The fastest way to copy a world depends on which version you play

On Java Edition, you copy a world by finding its folder in your computer and duplicating it — the game stores each world as a separate folder you can move or copy like any other file. On Bedrock Edition (Windows 10/11, Xbox, mobile), the process is similar but the folder location is different, and you may need to export the world as a file first. Console versions like PlayStation and Nintendo Switch have built-in copy options in the game menu itself.

The reason to copy a world is usually to keep a backup before making big changes, or to create a second version where you can experiment without risking your original. Copying takes only a few minutes and requires no mods or external tools — just access to your computer's file system or your console's storage menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Java Edition worlds live in a folder called .minecraft on your computer, and you copy them by duplicating the world folder itself.
  • Bedrock Edition stores worlds differently depending on your device, but Windows 10/11 users can find them in the LocalState folder under AppData.
  • Console players (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch) use the game's built-in copy or duplicate world option from the main menu.
  • After copying, the new world appears in your world list with a new name, and you can play it when ready without any extra steps.

Copying a world on Java Edition

Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and navigate to your .minecraft folder. On Windows, this is usually at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft. On Mac, it is in ~/Library/process Support/minecraft. If you do not see the AppData folder on Windows, you may need to show hidden files — right-click in the address bar, type the path directly, and press Enter.

Inside the .minecraft folder, open the saves folder. You will see a list of folders, each one a world. Find the world you want to copy, right-click it, and select Copy. Then right-click in the same saves folder and select Paste. Windows will create a copy with a name like "World Name - Copy". You can rename it by right-clicking and selecting Rename, then typing a new name.

Close File Explorer and launch Minecraft Java Edition. Your copied world will appear in the world list with its new name. Click it and select Play to start playing the copy. The original world remains unchanged in your saves folder.

Copying a world on Bedrock Edition (Windows 10/11)

Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds. This path is long, so the easiest method is to copy and paste it directly into the address bar at the top of File Explorer.

Inside the minecraftWorlds folder, you will see folders for each world, usually named with a string of letters and numbers. Open each folder and look for a file called levelname.txt — open it in Notepad to see which folder contains the world you want to copy. Once you find it, right-click the world folder, select Copy, then right-click in the same minecraftWorlds folder and select Paste.

Launch Minecraft Bedrock Edition. Your copied world will appear in the world list. The copy has the same name as the original, so you may want to open it, go to Edit World, and change the name to something you can tell apart. After you save the name change, both worlds will appear separately in your list.

Copying a world on PlayStation or Xbox

On PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S, the copy option is built into the game menu. Launch Minecraft, go to the world select screen, and find the world you want to copy. Hover over it or select it, then look for a menu button — on PlayStation this is the Options button, on Xbox it is the Menu button.

Select Duplicate World or Copy World from the menu. The game will ask you to confirm and may ask for a new name. After you confirm, the copy appears in your world list when ready and is ready to play. The original world remains in your list unchanged.

On Nintendo Switch, the process is similar: select the world, press X to open the menu, and choose Duplicate World. The copy appears in your list right away.

What to do if you want to copy a world from another player

If someone else created the world and shared it with you as a file, the steps depend on the file type. If it is a .zip file or a .mcworld file (Bedrock), you usually just double-click it and Minecraft opens it automatically, then asks where to save it. Select your saves folder and the world is imported.

If you received a world folder itself, you can copy it directly into your saves folder (Java) or minecraftWorlds folder (Bedrock). On Java, paste the folder into C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft\saves. On Bedrock Windows, paste it into the minecraftWorlds folder mentioned above. The world will appear in your list the next time you launch the game.

Backing up your worlds to the cloud or external storage

Copying a world to another location on your computer is one form of backup, but you can also copy your entire saves folder to an external drive or cloud storage service like OneDrive or Google Drive. This protects against hard drive failure or accidental deletion.

For Java Edition, copy the entire saves folder from .minecraft to your external drive or cloud folder. For Bedrock, copy the entire minecraftWorlds folder. You can do this monthly or whenever you finish a major project in a world. If something goes wrong, you can copy the backed-up folder back into the original location and your world is restored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy a world while the game is running?

No — close Minecraft completely before copying a world folder. If the game is running, it may lock the files and the copy could be incomplete or corrupted. Always quit the game first, copy the folder, then launch the game again.

Why does my copied world have a different name than the original?

On Java Edition, the folder name and the world name are different things. The folder name changes when you copy it (to "World Name - Copy"), but the world name inside the folder stays the same. Open the copied world and go to Edit World to change the display name if you want them to match.

What if I copy a world and it does not show up in my world list?

On Java Edition, restart the game — it scans the saves folder when it launches. On Bedrock, make sure you pasted the folder into the correct minecraftWorlds location. If you are still not seeing it, check that the folder contains a levelname.txt file, which tells Bedrock it is a valid world.

Can I copy a world from one device to another?

Yes, but the method depends on your devices. For Java Edition, copy the world folder to a USB drive or cloud storage, then paste it into the saves folder on the other computer. For Bedrock, you can export the world as a .mcworld file from one device and import it on another. Console worlds are usually tied to your account, so they sync automatically if you sign in on a different console.

Does copying a world use a lot of storage space?

Yes — the copy takes up as much space as the original. A small world might be 100 MB, but a large one with many structures and modifications can be several gigabytes. Check your available storage before copying large worlds, especially on mobile devices or consoles with limited space.