ZIP Upload (Large Worlds — Recommended)
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | On your computer, compress the world folder into a .zip file |
| 2 | Log in to your control panel and stop the server |
| 3 | Navigate to universe/worlds/ |
| 4 | Upload the .zip file |
| 5 | Use the control panel’s Unarchive feature to extract it |
| 6 | Delete the .zip file after extraction |
[!IMPORTANT]
ZIP upload is significantly faster for large worlds and reduces the chance of upload failures.
Step 3: Load the World on the Server
Once uploaded, you must activate the world using server commands.
View Available Worlds
This displays all world folders in universe/worlds/.
Load a Specific World
| Parameter | Description |
|---|
<worldname> | The exact folder name of your world |
[!CAUTION]
The world name must match the folder name exactly, including capitalization.
Step 4: Set the Default World
Make your uploaded world the primary spawn point for all players.
Set Default World Command
world setdefault <worldname>
world setdefault MyCustomWorld
| Effect | Description |
|---|
| Startup Behavior | Server loads this world first on startup |
| Player Spawn | New players spawn in this world |
| Priority | This world takes precedence over others |
Step 5: Travel Between Worlds
Players with appropriate permissions can teleport between loaded worlds.
Teleport to Another World
Example:
This command requires operator permissions. Players can seamlessly navigate between different environments on a single server.
First Month Discount
Use code KB20 at checkout to get 20% off your first month of hosting!
Command Reference
| Command | Description |
|---|
world list | Display all available worlds |
world load <name> | Load a specific world into memory |
world setdefault <name> | Set a world as the default spawn |
/tp world <name> | Teleport to a different world |
Troubleshooting
World Not Appearing in List
| Issue | Solution |
|---|
| Folder in wrong location | Ensure folder is in universe/worlds/ |
| ZIP not extracted | Use Unarchive feature after upload |
| Server not restarted | Restart the server after upload |
Command Not Working
| Issue | Solution |
|---|
| Name mismatch | Check folder name matches exactly (case-sensitive) |
| World not loaded | Run world load <name> first |
| No permissions | Ensure you have operator access |
Additional Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|
| Official Hytale Website | hytale.com |
| Hytale Support Portal | support.hytale.com |
Support Channels
If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact our support team:First Month Discount
Use code KB20 at checkout to get 20% off your first month of hosting!
Last Updated: January 2026 | Need Help? Contact our 24/7 support team!