Where Does Pterodactyl Store Config and Servers?
Pterodactyl splits state three ways: panel code, Wings config in /etc/pterodactyl, and servers in /var/lib/pterodactyl.
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Pterodactyl has two halves with separate homes. The panel is a web app with its code and environment file in one place, while Wings runs the game servers from another. The database both share usually sits in MySQL beside them.
A full backup covers all three plus the server volumes. Wings can rebuild a server container from the panel's egg definitions, but player worlds and configs live only in the volumes.
Where Pterodactyl stores this, by platform
/etc/pterodactyl/config.yml
Wings daemon config with keys and paths. Server files live under /var/lib/pterodactyl/volumes, one folder per server. Panel code sits at /var/www/pterodactyl with secrets in its .env file.
Frequently asked questions
how do i back up pterodactyl game servers
Copy /var/lib/pterodactyl/volumes for world data, the Wings config, the panel directory with .env, and a MySQL dump. All four are needed for a working restore.
where are minecraft worlds in pterodactyl
Inside the server's volume folder under /var/lib/pterodactyl/volumes. Stop the server first, then copy the world folder out like any vanilla backup.
can i move pterodactyl wings to a new machine
Yes. Install Wings fresh, copy config.yml and the volumes over, and re-register the node in the panel. Tokens in the config must match the panel's expectations.
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