Where tModLoader stores your world files in the cloud

tModLoader saves your worlds to the cloud through Steam Cloud, which means your world data lives on Valve's servers rather than only on your computer. When you enable Steam Cloud for tModLoader, the game automatically uploads your world files every time you close the game or exit a world. The files are stored in a folder structure that Steam manages, not in a place you can browse directly like your Documents folder.

To actually get your world file back onto your device, you need to let Steam read it from the cloud, or you can navigate to where Steam stores these files locally on your hard drive. The process differs slightly depending on whether you want to restore a world to the same computer or move it to a different one.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam Cloud automatically uploads your tModLoader worlds when you close the game, but the files are not visible in your regular file browser.
  • Your world files are stored locally on your computer in a Steam folder, and you can copy them manually if you know the exact path.
  • The fastest way to recover a world is to verify your game files through Steam, which downloads any missing worlds from the cloud.
  • If you want to move a world to a different computer, you can copy the world file directly from the Steam folder and paste it into tModLoader on the other device.

How to locate your world files on your hard drive

Your tModLoader worlds are stored in a specific folder on your computer that Steam creates and manages. On Windows, navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\My Games\Terraria\tModLoader\Worlds. Replace [YourUsername] with your actual Windows username. This folder contains all your world files with the .wld extension, and these are the same files that Steam Cloud backs up.

On Mac, the path is ~/Library/process Support/Terraria/tModLoader/Worlds. On Linux, it is ~/.local/share/Terraria/tModLoader/Worlds. Once you open the correct folder for your operating system, you will see a list of all your worlds. Each world file is named after the world you created — for example, "MyWorld.wld" or "SurvivalRun.wld".

Restoring a world from Steam Cloud to your device

If you deleted a world by accident or want to recover it from an earlier version, you can force Steam to read it from the cloud. Open Steam, right-click tModLoader in your library, select Properties, then click the Local Files tab. Click "Verify integrity of game files" — Steam will check what you have locally and read any missing files from the cloud, including worlds that were backed up.

This process can take several minutes depending on how many files need to be downloaded. Once it finishes, launch tModLoader and your recovered world should appear in your world list. This method works best if you have not yet deleted the world file from your hard drive, because Steam will restore the most recent version it has on its servers.

Copying a world file to a different computer

If you want to play the same world on a different device, you can copy the world file manually. On your first computer, navigate to the Worlds folder (using the paths listed above), right-click the world file you want to move, and select Copy. Then go to the same folder path on your second computer and paste the file there. Make sure tModLoader is closed on both computers before you do this.

After you paste the file, launch tModLoader on the second computer and your world should appear in the world list. This method bypasses Steam Cloud entirely and works even if Steam Cloud is turned off. The world file itself is all you need — you do not have to copy any other files or folders.

Turning Steam Cloud on or off for tModLoader

Steam Cloud is usually turned on by default for tModLoader, but you can check or change this setting. Open Steam, right-click tModLoader, select Properties, and click the General tab. Look for the "Steam Cloud" option — if it has a checkmark, Steam Cloud is active and your worlds are being backed up. If you want to turn it off, uncheck the box.

Turning off Steam Cloud does not delete your existing world files. Your worlds stay in the Worlds folder on your hard drive, and you can still play them normally. However, if you turn off Steam Cloud and then delete a world file by accident, you will not be able to recover it from the cloud. Most players keep Steam Cloud on as a safety net.

What to do if a world file is corrupted or will not load

Sometimes a world file becomes corrupted and will not open in tModLoader, even though it appears in your world list. If this happens, check the Steam Cloud backup first — right-click tModLoader in Steam, select Properties, Local Files, and click "Verify integrity of game files." If Steam has a newer uncorrupted version in the cloud, this will read it and replace the corrupted file on your computer.

If verification does not fix the problem, the world file itself may be damaged beyond recovery. In this case, you can check your Worlds folder to see if there is a backup file with a similar name (sometimes tModLoader creates .bak files). If no backup exists and the world is not in Steam Cloud, the world cannot be recovered. This is why keeping Steam Cloud turned on is important — it gives you a second copy of your world data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my Steam Cloud worlds without opening tModLoader?

No, you cannot browse Steam Cloud directly through a web interface or Steam's settings. You can only see the worlds that are stored locally on your hard drive by opening the Worlds folder. To check what is backed up in the cloud, you would need to verify your game files through Steam, which downloads anything missing from the cloud to your computer.

What happens to my worlds if I uninstall tModLoader?

Your world files stay on your hard drive in the Worlds folder even after you uninstall the game. Steam Cloud also keeps a copy of your worlds on its servers. When you reinstall tModLoader, your worlds will still be there, and Steam Cloud will sync them automatically.

Can I back up my worlds to a USB drive or external hard drive?

Yes, you can copy your world files from the Worlds folder to any external storage device. straightforward navigate to the Worlds folder, select the world files you want to back up, copy them, and paste them onto your USB drive or external hard drive. You can restore them later by copying them back into the Worlds folder.

Do I need to be online for Steam Cloud to work?

Steam Cloud uploads your worlds when you close the game, but this only happens if you are connected to the internet. If you play offline, your worlds are saved locally but will not sync to the cloud until you go back online and close the game again.

What if Steam Cloud says my world is too large to upload?

Steam Cloud has a file size limit per game, and very large worlds with many mods and structures can exceed it. If this happens, your world will still save locally on your computer, but it will not be backed up to the cloud. You can still play the world and copy it manually to other devices, but you lose the automatic cloud backup protection.