Deleting a Minecraft world removes it permanently from your device

When you delete a Minecraft world, the game erases all the files associated with that world — the terrain, buildings, items, and player progress. The process is straightforward on most devices, but the exact steps depend on whether you play Java Edition or Bedrock Edition, and what device you're using. Once deleted, the world cannot be recovered unless you have a backup copy saved elsewhere.

The most common reason to delete a world is to free up storage space, start fresh with a new map, or remove a world you no longer play. Minecraft stores each world as a separate folder on your device, so deleting one world does not affect your other worlds or your game installation.

Key Takeaways

  • Java Edition worlds are deleted through the launcher by selecting the world and clicking Delete, which removes the folder from your computer.
  • Bedrock Edition on Windows, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch uses the game's settings menu to delete worlds, and the process varies slightly by device.
  • Deleted worlds cannot be recovered, so back up any world you want to keep before removing it.
  • If you only want to pause playing a world, you can create a new world instead of deleting the old one.
  • Storage space freed by deleting a world depends on how large the world is, but most worlds take up between 100 MB and several GB.

Deleting a world in Java Edition

Open the Minecraft Launcher and click the Installations tab at the top. Find the installation you use to play (usually labeled "Latest Release"), and click the folder icon on the right side. This opens the game files folder on your computer.

Navigate to the saves folder inside the game files. You should see a list of world folders, each named after a world you have created. Right-click the world folder you want to delete and select Delete (on Windows) or Move to Trash (on Mac). The world is now removed from your saves folder and will no longer appear in your world list when you start a new game.

If you cannot find the folder icon in the launcher, you can also navigate manually. On Windows, go to Users > [Your Username] > AppData > Roaming > .minecraft > saves. On Mac, go to Library > Application Support > minecraft > saves. The AppData folder is hidden by default on Windows, so you may need to enable viewing hidden files in your folder settings first.

Deleting a world in Bedrock Edition on Windows

Open Minecraft and go to the Play tab. Under Worlds, find the world you want to delete and hover your mouse over it. A pencil icon and a trash icon should appear in the top right corner of the world tile. Click the trash icon.

A confirmation message will appear asking if you want to delete the world. Click Delete to confirm. The world is now removed from your world list. If you change your mind immediately after deleting, some versions of Bedrock Edition may have a brief undo option, but this is not may provide.

Deleting a world in Bedrock Edition on Xbox or Nintendo Switch

On Xbox, start Minecraft and go to the Play tab. Highlight the world you want to delete, press the Menu button on your controller (the three horizontal lines), and select Delete. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

On Nintendo Switch, open Minecraft and navigate to Play. Select the world, press X to open the menu, and choose Delete World. Confirm the deletion. On both consoles, the world is removed from your world list immediately after confirmation.

Deleting a world in Bedrock Edition on mobile devices

On Android or iOS, open Minecraft and tap the Play tab. Find the world in your world list and swipe left on it (iOS) or long-press it (Android). A delete option should appear. Tap Delete and confirm when prompted.

If swiping or long-pressing does not work, look for a menu icon (three dots or lines) next to the world name. Tap it and select Delete from the menu. The world is removed from your device after confirmation.

Backing up a world before you delete it

If you think you might want to play a world again later, save a copy before deleting it. On Java Edition, navigate to your saves folder (as described above), right-click the world folder, and select Copy. Paste it into a folder on your desktop or external drive. You can restore it later by copying it back into your saves folder.

On Bedrock Edition, the backup process depends on your device. On Windows, you can use the same copy-and-paste method as Java Edition — the saves folder is usually in Users > [Your Username] > AppData > Local > Packages > Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe > LocalState > games > com.mojang > minecraftWorlds. On console or mobile, most devices do not have a built-in way to back up worlds, so your best option is to keep the world and simply not play it, or check if your device has cloud save features enabled.

What happens to your player inventory and progress

When you delete a world, all player progress in that world is lost — your inventory, experience level, achievements in that world, and any structures you built. However, your overall Minecraft account progress (such as achievements earned across all worlds, or your account level on Realms) is not affected.

If you are playing on a multiplayer server or Realm, deleting your local world file does not delete the world on the server. The server keeps its own copy, and you can rejoin and continue playing. Only the copy stored on your device is removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a world after I delete it?

No, once you delete a world folder, it is permanently removed from your device. The only way to recover it is if you saved a backup copy elsewhere before deleting it. If you did not back it up, the world cannot be recovered.

Will deleting a world free up a lot of storage space?

It depends on the world size. A small world might use 100 MB to 500 MB, while a large world with many structures and explored chunks can use several gigabytes. You can check a world's size by right-clicking its folder (Java Edition) or checking the world details in the game menu (Bedrock Edition).

What if I delete a world by accident?

If you deleted it moments ago and have not restarted your device, you may be able to recover it from your trash or recycle bin. Right-click the trash icon on your desktop and select Restore. If you have already emptied the trash, the world cannot be recovered unless you have a backup.

Do I need to delete a world to create a new one?

No. You can have as many worlds as your device storage allows. Simply create a new world from the Play menu, and your old worlds will remain in your world list. You only need to delete a world if you want to remove it or free up space.

If I delete a world on one device, does it delete on all my devices?

Only if you are using Minecraft Realms or a cloud save service. If you are playing locally, deleting a world on one device does not affect copies on other devices. Each device stores its own separate world files.