Moving an existing game server from another provider to GuavaHost is a manual file copy: download your files from the old host, then upload them to your GuavaHost server. This guide walks you through it and sets honest expectations.
Up front, so there are no surprises: this is a hands on copy of your server files, not a one click import. There is no magic button that reaches into your old host and pulls everything across. It is not hard, though, and if you get stuck the team can help you do it live.
If you would rather not do this yourself, GuavaHost offers staff-assisted migration: open a ticket or ask in our Discord and the team can move your server across for you.
Before you start
A few things worth sorting first:
- Create the server on GuavaHost that you are moving into, and pick the same game and roughly the same version as your old server. Version matters, more on that below.
- Grab your SFTP details from the old host. SFTP just means secure file transfer, the standard way to move server files. Most hosts show a host address, a port, a username, and a password.
- Grab your GuavaHost SFTP details too. In the panel, open your server, go to the Settings tab, and the SFTP connection details are shown there.
- Install a free SFTP client on your computer. FileZilla is the common pick and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Step 1: Download your files from the old host
- Open FileZilla and connect to your old host using its SFTP details (host, port, username, password).
- Find your world and config files. For Minecraft that is usually the world folder (plus worldnether and worldtheend if they exist), along with server.properties, and any plugins or mods` folder you are using.
- Drag those files down to a folder on your computer. Wait for the transfer to finish completely before moving on.
If your old host only gives you a web file manager and no SFTP, use their file manager to download a zip of the server, then unzip it on your computer.
Step 2: Upload your files to GuavaHost
- In FileZilla, connect to your GuavaHost server using the SFTP details from the Settings tab in the panel.
- Before uploading, stop the server from the Console tab. Copying files into a running server can corrupt them.
- Upload your world folder and config files into the matching spot on the GuavaHost server. The world goes where the world is expected, plugins into plugins, mods into mods, and so on. Keep the same folder layout you had on the old host.
- Once the upload finishes, start the server from the Console tab and watch the log for errors.
Step 3: Check it actually works
- Connect to the server yourself using the IP and port shown at the top of the server view in the panel.
- Confirm your world loaded, your builds are there, and your plugins or mods are running.
- Only shut down or cancel the old server once you are happy the GuavaHost one is fully working. Keep the old one as a safety net until then.
Troubleshooting
Server crashes on start, or the world will not load. The most common cause is a version mismatch. If the old server ran a different game version, set the matching version on the Startup tab in the panel, then restart. A world saved on a newer version will often refuse to load on an older one.
Files are in the wrong place. If the world generates fresh and empty, your folder structure probably does not match. Double check that the world folder sits exactly where the server expects it, not nested inside an extra folder. Compare the layout against a working server if you are unsure.
Large transfers keep dropping or crawl for hours. Big worlds over SFTP can be slow and flaky. Zip the world on the old host first if you can, transfer the single zip, then unzip it on the GuavaHost side using the file manager. Fewer, larger files move more reliably than thousands of tiny ones.
Plugins or mods throw errors. A plugin or mod built for a different version will complain in the log. Match the versions, or grab the correct build of that plugin or mod for your game version.
Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out, including doing the move with you if you would rather not wrestle with SFTP alone.