How to Update a Pixelmon Server | Safer 2026 Guide
Pixelmon has one specific update trap that catches server owners more than anything else: version 9.x.x moved where Pokémon data lives, separate from the rest of the world. Updating without knowing that makes the world look fine while every Pokémon just vanishes.
New to hosting it? The Pixelmon hosting guide covers RAM and first-boot basics. See also the Pixelmon pack page.
1. Back up the full world, not just the save folder
Take a full restore point before updating, covering the world folder and whatever directory currently holds player Pokémon data for your version. If anything about the update goes wrong, this is the only way back.
2. Know about the Pokémon data location change
Pixelmon 9.x.x changed where player Pokémon data is stored — it moved out of world/[name]/pokemon into a separate data folder. After updating across that line, the world loads normally but every player's Pokémon appear to be gone.
Fix: copy the pokemon folder from inside your world directory into the new data folder location, overwriting what's there. This is a one-time move, not something that recurs on every update.
3. Replace the mod file cleanly
- Shut the server down properly before touching any files.
- Remove the previous Pixelmon version from the mods folder rather than leaving it alongside the new one.
- Drop in the new version and restart.
4. Keep client and server versions locked together
Players need to update to the same Pixelmon version as the server — a mismatch is one of the most common sources of connection failures and crashes right after an update.
If you run multiple Pixelmon worlds, use a separate launcher instance per version so updating one doesn't silently touch another.
FAQ
I updated Pixelmon and my world is fine but all the Pokémon are gone — what happened?+
Pixelmon 9.x.x moved where player Pokémon data is stored, from the world/[name]/pokemon folder to a separate data folder. The world itself updates cleanly; the Pokémon data has to be copied across manually to the new location.
Do players need to update at the same time as the server?+
Yes — client and server Pixelmon versions need to match. A mismatched version is a common source of connection failures and crashes right after an update.
Should I keep a separate instance per Pixelmon version?+
If you run more than one Pixelmon world, yes. A shared launcher instance means updating one world's Pixelmon version can silently change another's — isolate them.
Update Pixelmon without losing anyone's Pokémon
CoalHost keeps automatic backups ahead of any update, so a Pixelmon version jump that needs a data-folder move is a quick fix, not a panic.
View Pixelmon Hosting →