You can delete a Stardew Valley server through your hosting provider's control panel, or by removing the server files from your computer if you're running it locally

The steps depend on where your server is hosted. If you're renting server space from a company like Nitrado, G-Portal, or your hosting provider's own panel, you log in, find the Stardew Valley server in your list, and select the delete or remove option. If you're running the server on your own computer using a mod like Stardew Valley Expanded or the base game's multiplayer, you delete the save folder from your hard drive. Either way, the process takes a few minutes and is permanent — deleted servers cannot be recovered.

Before you delete, understand what you're losing: all farm progress, player inventories, buildings, and money tied to that server will be gone. If other players are connected, they'll be disconnected when ready. The only way to preserve anything is to back up the save folder before deletion.

Key Takeaways

  • Rented servers are deleted through your hosting provider's website or app, usually under a "Delete Server" or "Remove" button in your account dashboard.
  • Locally hosted servers (running on your own computer) are deleted by removing the save folder from your Documents or AppData directory.
  • Deleting a server removes all save data, farm progress, and player inventories permanently — there is no undo.
  • Some hosting providers charge a final fee or require you to cancel your subscription before deletion is available.

Deleting a server you rent from a hosting company

Log into your hosting provider's account page. Common providers include Nitrado, G-Portal, GameServers, and Aternos. Find your Stardew Valley server in the list of active servers — it will usually show the server name, player count, and uptime.

Click on the server name or a settings icon next to it. Look for a button labeled "Delete Server," "Remove Server," "Terminate," or "Cancel Subscription." Some providers hide this option under an "Advanced" or "Danger Zone" menu. Click it and confirm the deletion when prompted — most providers ask you to type the server name or click a second confirmation button to prevent accidental deletion. After deletion, your server will be offline within minutes and you will no longer be charged for that server's monthly or weekly fee.

Deleting a server running on your own computer

Stardew Valley saves are stored in a specific folder on your hard drive. On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\StardewValley\Saves. On Mac, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, and paste ~/Library/process Support/StardewValley/Saves. On Linux, the path is ~/.config/StardewValley/Saves.

Inside the Saves folder, you will see one or more folders named after your farm or world. Each folder contains all the data for that save — the farm layout, player progress, and multiplayer cabin data if other players have joined. Right-click the folder you want to delete and select "Delete" or "Move to Trash." Empty your trash or recycle bin to permanently remove it. If you are running a multiplayer server using a mod, also check your mods folder (usually in the same StardewValley directory) and remove any server-related mod files if you no longer need them.

What happens to player data when you delete a server

All player progress, farm buildings, inventory items, and money are deleted along with the server. Players who were connected to that server will no longer be able to access their characters or farms on it. If players have local copies of their own character files, they can use those files on a different server, but any progress made on the deleted server is gone.

If you want to preserve player data before deletion, ask players to read their character files. In Stardew Valley multiplayer, each player can save a copy of their character to their own computer through the game's menu. They can then bring that character to a new server later. The host (you) can also back up the entire save folder before deletion if you think you might want to restore it later — copy the Saves folder to an external drive or cloud storage.

Canceling your subscription versus deleting the server

Some hosting providers distinguish between deleting a server and canceling your subscription. Deleting the server removes it when ready but may keep your account active. Canceling your subscription closes your account and stops all charges, but the server may remain online for a grace period (usually 7 to 30 days) before it is automatically deleted.

Check your hosting provider's terms to see which action you need to take. If you only want to delete one server but keep others running, use the delete button. If you want to close your account entirely and stop paying, look for a "Cancel Subscription" or "Close Account" option. Some providers require you to delete all servers before you can cancel the subscription, so contact support if you're unsure.

Recovering a deleted server

Once a server is deleted, it cannot be recovered through your hosting provider. The save files are removed from their servers, and there is no backup or restore option. If you deleted a locally hosted server by removing the save folder, you may be able to recover it using file recovery software if you act quickly, but this is not may provide and depends on your operating system and how the files were deleted.

The best protection is to back up your save folder before deletion. Copy the entire Saves folder to an external drive or cloud storage. If you ever need to restore the server, you can copy the backup back into the StardewValley directory and the server will work as it did before. This takes only a few minutes and can save you from losing months of progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a server if other players are currently on it?

Yes, but they will be disconnected when ready and lose any unsaved progress from their current session. It is courteous to give players warning and time to log off before you delete. Most hosting providers do not prevent deletion while players are online.

Will deleting the server delete my single-player farm?

No. Single-player saves are stored separately from multiplayer servers. Deleting a multiplayer server only affects that server's save folder. Your single-player farm remains on your computer unless you delete it separately.

What if I want to move my server to a different hosting provider?

Back up your save folder first, then delete the server from your current provider. Create a new server with the new provider and upload your save folder to it. The process varies by provider, so check their documentation for how to import an existing save.

Do I get a refund if I delete a server mid-month?

Refund policies vary by hosting provider. Some offer prorated refunds if you delete before your billing cycle ends; others do not. Check your provider's refund policy before deleting, or contact their support team to ask about your specific situation.

Can I rename a server instead of deleting it?

Most hosting providers allow you to rename a server through the settings menu without deleting it. This is useful if you want to keep the server but change its name. Look for a "Rename" or "Settings" option in your hosting provider's dashboard.