Server out of disk space? Free it up
Find what's filling your server's disk with the Disk Analyser, clear old logs, worlds and map files safely, or move to a plan with more disk.
When your server's disk fills up, panel tools that write files stop working. Archive in the File Manager, for example, shows:
Not enough free disk space to build the archive. Free some space and try again.
It means your server's files fill the disk its plan includes, leaving no room to write anything new.
What a full disk breaks
- Panel tools that write files. Archive, Extract here and folder downloads in the File Manager fail, and so do transfers in the Migrate tab.
- The server itself. A server over its disk limit may be stopped, and it can't start again until you free some space. On Minecraft, a full disk is a common cause of the error in No key dimensions in MapLike: fix level.dat.
Check how full the disk is
The Disk Usage card on the Console tab shows how much of your plan's disk is in use. To see what's using it, open Disk Analyser under Essentials in the left rail.
- Disk used, at the top, shows the space in use against your plan's disk: amber from 70%, red from 90%.
- Breakdown, in the default Bars view, lists your top-level folders and files, largest first. Its percentages are shares of the space in use, not of your plan's disk.
- Treemap shows each item as a tile sized by what it holds. Click a folder to open it, or root to go back up.
- Scans are kept for a few minutes, so press Rescan after deleting in the File Manager or over SFTP.
Where the space usually goes
| Game | Where to look | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Any | .zip files, archive-<timestamp>.tar.gz | Old uploads, and copies made with Archive in the File Manager |
| Minecraft | logs, crash-reports | Old logs (.log.gz) and crash reports |
| Minecraft | world.pre-import-<timestamp> | The world you replaced with World Import (Upload your singleplayer Minecraft world) |
| Minecraft | Old world folders | Left behind when you change World folder in the Config Editor |
| Minecraft | Map plugin folders, such as plugins/dynmap | Rendered map tiles |
| Minecraft | A backups folder | World copies made by a backup mod or plugin |
| Rust | server/rust | .map and .sav files from earlier maps. A Map only wipe in the Wipes tab deletes them all, the current map included |
| ARK: Survival Evolved | ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks | Older map saves: .ark files with a date in the name |
| Valheim | .config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local | A .db and .fwl pair per world, including any from a mistyped World Name |
| Palworld | Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0 | Extra world copies, if In-game Backup Saves is on in the Startup tab |
On Minecraft, World border (blocks) in the Config Editor caps how far the world can grow.
Delete files safely
- Keep a copy of anything you might want back. Create a backup in the Backups tab (How to create and restore backups) or download the files. Folder downloads are zipped on the server first and fail on a full disk, so fetch folders over SFTP (Connect over SFTP with FileZilla or WinSCP).
- Stop the server before removing anything from a world or save folder it's using.
- In Disk Analyser, tick rows in Breakdown, or open folders in Treemap and click files to select them.
- Click Delete selected, check the list, then click Delete 3 items (the count matches your selection). A Deleted message shows the space freed.
- For a folder deeper down, such as
plugins/dynmap, open its parent in the File Manager, click the folder once to select it, then click Delete in the details panel. See How to manage your server files.
Deleted files are gone for good unless you have a backup. Don't delete the world your server loads or the server software: libraries, versions, cache and the server .jar on Minecraft, or the game's install files on other games.
Move to a plan with more disk
Disk size depends on your plan, and each plan card on the game pages lists it.
- Open Billing (/dashboard/billing), find the server under Subscriptions and choose Actions > Change plan. Or open the server's Settings tab and select Change plan or game on the Plan and game card.
- Pick a bigger plan. On Minecraft, you can keep your plan and add Additional storage instead.
- Select Continue, enter your account password if asked, then click the Switch to button. Upgrades apply straight away, and Plan changed confirms it. Upgrade or downgrade your plan explains the charges.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to delete old log files?
Yes. On Minecraft, delete the older .log.gz files in logs and leave latest.log, which the running server is still writing to. On other games, leave the newest log file alone for the same reason.
Why doesn't the Disk Analyser match Disk Usage?
Disk Usage is the figure the panel reports, while the Disk Analyser adds up the files its scan reached. On very large servers the scan stops early and shows partial scan, so its total is lower.
Can I downgrade to a plan with less disk?
Yes, once your files fit. The downgrade is refused while your server uses more than 90% of the smaller plan's disk, so delete files first. Upgrade or downgrade your plan covers the rest.
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